Welcome to another episode of our England cricket podcasts.

Discover how Duncan Fletcher motivates the England players.

Listen here

Monty Panesar revealed his frustration at not being selected in England’s Ashes XI this week. The Commentary Box can once again expose more of England’s squad secrets, as they desperately cling to faint hopes of retaining the Ashes. Lift yourself out of Ashes gloom with another installment of our satirical Ashes podcasts.

Click here to listen or download our latest Ashes podcast

Written by Fergie & Performed by AJ

Please email us if you have any comments or ideas for more podcasts.

editors
commboxeditors@googlemail.com

ferg

commboxferg@googlemail.com

Stepping away from the debacle that is The Ashes, I have my attention rudely grabbed by Alex Ferguson. Sorry, Sir Alex Ferguson, in my opinion the most laughable knighthood ever. That is until the words “arise, Sir David Beckham” are inevitably heard, at least.

Doing his best impression of the three mice from the famous nursery rhyme, Ferguson sought to refute the entirely justified claim by, well, by almost everyone, that Cristiano Ronaldo is a diver by saying that he is “the most fouled player in the country”.

That he may be, but how many of these fouls are caused by the ripple of disturbed air from an opposition defenders snort of laughter at his feeble attempts to con the ref, rather than, say, actual physical contact is up for discussion. But apparently not in Sir Alex’s Govan-themed mansion. Read the rest of this entry »

Since the article outlining the statistical reasons why Panesar should already be playing against Australia, never mind be picked for the Melbourne test, nothing has changed to suggest that he will get the nod in for the next test in Perth.

England have snatched defeat from a nailed on draw. Giles still looks unthreatening with the ball and on a pitch offering spin to Shane Warne and even Kevin Pietersen, but he has provided adequate support with the bat in one innings.

In fact his position in the side looks increasingly more likely for Perth. Incredible when you consider he dropped Ricky Ponting which went on to cost England 107 runs and potentially the chance to win the game. Not to mention that he now seems to be running up a non existent incline in the field, and has taken only 2 wickets in 4 innings. Read the rest of this entry »

Dear Sirs,

Steve Harmison just doesn’t seem interested. He’s in the prime years of his career and he’s struggling with technical details regarding his action! He doesn’t seem to be the bowler he once was and I think you just bring in Mahmood and let him have 15 tests. Let him find some rhythm and some form. I’ll be willing to bet that he’ll do AT LEAST as well as Harmison. I’m afraid that the Aussies have seemingly got one over on him and I don’t think they’ll let up now. So let him go back to where he wants and let someone else come in. Giles should be surplus once we return, so thanks Ashley, but goodbye. Bring Monty in for the summer and beyond. Read the rest of this entry »

We are able to exclusively reveal what went on in the meeting that followed England’s balls-up at Brisbane, including a clue to England’s selection proceedure works and why Steve Harmison’s radar was pointed to the Gold Coast.

To listen to our latest Ashes Podcast,

CLICK HERE

Written by Fergie & Performed by AJ

Please email us if you have any comments or ideas for more podcasts.

gruff
commboxgruff@googlemail.com

ferg

commboxferg@googlemail.com

After Panesar had whirled his way to 3-39 in Pakistan’s second innings in the third test at Headingly this summer, Fletcher begrudgingly purred that the mecurial Panesar, who’d won the hearts of a cricketing nation, was now the best finger spinner in the world.

“As a finger spinner there is probably no one to match him in world cricket at the moment - his control is very, very good,” said Fletcher of Panesar.

England’s enigmatic coach also stressed that what the side needed “as a priority in Australia is to bowl them [Australia] out twice”.

So why after the disastrous Ashes opener in Brisbane has he decided to stick with Ashley Giles? Giles himself conceded before Ashes that he was not as good a bowler. Read the rest of this entry »