The Ashes Diary Page 4

  Boof injected a lighter note today by putting on a set of whites and a baggy green cap and running out the drinks. I told him he should stay out there. He’s trying to bring some enjoyment in, alongside the hard work. He loves having a beer with the boys and makes a point of us all celebrating each other’s successes. He’s also as well-planned as any coach I’ve played under. I reckon we’ll have a great partnership.

  So that’s it for our eight days of cricket before the Ashes. It’s all been about giving every player the opportunity to push for selection in the First Test. They’ve got that, so now the selectors have seen all of them and have to decide which eleven to go with. The boys should be proud of how they’ve prepared. I think we’re 99 per cent right for the Test.

  We’ve just arrived in Nottingham, after hopping on the bus straight from the game. Tomorrow’s a day off, part of a four-day program to get our minds ready, so we walk onto Trent Bridge full of belief.

  Saturday 6 July. Nottingham.

  We had a day off today, which was lovely for all the guys: a recovery day for the bowlers, who were tired after working hard on the Worcester wicket, and for me, four or five sessions with team physio Alex. I’ve just seen Grant Baldwin, the massage therapist, too. My back pulled up a bit stiff after batting for a few hours at Worcester, but it’s been necessary to get some game time into my legs. It’s not just the batting, but standing for hours in the field, crouching for every ball in slips, and all the ordinary stuff you do on the field. No matter how much rehab I have, there’s no substitute for game time. At any rate, the rest and treatment will do it good.

  In our team room at the hotel, we watched the deciding rugby Test between the Wallabies and the Lions. I’m sure some of the southern-states boys struggled to understand the technicalities of the rules. Unfortunately it didn’t take much to work out what was going on in the game: the Wallabies were outplayed by a better team. It only adds to our motivation: we can be the team that turns the year around for Australian fans.

  Having a day off offers a good chance to pause, take stock and contemplate the challenge ahead. I’ve spent time on my own today, getting my mind right for this First Test match. As in the last couple of years, I go through a routine of mental training against the particular opposition I’m preparing to play. I’ve been sitting on the couch or lying on the bed with my eyes closed, picturing the bowlers – Anderson, Broad, Finn, Swann, Bresnan – fixing an image of them running in to bowl to me. I see them on Trent Bridge, coming from the Pavilion end or the Radcliffe Road end, with the distinctive old stands in the background. I see them in sunshine and under cloud, I feel whether it’s warm or cool, and I ‘face’ them with the ball swinging or not, spinning or not. I ‘feel’ my balance and ‘play’ positive shots.

  I’m not big on meditation as such, but while I’m alone I’ve been listening to music to clear my mind. I don’t have any special favourites: it’s mainly Top 40 songs that Kyly has put on my iPod. It helps me focus on what lies ahead. All of this ticks the last box in my preparation. I’ll put in a bit more of this quiet time between now and the match, so that, come Wednesday, I’m cherry-ripe.

  Sunday 7 July. Nottingham. Morning.

  Now that we’re in the First Test venue, a lot of the team’s partners have flown in to enjoy the game. Unlike in the old days, when partners were banned completely or had to stay in a different hotel, it’s relaxing to have a bit of domestic normality. A number of the team have young children as well, and it must be a real thrill for them to see their little ones – again unlike the old days, when cricketers would miss six months of seeing their children growing up.

  Anyway, last night it wasn’t kids we had to worry about. I went to bed at 10.30 pm, expecting a nice full night’s sleep. At about 2.45 am, the hotel was woken by a screaming fire alarm. The entire Park Plaza Hotel had to be evacuated. So there we were, in the main thoroughfare of Nottingham – a big multi-lane road called Maid Marian Way – the team and all the other guests, scratching our heads wondering what was going on.

  It goes without saying that this was not an easy time to be getting out of bed and standing out in the cool air, but it was quite funny seeing everyone in their nightwear. There were wives and partners and children, already battling jet lag, staggering about trying to come to terms with the incident. During the 2009 tour, a similar thing happened, and we found out later that someone in the Barmy Army had set off the alarm to get under our skin. So this morning, Brad Haddin, Phillip Hughes and Peter Siddle, who were there on that tour, were saying, ‘It’s started all over again!’

  Sunday 7 July. Nottingham. Afternoon.

  In two Ashes tours and numerous other visits, I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a hotter day in England. The sun really belted down. We were a bit tired after the interruption to our sleep, but once we got used to the heat at training it was nice, actually. It reminded us of a summer’s day at home. There’s always a feeling that we Australians are more comfortable in high heat than the English, so let’s hope it continues.

  I didn’t bat or do any training aside from some slips catching at the end, as my back had felt stiff when I woke up (for the second time). As a result, I was able to spend the session watching the team.

  The boys trained very hard. Their fielding was sharp, their bowling was full of energy, and the batting was focused on defence. As I’ve made clear all along, we need to place a very, very high price on our wickets. The flat tracks in Taunton and Worcester haven’t challenged us as much as the Test matches will, and we really need to be watertight. Then, when we get set, we have to keep concentrating on every ball and get on with the job.

  Speaking of pitches, I wandered out to the centre of Trent Bridge to take a look at the Test strip. It’s a beautiful venue, and its reputation is that it doesn’t turn very much. It does swing, though, both with the new ball and reverse with the old ball; I remember from 2005 a devastating spell of reverse swing from England’s Simon Jones. From the look of it, this one will certainly provide reverse swing, and probably spin too. We were expecting dry wickets, but this one is much drier than I thought. With three days still to go, and in hot weather, unless they water it the pitch is going to have cracks in it come the start of the Test match. But at the same time, it looks like an excellent batting wicket. The rationale is that the county club that hosts the Test match has a lot riding on it, financially, and wants it to go the full five days. To me, this one looks like it will test the batsmen’s patience and technique, and the bowlers’ ability to maintain pressure over long spells.

  I went back to the nets. The selectors, Rod Marsh and Darren Lehmann, were watching David Warner and Ed Cowan batting at the same time, side by side. It seems to be a bat-off between the two of them, a pretty tough situation because they’ve worked well together as opening partners for the past 18 months. It’s hard for Davey to be assessed on his net form, after being stood down from all cricket for four weeks, but it’s the only indication the selectors will have.

  It’s very different for me, not being part of the panel. Rod and Darren watch the players themselves, and they have the NSP chairman, John Inverarity, here as well to provide a casting vote if necessary. Darren’s made it clear that he’s big on basing selection on performance on tour, so the players should have a good idea of where they stand. But everyone’s made some runs here, and David Warner has been our opening batsman for nearly two years, so a lot of it will come down to fine judgments.

  Today at practice, I had a chat with Rod and Darren about the wicket and what I believe we need to have success. They told me their views, and we debated the merits of various options. I’d say they are 95 per cent of the way towards making their decisions by the time they consult me. From here, it’s up to them to pick the best eleven. They’ll hand that to me, and I’ll work out the batting order.

  Sunday 7 July. Nottingham. Night.

  We just got back from dinner in the hotel restaurant. There was a significant little encounter. We’d come
in from our team meeting and were sitting there minding our own business when in walked Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior, James Anderson and Jonathan Trott. It was the first time we’ve had face-to-face contact with any of the England Test players, and was one of those ‘moments’ you always have at the start of a series. I sensed a bit of awkwardness on both sides. We’d just been talking about them in our meeting. They looked uncomfortable, walking past all of us.

  It was good for me to take note of our boys’ faces. I don’t think anyone was intimidated, that’s for sure. That first encounter is a noteworthy little part of an Ashes tour, which I find fascinating.

  Monday 8 July. Nottingham. Afternoon.

  We had another good training session, and I had a bat. All the players have now been told individually if they’re in the eleven, but we’re not announcing it until the toss of the coin on Wednesday. In the meantime, the players will have time to get their heads around playing in an Ashes Test match.

  Darren and I are both big fans of inviting past players into the team group to talk to us about cricket and give us a sense of the great tradition we’re inheriting. As Don Bradman said, we’re all just custodians of this wonderful game. With that in mind, we’ve invited Glenn McGrath to come in on Wednesday and present the baggy green to a player making a debut.

  That debutant will be Ashton Agar. I told Ashton he would be batting at number eleven. We all know he’s a better batsman than that, but as a 19-year-old coming in for his First Test, I don’t want to put him under any added pressure, and besides, I’d be risking being put in a headlock by asking any of the fast bowlers to bat at number eleven. I joked to Ash in the nets, ‘Hey, a number eleven has never made a Test hundred. You never know!’

  It’s tough on Nathan Lyon, who took nine wickets in our last Test match in India. Fortunately I don’t have to sit down with him and explain the decision as a selector. Instead, we had a chat where I assured him he is still an important member of the squad, and I’m sure he’ll be playing a big part in this tour.

  The whole England team trained after us today. During the crossover period, they sat in the same lunch room as us, at a separate long table having their meal while we had ours. Like that moment in the hotel restaurant, it’s one of those signposts to the opening of the series. Two full teams, in their training gear, in the one room. It’s finally happening!

  There’s what I would call an atmosphere of professional respect, rather than either familiarity or hostility, between the teams. I’m polite to all of the Englishmen, and will say g’day to anyone. James Anderson is the one who prefers not to talk to me. I didn’t read his book, but from what I heard, he had a crack at me. That’s fine. He’s a fast bowler, and if I was his captain I’d want to see a bit of mongrel in him too. I doubt it’s personal, though, because we don’t know each other. If you have longevity in the game you must be a decent person, because if you’re not, you get thrown out. I don’t have any personal problems with any of the English players.

  At any rate, I’m a whole lot more focused on us than I am on the English.

  Monday 8 July. Nottingham. Evening.

  Tonight we had our last team meeting before the Test match. Darren ran the meeting, and then I announced the eleven to the whole squad. For the guys involved, if they want any of their family to come over, they can then get that organised. Ashton Agar has already arranged for his parents and his two younger brothers to get on the first available flight from Melbourne.

  I made it clear that aside from telling immediate family, we wanted to keep the identity of the final eleven in-house. We’re not telling the media. I had a quick chat with Ashton, not saying much apart from wishing him all the best and telling him that if he keeps playing the way he has been, he can’t fail.

  All the guys are fully fit. We did have a little bit of a late scare with Phillip Hughes hurting his calf after training, so we’ll check on that tomorrow. Meanwhile, the selectors have decided David Warner is going to fly to Africa to join an Australia A team there, to get some match practice. They want to retain the option of picking him later in the series, if necessary, so he needs time in the middle.

  Tuesday 9 July. Nottingham. Evening.

  Today was another beautiful sunny, warm day; I don’t know what they mean when they slag off English weather! Only joking. We had an optional training session, for guys to put a finishing touch to their preparation if they want it. Everyone went except the Test fast bowlers – Pattinson, Starc and Siddle – who know they’ve got a hard five days ahead of them. Phillip Hughes saw the physio about his calf, but they’re both happy and there’s no problem.

  For me, the day before a Test match is about going through a final set of routines. I went to the dressing room and set up my gear: shirts on hangers, pads on the seat, bats lined up, all the rest of my stuff organised the way I always have it. Each person has his own ways.

  I have a few nerves in my system, so I had a bat today to work them out. Nothing too severe – in fact I think I’m probably a fraction less nervous than at this stage on previous tours. I’ve played a lot of Test cricket and am as excited as I’ve ever been. I just want to go out and play the way I have for the last few years.

  In the two pre-match press conferences, with the Australian media yesterday and the all-in today, I’ve been asked whether this series is the make-or-break of my captaincy. I absolutely reject that. I have three main objectives over the next 18 months: winning the Ashes here, retaining the Ashes at home, and winning the World Cup on home soil. That’s the next stage in my captaincy, and that’s what I’m focused on. I don’t think you can judge anyone on five Test matches, which are just a slice of that overall career. I’d like to think that I won’t become a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ captain based on our result here. I’m accountable for our performances and have been all along, and will be as long as I’m in the job. That goes over a long period, not just one series. Don’t get me wrong – I am desperate to win this series.

  To be honest, my own place in history as a captain is the last thing on my mind. I’m thinking about the coming game and our whole team. All the boys are in a really good place. We’re prepared as well as we could be, and I’m proud of how the guys have conducted themselves in training and in the games. There’s an excitement in the camp. It’s not a scared excitement – I’ve seen that before – but a good excitement, a sense of eagerness for whatever challenges come our way. This is an Ashes series. I’m ready. We’re ready.

  It feels like the night before Christmas.

  4

  THE FIRST TEST MATCH

  Wednesday 10 July. Nottingham.

  Well, that was an interesting day to say the least: 14 wickets on what looked like a very flat and dry wicket! Probably entertaining for the crowd, but not exactly a proud day for the batsmen on both sides.

  Before play, we had Glenn McGrath on the field to present Ashton Agar with his cap. Glenn made a nice speech, the theme of which was ‘Never, ever give up’. It was good for all of us to hear that. The game isn’t over until the last ball is bowled. Ashton himself got pretty emotional, as you’d expect, but I was also delighted to see how much pleasure all the boys took from the occasion. Almost everyone in the squad has played a Test match, so we know how Ashton feels – though none of us was 19 years old when we got our Test caps! It’s great to see a young kid so excited, and he gave a shot of energy to all of us.

  Kumar Dharmasena, the former Sri Lankan off-spinner who’s one of our umpires this week, asked me, when he saw the line-up, how good a bowler Ashton is. I said, ‘He’s good, but he’s an even better batsman.’

  I had to assess the conditions before the toss. As at most English venues, you have to look up, not down. The pitch was dry and flat, as we knew, but a cool change had come in overnight and the sky was overcast. This usually means the ball is going to swing about early. But they’ve been saying that Trent Bridge doesn’t produce as much swing as it used to, and we didn’t know how long the cloud would stay. That, wi
th the dryness of the wicket, suggested to me that it was still a bat-first situation.

  It was academic in the end, as I called incorrectly. There’s quite a funny story to the toss. Alastair Cook came out with what I think was his favourite one-pound coin. All through the tour, Chris Rogers has been claiming that English pound coins are heavier on the tails side than the heads – just a tiny bit, but enough to make a difference. I guess this is the kind of experience you get after years in county cricket! Jimmy Pattinson has been running trials with three coins, and reckons he’s found proof that they come up heads more often. I’ve been saying, ‘You’re dreaming!’ – but when Alastair tossed the coin I called heads just in case. It fell tails-up. Alastair said he’d bat. I didn’t really mind, as I thought batting would be very challenging in the first session.

  The aim was to bowl full and let the ball swing. I gave Patto and Mitchell Starc six overs each at Cook and Root. Patto bowled from the Pavilion end and Starcy from the Radcliffe Road end, because there was a cross-breeze blowing that helped Patto’s outswing and Mitch’s inswing. There had been so much excitement in the build-up, though, that the nerves of actually being on the field were affecting everyone, batsmen and bowlers alike. The outcome was that we bowled too much on both sides of the wicket and didn’t make the English openers play enough balls.

  In the ninth over, it was a ball that didn’t swing that gave us our first wicket. We know Cook’s least favoured shot is the off drive, and we’ve had some success over the years pitching it full outside his off stump and getting him to play a shot he’s not fully comfortable with. He’s very good at waiting and frustrating you into bowling short, and he just eats up anything at waist height that he can pull or cut. We kept bowling it full, and eventually he lost the waiting game, flashing at one that kept going across him. It was great to break the ice.