It’s often said journalism is a mirror to the society it serves. Most cricket fans know which of these papers they would prefer to be reading this morning.
At the start of this Ashes series I set out 10 reasons to love the English and said at the time they would take some comfort from being classed as underdogs. But surely, the underdog tag is too kind this time. Beedogs, perhaps.
Anyway, below are some links to previews from English and Australian commentators on this deciding Test, including Shane Warne’s. But if England’s hopes rest on Andrew Flintoff playing a blinder in his final Test match and Australia are counting on Ricky Ponting, I know which side I’d prefer to be on. Share your thoughts, predictions, and sledges in the comments.
Bad memories of 2005 will spur the Australians on at the Oval, Shane Warne tells The Times.
In the Daily Mail, England captain Andrew Strauss says Flintoff can help deliver The Ashes.
The BBC’s Adam Mountford points to Y.E. Yang’s defeat of Tiger Woods in the USPGA as proof that miracles do happen.
Patrick Smith, in The Australian, says Australian fast bowler Michael Stuart Clark is the key to retaining the urn.
In the Sydney Morning Herald, Peter Roebuck says Flintoff won’t be enough to save England.
Ricky Ponting says the young Australian side can be trusted to deliver:
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