Australia's Ashes planning started from the moment of Michael Hussey's dismissal at The Oval last August, but it will take a step up early this week when the team's senior figures meet in Melbourne. Even though Australia face India, the Test No.1, in October, the talks will be dominated by England's visit.
Not since 1986-87 have England lifted the urn in Australia and a central theme of the hosts' Ashes planning conference on Monday and Tuesday is not letting it happen again. Home advantage has been crucial in the past three series between the teams, but this time age could also be a determining factor in the campaign that begins at the Gabba on November 25.
If Peter Siddle, Brad Haddin and Nathan Hauritz all prove their fitness before then, which is the hope of the national selection panel, Australia could field an outfit that has only one change from the one that lost by 197 runs in south London. Stuart Clark played instead of Hauritz in that match and when the Gabba game starts three of the preferred top six - Ricky Ponting, Simon Katich and Michael Hussey - will be 35.
England have eased to a 2-0 lead in the current series against Pakistan, who drew with Australia last month, and are benefitting from an injection of young talent. Only four of their players are over 30 and they boast the impressive Steve Finn, a 21-year-old fast bowler. Overall, it makes England the most confident of a win in Australia since the last time, when they were beaten 5-0.
Michael Brown, Cricket Australia's general manager of cricket, said the Ashes planning conference would take in a range of items. "All of the Australian team management, including Ricky Ponting, are all coming down to talk about what is the ultimate preparation," he said.
Discussions will also focus on how to juggle workloads ahead of the World Cup, as well as making sure all squad members gain enough game-time in the 50-over genre. On Friday Cricket Australia revealed its split-innings format for domestic matches, meaning the only traditional one-day fixtures will occur at international level in the country in 2010-11.
The Ashes rivalry took another twist last week when John Buchanan joined the England camp to help them prepare. Justin Langer, one of Buchanan's success stories as Australia's coach, is not concerned by the appointment.
"John was one of the greatest coaches I ever worked with so it's a positive for England," Langer said in the Daily Telegraph. "But I also strongly believe that at the end of the day, when James Anderson or Stuart Broad run in to bowl the first ball in Brisbane to Simon Katich or Shane Watson, it won't matter what coaches England have got.
"It's going to be about who's got the biggest balls, who's going to stare down their opponent, who's going to win those battles. That's what it comes down to in Test cricket."
Still Chasing accomodation? Metro Hotels have Ideal options in nearby cricket ground locations
Veiw
original article
