Ricky Ponting fired the opening shots in the players 'Ashes war of words' during this weeks Australian squad announcement. He said about opposite number Andrew Strauss "We try to target the opposition captain a little bit - if you do that you can generally take another couple of other guys down with him," quite tame compared to some previous years quotes.
Strauss it would appear is not going to rise to the bait and claims he is happy to let the Aussies do the talking while he and his team quietly go about their business preparing for the West Indies one day series - and the Ashes even though they won't admit it yet, although he did later say that England would target the inexperience in the Australian squad - proving no matter how hard they might try, they just can't resist having a dig.
Now we see Mitchall Johnson having a dig at Ravi Bopara saying "I've seen Bopara in those two Tests against the West Indies where he scored those two centuries. He looked good, but there is a big difference between a series against the West Indies and the Ashes. There will be much more pressure out there, so it will be interesting to see how he goes."
The pundits seem to be the ones doing the real mud throwing this year so far. In the absence of the usual Glenn McGrath outburst the likes of Bob Willis and Mark Waugh have stepped up to the plate. In response to seeing the Aussie Ashes squad Willis claimed that the bookies should be slashing the odds on the English, an opinion which suggests the Australin selectors have given England a boost with some of the rookie selections.
Willis went on to say "Andrew McDonald is more like Ronald McDonald as far as I'm concerned, Shane Watson can't keep fit and with Brett Lee half the pace he used to be, the bookies must surely be trimming their odds on England right now." How I hope he dosen't regret saying that.
Mark Waugh gave a radio interview on the day of the Aussie squad announcement which in it he said that James Anderson was a good bowler on his day but that he lacks mental strength and that he is only good against the weeker international sides. He described Stuart Broad as an honest trundler, Graham Onions as ok and then said that he would be amazed if Graeme Swann had the same success against Australia that he has against West Indies, whom he said wouldn't have beat a club side in their recent two Tests against England.
He also claimed Strauss had to be positive as a captain claiming that he has been too negative in the past, all in all the build to this series looks set to be fascinating with verbal jousting going on right up to the first ball is bowled.
In the betting the Aussies are still favourites after their squad announcement.
Best Odds
Australia are 8/11 with
England are 9/4 with Sportingbet
The Draw is 11/2 with Boylesports
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