England, Australia Ashes series being awaited with bated breath

With the International Cricket Council's final version of the Champions Trophy here in England concluded in great style and the honours carried away by Champions India who dramatically overcame England in the final over, the focus in England shifts to Wimbledon. And while the sun is shining here now, unlike during the Champions Trophy when some of the games were rain shortened, the shocks at Wimbledon was the early defeats of Rafal Nadal, Roger Federer and Maria sharapova who was dusted out early. But according to Bob Babolat, Nadal's racket provider and closest friend, the south paw is definitely not finished.

Nadal who was dumped out in the first round had won eight French open titles only last month.

Defeat sparks fears

Nadal's defeat has sparked fears that the career of the 27-year old is finished because of his chronic knee trouble. But Babolat, CEO of Nadal's racket sponsor, said there is no doubt he will deal with the knee injury and stage a comeback.

While the spotlight is on Wimbledon with most newspapers giving a lot of space top it, the looming Ashes Test series between England and Australia has certainly not lost its glamour or been relegated.

England is exuding confidence that they can beat their traditional rivals Australia and retain the Ashes they won so convincingly in Australia last summer. The confidence stems from the fact that they beat Australia in the Champions Trophy.

Michael Clarke fit to play

But the Aussies can take hope by the fact that Clarke is fit to take his place and lead the Aussies in their quest to pluck back the Ashes from England. There was a bit of uncertainty in the Aussie camp with the sudden sacking of Coach Mickey Arthur.

But the cricketers from 'down under' have quickly settled down to new coach Darren Lehmann one of their own countrymen, and the thinking is that Arthur's sacking came at the right time. New coach Lehmann is not new to the job. After his playing days were over, the left handed batsman took to coaching and was also involved in coaching one of the teams in the Indian Premier League.

Little anecdote about Lehmann

A little anecdote about Lehmann would interest our readers. When I toured Australia in 1986/87 covering Sri Lanka's tour for the 'Daily News' and 'Sunday Observer', and when Sri Lanka was playing in Adelaide I happened to watch the game seated next to former Australian medium pace bowler Neil Hawke.When Lehmann was batting and making a big score, Hawke told me: 'Watch this young batsman.

He is the next Neil Harvey in the making'. Lehmann subsequently switched clubs, but did not reach the heights of that former dazzling batsman Neil Harvey which goes to prove that a Harvey will always be a Harvey. A Bradman a Bradman. A Sobers a Sobers. A Lara a Lara and never will there be the likes of them again. This applies to our own Kushal Janith Perera.

Jayasuriya label pasted too early

Left hand batsman Perera has had the label of another Sanath Jayasuriya pasted on him too early. And probably having to keep and live up to that name of the Matara mauler', made the little left hander suffer nerves and he flopped in the Champions Trophy.

Another story about Lehmann, it was not so long ago when in a game against Sri Lanka Lehmann was run out in Brisbane 2003. On his way back to the pavilion unable to accept he run out, Lehmann shouted 'black c....s within ear shot of the Sri Lankan dressing room and was suspended for five matches after being reported by Manager on that tour Ajit Jayasekera.

Breaking news

I was on that tour too covering it for the ANCL Group of Newspapers and in Jayasekera breaking the news to me exclusively about the reporting of Lehmann, the 'Daily News' carried the story as a scoop.

The next day when I walked in to the media box, the Aussies journs were all surprised and smarting with the breaking of the news of Lehmann's behaviour by the 'Daily News'. Lehmann aside, Skipper Clarke has given the Aussies a timely boost by declaring himself fit to take on the cocksure Brits in the Ashes series. Clarke was suffering with chronic back problems and was absent from his team's disastrous Champions Trophy campaign.

Clarke's return great news

Australian wicket keeper batsman Brad Haddin has said that the return of Clarke was great news. On Lehmann taking over as coach Haddin has said that he is a good person, he loves the game of cricket and he's very excited about getting the group together.

But it must be remembered that a team can have the greatest coach. A coach can show and tell. But it all depends on how the players put it all together out in the middle.

While Clarke returns for Australia the good news for England is that the hard hitting right hand batman Kevin Pietersen who can take any attack apart on his day will make his return to strengthen the England squad. The First of Five Ashes Tests begins on July 10.

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