Ashes 2010/2011 Countdown

Sports - Cricket - Ashes 2010/2011

And here we go again! Only 15 months have passed since we retained the Ashes and now we want to defend them, in Australia! For the first time in over 20 years (24 years to be exact), we want to win it Down Under! And I think, with all the Australian top names that have retired and won it for them in the past, we have the best chance, more than ever!

Looking at the squads, comparing their experience, character, attitude and hunger - hopefully, this time, it won't end up in embarrasment on our side - but on theirs! Like last time, Ashes 2009, I hope I can report and blog my heart out with the results ending up all good and more than worth it - COME ON ENGLAND!

Australia Test squad:

Ricky Ponting (captain)
DOB: 19.12.1974, Batting style: Right-hand, Bowling style: Right arm medium

Doug Bollinger
DOB: 24.07.1981, Batting style: Left-hand, Bowling style: Left arm fast medium

Michael Clarke (vice-captain)
DOB: 02.04.1981, Batting style: Right-hand, Bowling style: Slow left arm

Xavier Doherty
DOB: 22.11.1982, Batting style: Left-hand, Bowling style: Slow left arm

Callum Ferguson
DOB: 21.11.1984, Batting style: Right-hand, Bowling style: Right arm medium

Peter George
DOB: 16.10.1986, Batting style: Right-hand, Bowling style: Right arm fast medium

Brad Haddin
DOB: 23.11.1977, Batting style: Right-hand

Ben Hilfenhaus
DOB: 15.03.1983, Batting style: Right-hand, Bowling style: Right arm fast medium

Mike Hussey
DOB: 27.05.1975, Batting style: Left-hand, Bowling style: Right arm medium

Mitchell Johnson
DOB: 02.11.1981, Batting style: Left-hand, Bowling style: Left arm fast medium

Simon Katich
DOB: 21.08.1975, Batting style: Left-hand, Bowling style: Left arm wrist spin

Marcus North
DOB: 28.07.1979, Batting style: Left-hand, Bowling style: Off break

Tim Paine
DOB: 08.12.1984, Batting style: Right-hand

Peter Siddle
DOB: 25.12.1984, Batting style: Right-hand, Bowling style: Right arm fast medium

Steven Smith
DOB: 17.06.1981, Batting style: Right-hand, Bowling style: Right arm fast medium

Shane Watson
DOB: 02.06.1989, Batting style: Right-hand, Bowling style: Right arm legbreak

Possible lineup for the 1st Test:
Australia team: Ricky Ponting (captain), Simon Katich, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey, Marcus North, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Xavier Doherty, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus.

England Test squad:

Andrew Strauss (captain)
DOB: 02.03.1977, Batting style: Left-hand, Bowling style: Left arm medium

James Anderson
DOB: 30.07.1982, Batting style: Left-hand, Bowling style: Right arm fast medium

Ian Bell
DOB: 11.04.1982, Batting style: Right-hand, Bowling style: Right arm medium

Tim Bresnan
DOB: 28.02.1985, Batting style: Right-hand, Bowling style: Right arm medium fast

Stuart Broad
DOB: 24.06.1986, Batting style: Left-hand, Bowling style: Right arm fast medium

Paul Collingwood (vice-captain)
DOB: 26.05.1976, Batting style: Right-hand, Bowling style: Right arm medium

Alastair Cook
DOB: 25.12.1984, Batting style: Left-hand, Bowling style: Off break

Steven Davies
DOB: 17.06.1986, Batting style: Left-hand

Steven Finn
DOB: 04.04.1989, Batting style: Right-hand, Bowling style: Right arm medium fast

Eoin Morgan
DOB: 10.09.1986, Batting style: Left-hand, Bowling style: Right arm medium

Monty Panesar
DOB: 25.04.1982, Batting style: Left-hand, Bowling style: Slow left arm

Kevin Pietersen
DOB: 27.06.1980, Batting style: Right-hand, Bowling style: Off break

Matthew Prior
DOB: 26.02.1982, Batting style: Right-hand

Graeme Swann
DOB: 24.03.1979, Batting style: Right-hand, Bowling style: Off break

Chris Tremlett
DOB: 02.09.1981, Batting style: Right-hand, Bowling style: Right arm medium fast

Jonathan Trott
DOB: 22.04.1981, Batting style: Right-hand, Bowling style: Right arm medium

Possible lineup for the 1st Test:
England team: Andrew Strauss (captain), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Ian Bell, Matt Prior, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Steven Finn, James Anderson.

Australia's last 5 (10): WLLLN (LNLLW)

England's last 5 (10): WDWWL (LWWWW)

Ashes 2010/2011 Fixtures:
1st Test: 25-29 November, Brisbane
2nd Test: 3-7 December, Adelaide
3rd Test: 16-20 December, Perth
4th Test: 26-30 December, Melbourne
5th Test: 3-7 January, Sydney

Followed by two Twenty20 internationals on 12 and 14 January and a series of seven ODI from 16 January-6 February.

Can we do it?
My prediction: Yes wen can!

Australia 1-2 England

(Even if it ends 2-2, we retain the holy Ashes!)

Reds beat the Hammers without their skipper

Sports - Football - Premier League - Liverpool 3:0 West Ham

And it could have been more! 4, 5, 6... What a difference a week makes!

Okay, this was a home game, against a dire and under-fire Hammers side where Avram Grant is walking on very thin, melting ice down at the bottom of the Premier League table.

It all happened in the first half: Criticised by his manager, Glen Johnson made it 1-0 when he chested Raul Meireles' corner before drilling a low shot straight down the middle of the goal (18), making a clear point to Roy Hodgson.

Dirk Kuyt netted the 27th minute penalty, after Fernando Torres' shot chipped over Matthew Upson's foot onto Danny Gabbidon's hand.

Maxi Rodriguez headed headed in an easy simple third before half time.

It could have been 4, 5 or 6 at the interval with Rodriguez, Meireles and David Ngog all denied in one way or the other.

The second half was less spectacular, Liverpool sitting comfortably on their three-goal advantage and West Ham getting nowhere with the ball.

After the recent (lack of) form and results for the Reds, you would have through they would have pushed on for a thrashing of West Ham. But having to cope without their talisman skipper, they were obviously happy with the way things stood.

It just shows, there is always worse - ask the Hammers' fans - and their co-chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold. Grant will be counting his days...

Liverpool: Reina; Johnson (scored 18), Konchesky, Carragher, Skrtel; Meireles (Shelvey 83), Maxi (scored 38), Poulsen, Kuyt (scored pen 27); Torres (Babel 84), Ngog (Aurelio 73).
Subs not used: Jones, Kyrgiakos, Kelly, Eccleston.

West Ham: Green; Gabbidon, Upson, Ilunga (Tomkins 76), Jacobsen; Boa Morte, Kovac, Noble (booked 73), Cole (McCarthy 69); Piquionne, Obinna (Barrera 46).
Subs not used: Stech, Reid, Spector, Nouble.

BBC Stats:
Liverpool-West Ham
Attempts: 19-6
On target: 11-1
Corners: 10-2
Free kicks: 8-8
Possession: 62%-38%

Sky Sports Stats:
Liverpool-West Ham
Attempts: 16-6
On target: 8-1
Offsides: 2-1
Corners: 10-2
Free kicks: 11-7
Possession: 53.8%-46.2%
Passing Success: 82.8%-78.5%
Tackles/Success: 26/76.8%-28/71.4%
Territorial Advantage: 49%-51%

Referee: Lee Probert
Man of the match: Raul Meireles

Sorry Liverpool fall at the Britannia

Sports - Football - Premier League - Stoke 2-0 Liverpool

Stoke ended Liverpool's four-match unbeaten run and sealed a back-to-back victory following the midweek win against Birmingham that ended a run of five straight league defeats.

The Potters gave a performance of the season, showing grit and determination which the visitors have been more than lacking.

Especially the first half showed Stoke on top, dominating, nearly haunting the Reds, who showed no control, coordination or organisation.

The second half continued in the same trend and the first goal showed and reflected this:

Liverpool's box and back line was unable to clear the ball, scrambling around, ping-ponging around until Ricardo Fuller took advantage of the chaos and poked it home, through and past the crowd, firing Stoke in front deservedly so.

If it weren't for Jamie Carragher's goal line clearance, Martin Skrtel's hugging and wrapping cover and Pepe Reina's top-notch saves, the score line could have been so much worse!

Maxi Rodriguez came closest for Liverpool when his close-range effort was kept out by Asmir Begovic, the only close shout for the Reds.

Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres had a hardly noteworthy performance, with only a couple of semi-chances.

The skipper gave the ball away late on in the match and Kenwyne Jones connected to it, skipped past Skrtel, and fired it home past a stranded Reina.

To top it all off and add to the misery for Liverpool, Lucas Leiva was sent off in stoppage timee, seeing his second yellow of the day for a stupid tackle.

Stoke overtake Liverpool and are up to 10th whilst the Reds are still drifting and hovering around at 11th looking for some kind of form and coordination - Roy Hodgson needing to find the right change and solution, quickly!

Stoke: Begovic; Huth, Collins (booked 54), Shawcross, Wilkinson; Pennant, Whitehead, Delap, Etherington (Wilson 93); Jones (scored 90:02), Fuller (scored 55:12, booked 83, Walters 88).
Subs not used: Sorensen, Higginbotham, Whelan, Sanli, Gudjohnson.

Liverpool: Reina; Konchesky, Kyrgiakos, Carragher, Skrtel (booked 79);Meireles (Ngog 66), Gerrard, Maxi (Babel 73), Lucas (booked 58, 2nd yellow & off 92); Torres (booked 47), Kuyt.
Subs not used: Jones, Kelly, Poulsen, Shelvey, Jovanovic.

1st half stats:
Stoke-Liverpool
Attempts: 8-4
On target: 3-1
Offsides: 1-0
Corners: 2-2
Free kicks: 5-4
Possession: 56%-44% (BBC HT)

2nd half stats:
Stoke-Liverpool
Attempts: 6-4
On target: 2-1
Offsides: 0-0
Corners: 2-1
Free kicks: 7-8

Sky Stats:
Stoke-Liverpool
Possession: 39.7%-60.3%
Passing Success: 57.7%-69.4%
Tackles/Success: 19/78.9%-13/92.3%
Territorial Advantage: 56.7%-43.3%

Referee: Mark Halsey
Man of the match: Martin Skrtel

Torres torments & downs Chelsea

Sports - Football - Premier League - Liverpool 2:0 Chelsea

Liverpool couldn't have wished for a better start when Fernando Torres pounced on a poor Chelsea side, scoring two goals and wiping out any thoughts on his recent lack of form and goal-drought.

The Spaniard wasn't at his best by far, but there was obviously no need because when a fine pass from the left by Dirk Kuyt found him, he got in from a tight angle, tormenting and beating John Terry as he is used to do, to give the Reds the lead in the 11th minute.


Apart from that goal through, both sides looked sloppy, slow-paced, feeling each other out and giving the ball away too easily and too often.

Chelsea enjoyed much more possession but were not able to break into the hosts' box, giving Pepe Reina little to do and drawing a poor picture of themselves, not able to capitalise.

End of the first half, things turned from bad to worse for the Blues (and from good to sweet for the Reds), Torres there to pounce on and beat Petr Cech once again when he twirled and curled one in from the left into the right side of the netting after Ashley Cole had lost the ball in sorry fashion between Kuyt and Raul Meireles, the latter producing a fine pass to the Red star-striker.

But the second half turned out everything else but comfortable for Liverpool, two goals to the good. Carlo Ancelotti's half-time talk seemed to have ignited something in the Blues because they came back hard, putting pressure on Liverpool.

Much missed in the first half, Didier Drogba came on for Salomon Kalou but looked to have made little impact at the start of the second half - Chelsea wasting and losing the ball again and again.

Reina didn't have to make a single save until the last half-hour when he tapped out a fine strike by Yuri Zhirkov - who had a woeful showing.

Minutes later, Pepe stopped Florent Malouda's right-footed strike off a Drogba cross, without knowing much about it it seemed, but still producing a great, crucial block-save.

It was just not meant to be for the London side, Liverpool covering well, at least two or three men around every blue player who had the ball, giving Chelsea little room so they couldn't do much with their dominance of possession.

The win is crucial for Roy Hodgson and his men, taking them to the top half of the Premier League for the first time since the opening day, with three wins on the trot and confidence growing.

Chelsea meanwhile still sit at the top of the table, the gap to United however reduced to just two points. This season's title race could end up being much more juicy than many thought it would be just a couple of weeks back...

Liverpool: Reina; Kelly, Carragher, Skrtel, Konchesky; Meireles (Spearing 92), Lucas, Kuyt (Shelvey 84), Gerrard, Maxi; Torres (Ngog 88).
Subs not used: Hansen, Jovanovic, Wilson, Poulsen.

Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic (Bosingwa 70), Terry, Alex (booked 91), Cole; Ramires, Mikel, Zhirkov (booked 20, Sturridge 76); Kalou (Drogba 46), Anelka, Malouda.
Subs not used: Turnbull, Ferreira, Kakuta; McEachran.

1st half stats:
Liverpool-Chelsea:
Attempts: 5-1
On target: 3-0
Offsides: 0-2
Corners: 0-1
Freekicks: 10-8
Possession: 40%-60% (after 18min)

2nd half stats:
Liverpool-Chelsea:
Attempts: 4-8
On target: 2-3
Offsides: 0-1
Corners: 2-4
Freekicks: 6-9
Possession: 31%-69% (after 64min)

Sky Sports Stats:
Liverpool-Chelsea:
Passing Success: 71%-82.4%
Tackles/Success: 26/50%-19/68.4%
Territorial Advantage: 51.5%-48.5%

Referee: Howard Webb
Man of the match: Fernando Torres

Match-Summary: Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea

Sports - Football - Premier League - Liverpool 2:0 Chelsea

Chelsea came back hard, putting pressure on Liverpool in the second half, but couldn't break through and come back against two first-half goals from Fernando Torres, wiping out any thoughts on his recent lack of form and goal-drought and giving his side a two-goal win against the league leaders and defending champions.

Full match report will follow...

10. Both teams start the game feeling each other out, not much in the first 10 min, goalkeepers will be relieved...

10:51 Torres in off Kuyt from left (Skrtel pass), beats Terry, 1-0

20. Zhirkov booked for bringing down Lucas 21. Maxi high & wide shot off Torres cross

35. Liverpool turning a bit sloppy, giving away needless free kicks, but Chelsea draw a pretty poor picture of themselves, not able to capitalise

43:59 Torres twirls & curls one from the left into the right side of the net, after Cole loses the ball in sorry fashion v Kuyt & Meireles, 2-0

HT: Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea - The Reds couldn't have wished for a better start.

2nd half kicks off with Drogba coming on for Kalou, can he make a change? Not by the looks of the first couple of minutes of the 2nd half... Wasting and losing the ball again and again. Pepe Reina hasn't had a ball to save, has he? Does he still know he has to keep an eye on the round thing?

54. Wait, I'll shut up, free kick for Chelsea from left outside the box... Easy header out for the Red defence, a little crunch after that but flag goes up eventually.. Scrappy play... Leading to nothing for Chelsea... Yet...

58. Another free kick for the Blues, Drogba takes it, puts it wide, weak...

60. Chelsea keep the pressure on though, chance after chance, corner out of it... Momentum growing...

62: Reina taps one out for a corner, Zhirkov with a chance there, corner leads to nothing though... Pressure's definitely up for the Reds!

64. Second half possession so far 31%-69%, Chelsea pushing hard!

66. Great save by Pepe, Drogba wins ball on the right, crosses to Malouda, right foot bounces off the goalkeeper, don't think he knew much of it! But great save!

72. Rare Liverpool attack in this half, well, Gerrard's free kick ends up with Maxi, who sends a soft kick into Cech's gloves

75. First Liverpool corner... Comes out to Skrtel, shot saved, comes back to Kuyt who beats Torres to it, hard shot... Brilliant save by Cech! Wide for a 2nd corner...

77. What a second half! 2nd Liverpool corner leads to nothing, Chelsea kept back a little bit for the first time this half...

78. What am I saying?! Chelsea pressing on trying to get the ball into the box, Cole goes down... Goal kick.

86. Chelsea hit the bar! Anelka's shot goes off Reina, off the bar, to Drogba, brilliant tackle by Carragher to send the ball to his goaly's hands comfortably. Puh!

87. Another chance ends in Reina's gloves.

90. Changes & time wasting are going for Liverpool, put Chelsea are still trying to push late on, the ball ends up in Reina's gloves again though.

93. Cech brings down Maxi in the box, penalty not given, Liverpool looking for last sweet topping.

FT: Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea - Sweet enough result for the Reds!

Liverpool: Reina; Kelly, Carragher, Skrtel, Konchesky; Meireles (Spearing 92), Lucas, Kuyt (Shelvey 84), Gerrard, Maxi; Torres (Ngog 88).
Subs not used: Hansen, Jovanovic, Wilson, Poulsen.

Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic (Bosingwa 70), Terry, Alex (booked 91), Cole; Ramires, Mikel, Zhirkov (booked 20, Sturridge 76); Kalou (Drogba 46), Anelka, Malouda.
Subs not used: Turnbull, Ferreira, Kakuta; McEachran.

1st half stats:
Liverpool-Chelsea:
Attempts: 5-1
On target: 3-0
Offsides: 0-2
Corners: 0-1
Freekicks: 10-8
Possession: 40%-60% (after 18min)

2nd half stats:
Liverpool-Chelsea:
Attempts: 4-8
On target: 2-3
Offsides: 0-1
Corners: 2-4
Freekicks: 6-9

Referee: Howard Webb
Man of the match: Fernando Torres

Half-time Summary: Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea

Sports - Football - Premier League - Liverpool 2:0 Chelsea

Liverpool couldn't have wished for a better start: Fernando Torres pounced on a poor Chelsea side, scoring two, wiping out any thoughts on his recent lack of form and goal-drought and giving his side a two-goal advantage at half time.

10. Both teams start the game feeling each other out, not much in the first 10 min, goalkeepers will be relieved...

10:51 Torres in off Kuyt from left (Skrtel pass), beats Terry, 1-0

20. Zhirkov booked for bringing down Lucas

21. Maxi high & wide shot off Torres cross

35. Liverpool turning a bit sloppy, giving away needless free kicks, but Chelsea draw a pretty poor picture of themselves, not able to capitalise

43:59 Torres twirls & curls one from the left into the right side of the net, after Cole loses the ball in sorry fashion v Kuyt & Meireles, 2-0

HT: Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea

Liverpool: Reina; Kelly, Carragher, Skrtel, Konchesky; Meireles, Lucas, Kuyt, Gerrard, Maxi; Torres. Subs: Hansen, Jovanovic, Wilson, Ngog, Spearing, Poulsen, Shelvey.

Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, Terry, Alex, Cole; Ramires, Mikel, Zhirkov; Kalou, Anelka, Malouda. Subs: Turnbull, Drogba, Bosingwa, Ferreira, Sturridge, Kakuta; McEachran.

1st half stats:
Liverpool-Chelsea:
Attempts: 5-1
On target: 3-0
Offsides: 0-2
Corners: 0-1
Freekicks: 10-8
Possession: 40%-60% (after 18min)

Referee: Howard Webb
Man of the half: Fernando Torres

Super-Sub Gerrard saves the day with a hat-trick

Sports - Football - Europa League - Liverpool 3:1 Napoli

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard spared his side's blushes with a second half hat-trick after coming off the bench.


The Reds looked off form in the first half, a too familiar sight this season. It was not much of a surprise when the Italian guests took the lead just before the half-hour mark, Ezequiel Lavezzi racing clear and slotting in. It looked all too easy for the Azzuri (aka Blues).

David Ngog wasted a couple of good opportunities and looked absent for most of the game. His team seemed to paint the same picture, looking disorientated, uncoordinated and clumsy at times, giving the Italian goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis little to do if anything.

With Chelsea being the next guests at Anfield, it is understandable why Roy Hodgson was looking to rest most of his first choice players, but even so, with the Europa League only one of two cup competitions left for the Reds, it was no surprise to see the skipper come on with the start of the second half.

And how it changed the match; not only the atmosphere in the ground, but the whole spirit of the team seemed lifted, the skipper's introduction breathing new life into the Reds. It all happened in the last 15 minutes:

Gerrard needed a little luck to get the scoreboard ticking and find an equaliser for the Reds, when he beat De Sanctis to a bad backpass from former Red Andrea Dossena on 75.

The home side kept the pressure up and with only a couple of minutes remaining saw Glen Johnson brought down in the box by Salvatore Aronica and their captain net the spot kick to take the lead for the Reds.

And to end the game on a sweet note, Lucas Leiva's fine tackle and pass from the left found his captain and left him with an easy dunk in to make it three.

The result may mask the struggle at Anfield for now and be cruel on the guests who looked the stronger and more in-control side in the first half. But in the end, it showed how strong, determined and decisive one man can be for his side.

Hopefully his teammates will take Stevie G. as an example and lead the way with the same style and stance against Chelsea. Because if they don't and continue in the shakey and sorry fashion they started this game in, they will need more than three goals to save even just one point against their London rivals and league leaders.

Liverpool: Reina; Johnson (booked 25), Konchesky, Kyrgiakos (booked 67), Carragher; Meireles, Spearing, Poulsen (Eccleston 65), Shelvey, Jovanovic (Gerrard 46); Ngog (Lucas 82). Subs not used: Hansen, Wilson, Kelly, Skrtel.

Napoli: De Sanctis (booked 76); Aronica, Dossena (booked 47), Campagnaro (booked 67), Cannavaro; Pazienza, Maggio, Hamsik (Yebda 84), Gargano, Cavani (booked 93), Lavezzi.
Subs not used: Gianello, Grava, Santacroce, Zuniga, Sosa, Dumitru.

BBC stats:
Liverpool-Napoli
Attempts: 15-7
On target: 7-3
Corners: 2-5
Free kicks: 11-9
Possession: 52%-48%

Sky Stats:
Liverpool-Napoli
Attempts: 15-7
On target: 7-3
Offsides: 5-0
Corners: 2-5
Free kicks: 12-10
Possession: 57.8%%-42.2%
Passing Success: 78.8%-73.5%
Tackles/Success: 25/76%-13/84.6%
Territorial Advantage: 48%-52%

Referee: Fautrel
Man of the match: Steven Gerrard