Michael Vaughan was a great England captain. Inspirational. Led the team to a series of victories, ultimately summeting with the Ashes. Hurray for The Ashes! As every English cricket fan clings relentlessly to the victory (much like English Rugby Union fans cling tenuously to the fact that England, are, technically World Champions, even though my mum’s “Wednesday club” would give Andy Robinson’s boys a good run-about at the moment) talk has obviously shifted to the forthcoming Ashes. Can England retain the Ashes? Will they actually just get stuffed 5-0 in the biggest anti-climax since the Segway? These are all questions …read more

The list of centrally-contracted England players for 2007 will be:

I Bell
P Collingwood
A Cook

A Giles
A Flintoff
S Harmison

M Hoggard

S Jones
K Pietersen

M Panesar
A Strauss
M Trescothick
M Vaughan

Monty Panesar and Alastair Cook are both new additions to the list, with Geraint Jones missing out. The question marks ultimately concern Giles, Vaughan and Simon Jones, since both have been out of any form of cricket for the best of a year. It obviously demonstrates how much faith the England selectors have in these players. Personally I think it’s a little short-sighted, nay, dangerous, but any of those three ever regain full fitness then you’d expect them …read more

Michael Vaughan will miss the Ashes. In fact, I’d be surprised if we see him in a set of whites again. Apparently, further knee surgery has revealed even more problems. It’s OK though, because Freddie will lead the side in Australia. (Except he’s injured now). That’s OK though, we have plenty of other bowlers, like Simon Jones and Ashley Giles. (Oh. Wait.).
The sad thing about the injury situation is that it gives England supporters a rock solid excuse for losing any cricket in the near future, not to mention the Ashes, hiding behind a veil of not being able …read more