Centurions Katich, Ponting inspired by painful memories of Ashes 2005

CARDIFF - Australia captain Ricky Ponting and opener Simon Katich, who scored unbeaten centuries on Thursday to take their team to a formidable 249 for one at stumps in reply to England’s score of 436, said they were inspired by the painful memory of the 2005 Ashes series loss.

Aussies Challenging the English 435 At Stumps Day 2

Ponting with his 37th Test century has cemented the ground for an Aussie comeback after the English posted a total of 435. Aus 249/1.

‘We mean business this time’, says Kevin Pietersen

CARDIFF -Is KP serious about what he speaks?

KP blames nut for Ashes Test dismissal

CARDIFF - England’s best batsman Kevin Pietersen has blamed his ‘nut’ for his suicidal dismissal in the first Ashes Test against Australia being played here.

Ponting asks his inexperienced squad to create its own Ashes legend

LONDON - Australian captain Ricky Ponting has asked his inexperienced squad to create its own Ashes legend following the upheaval of several retirements and injuries to senior men, including Brett Lee.

Five ex-England captains back Strauss to lift Ashes

CARDIFF - Andrew Strauss has been backed for Ashes glory by the only five England captains still alive who have lifted the urn.

Warne says ‘defensive’ Hauritz can be attacking bowler if shown faith in

BRISBANE - Former Australian star leg-spinner Shane Warne has urged Australian skipper Ricky Ponting to include off-spinner Nathan Hauritz in the squad for the first Ashes test match, and show faith in the inexperienced bowler by using him in an attacking way.

Ex-Oz PM Howard in Cardiff to support Australia in first Ashes Test

CARDIFF - Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard has arrived in Cardiff to support Australia as the Ashes commences today.

Leave Flintoff alone, says ex-Lancashire mate Stuart Law

LONDON - Former Lancashire captain Stuart Law believes that England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff should not be a topic of discussion and that the ECB should value the cricketing giant who is in their midst.

England must hammer home their spin advantage during First Ashes Test: Willis

LONDON - Former England fast bowler Bob Willis has said that the hosts must hammer home their spin advantage in Cardiff and get their Ashes quest off to a flyer.

Ashes: Australia’s attack not ready for the real thing: Border

BRISBANE - Former Australian cricket captain Allan Border has said that he is a bit worried about Australia’s preparation for the Ashes series.

Ponting Into Politics rather than Cricket Before Ashes Opener

CARDIFF - Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has urged Welsh fans to support his team as the Ashes series starts in Cardiff today.

Did the KKR Experience Prompted ECB to Recruit Buchanan?

LONDON - Even after the worthless performance in Kolkata Knight RIder in IPL, Buchanan is still trusted by the ECB to appoint him for a responsible post.

Our boys have the character to win the Ashes, says Strauss

LONDON - England captain Andrew Strauss is confident that his boys have the ability to handle the pressure of playing in the Ashes.

Aussie Strategy On as Pidgy Tries to Knock off English with Verbies

MELBOURNE - Former Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath has predicted a whitewash for Australia against England in the Ashes series starting at Cardiff Wednesday.

Lee’s absence will be a setback for Australia, says Warne

LONDON - Shane Warne feels that Brett Lee’s absence from the first Ashes Test is a huge setback for Australia.

Ponting challenges his bowlers to become Ashes heroes

LONDON - In the absence of an injured Brett Lee, Australian captain Ricky Ponting has asked his inexperienced fast bowlers to become Ashes heroes.

‘Winning toss and batting crucial for win in Cardiff’, says Rodney Hogg

SYDNEY - Former Australian fast bowler Rodney Hogg has said that the toss will be crucial in the first test of the Ashes series that begins in Cardiff on Wednesday.

Cardiff will be hell for Aussies, says Simon Jones

GLAMORGAN - England fast bowler Simon Jones has warned the Australian squad to prepare for five horrendous days at Cardiff, where the first test match of the Ashes series will begin on Wednesday.

Australia needs to win Ashes to retain number-one ranking in Tests

DUBAI - Australia and England go head to head in the mouth-watering Ashes series in Cardiff on Wednesday with Ricky Ponting’s side needing to win the series to retain its number-one ranking in the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship table.

McGrath predicts 5-0 series whitewash for Australia

SYDNEY - Former Australian star Glenn McGrath has predicted that the current Australian squad has the potential of cleaning out England 5-0 in the Ashes series which begins in Cardiff on Wednesday.

Ashes 2009 is a battle of the new kids: Thorpe

CARDIFF - Former England star Graham Thorpe believes this summer’s Ashes could shape up to be the battle of the new kids.

For Katich, the Ashes is about fighting back

CARDIFF - For Australian opener Simon Katich, participating in an Ashes tour is all about fighting back.

First Ashes Test may not go the distance, feels ex-player Dean Jones

MELBOURNE - If former Australian Test cricketer dean Jones is to be believed, the first Test in Cardiff will probably end before five days.

Lee ‘gutted’ about missing out on two Ashes Tests

CARDIFF - Australian fast bowler Brett Lee, who claimed seven wickets with his reverse swing in a tour game against the England Lions last week, is “gutted” that he will miss the first fortnight of the Ashes after straining an abdominal muscle.

KP believes England can win Ashes even if he is having a bad run

CARDIFF - With a day to go before the first Ashes Test against Australia to be played here, explosive batsman, and 2005 Ashes hero Kevin Pietersen has said that England can win the Test and the series even if he has a bad run.

Lee doubtful for Cardiff Test

LONDON - Australian fast bowler Brett Lee’s chances of leading the attack in the first Ashes Test starting Wednesday at Cardiff looked doubtful as he suffered a rib-injury during a tour-game against the England Lions.

Aussies May Miss Lee’s Service in the Ashes Opener

CARDIFF -Australian Dream in England got a severe blow as Brett Lee suffered from a side injury, which makes him doubtful for the first Test against England to be played here from Wednesday (July 8).

Hughes will come up trumps in Ashes series: Langer

PERTH - Former Australian opener Justin Langer believes that current opener Phillip Hughes will come up trumps during the Ashes series that gets underway from Wednesday.

Hughes May Find his Defense Weak In English Pitch

Cardiff (Wales), July 6 (ANI): England has taken the threat of Australian opener Phil Hughes so seriously that it commissioned a secret dossier on his technique in the lead-up to the first Ashes Test, starting here on Wednesday.

England are underdogs and confident, says Flower

LONDON - With just three days left to the start of the first Ashes Test at Cardiff, England’s team director Andy Flower said the hosts are confident of winning the series.

Handling star players will be challenge for Strauss: Gower

LONDON - Former England captain David Gower feels that the challenge for Andrew Strauss in the Ashes series will be how to handle his star players.

Ashes’ rivals will be happy to drink with Flintoff

LONDON - England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has found one place where he can still sneak a pint ahead of the Ashes series.

Oz cricket WAGs won’t back down over Ashes tour controversy

MELBOURNE - Australian bowler Mitchell Johnson’s fiancee has hit back at the controversy surrounding the inclusion of WAGs in Ashes Tour.

Humiliating loss in 2007 behind Strauss’ bid to regain Ashes

LONDON - England captain Andrew Strauss has revealed that humiliation of the last Ashes defeat is the primary force behind his bid to regain the urn.