Reasons for optimism amid the Ashes gloom

ENGLAND have not beaten Australia in a Test match at Lord's for 67 years. But they don't need to look back that far to find the kind of performance which, if reproduced over the next five days, could turn this summer's Ashes series into a real contest.

Never mind 1934. Mid-May 2001, exactly two months ago to be precise, saw a home side full of confidence, batting purposefully, bowling aggressively and catching brilliantly to defeat Pakistan by an innings on cricket's most inspiring stage.

Precious little has gone right since then and optimistic talk of knocking the world champions from their perch is now replaced by predictions of an Ashes whitewash.

The mood of pessimism is understandable, even if it has further depressed broken-finger victim Nasser Hussain.

England took a big step backwards during the two-hour session in the Second Test at Old Traf-ford that saw them lose eight wickets and surrender a share of the two-Test series with Pakistan.

Then they barely took part in, never mind competed for, the NatWest triangular tournament before starting another Ashes campaign with a three-and-a-bit day thumping at Edgbaston.

But whereas next to nothing went right in Birmingham with Graham Thorpe, Michael Vaughan and first reserve Mark Ramprakash ruled out by injury in the run-up to the First Test, England are now almost back on track in terms of personnel. By contrast, Australia have a concern or two with opener Matthew Hayden (knee) struggling for full mobility.

Hussain's absence - courtesy of a lifting delivery from Jason Gillespie - is a bad blow, of course. But England have had more than a week to accept that handicap and stand-in Mike Ather-ton seems positively perky about leading his country again more than three years after passing the baton.

Better still, Thorpe has declared himself fit for selection following six frustrating weeks worrying about a calf injury and Ramprakash is ready once more to relaunch his international career on a ground that, despite allowing him just 81 runs in 11 Test innings, remains a favourite with the former Middlesex man thanks to his displays there at County level.

Provided England are prepared to take a calculated gamble on Thorpe's ability to pick up the pace of international cricket without so much as a single county outing, Surrey should provide the entire middle order from No 3 to No 7.

Certainly, Mark Butcher did enough in Birmingham by scoring 38 and 41 to warrant another chance while both Ramprakash and Ian Ward laid foundations for a good week at Lord's by batting well during their county's Benson and Hedges Cup final win over Gloucestershire on Saturday. But what England are looking for now is a real team performance with runs, wickets and catches shared around - just as they were against Pakistan.

"It's depressing to hear how many people have given up on us," said Hussain in a particularly low moment after the Edgbaston defeat.

He knows, though, that a team he must once more sit and watch, rather than lead, can just as quickly get the country behind them again with a stirring display at Lord's.

And it is not beyond the realms of possibility.

ENGLAND (from): M Atherton (capt), M Trescothick, M Butcher, G Thorpe, I Ward, A Stewart (wkt), M Ramprakash, U Afzaal, C White, A Giles, D Cork, D Gough, A Caddick, C Silverwood.

AUSTRALIA (from): M Slater, M Hayden, J Langer, R Ponting, M Waugh, S Waugh (capt), D Martyn, A Gilchrist (wkt), S Warne, B Lee, J Gillespie, G McGrath, D Fleming.

Umpires: S Bucknor (WI), J Holder (Eng).

TV Replays: J Lloyds (Eng). Match referee: Talat Ali (Pak).

SERIES: First Test (Edgbaston) - Australia won by innings and 118 runs.

Second Test (Lord's), 19-23 July; Third Test (Trent Bridge), 2-6 Aug; Fourth Test (Headingley), 16-20 Aug; Fifth Test (The Oval), 23- 27 Aug.

Heads we lose,tails they win

SOME captains swear by lucky coins,others just put their faith in the good,old law of averages and always call "Heads " on the basis that they should be right 50 per cent of the time,writes David Lloyd .

Between them,the last three fulltime England skippers can point to more than a fair share of misfortune when it comes to the toss.Whether calling or spinning,Mike Atherton,Alec Stewart and Nasser Hussain have lost out with astonishing regularity.

The coin has come down in Australia 's favour in 11 of the last 12 Ashes tosses,stretching back to Atherton 's reign.And England have also lost out in their last eight Tests against Pakistan (away), Sri Lanka (away),Pakistan (home)and then at Edgbaston a fortnight ago.

Normally,it matters little,but when the pitch starts damp (Johannesburg,1999),the temperature is set to rise above 40 degrees C (Adelaide 1998)or you simply don 't fancy batting last against Stuart MacGill and Shane Warne on a turning pitch (Sydney 1999),then a bit of luck might have gone a long way.

The result of the toss in the last 12 Tests against Australia

Nasser Hussain v Steve Waugh July 2001 Edgaston LOST Alec Stewart v Mark Taylor January 1999 Sydney LOST December 1998 Melbourne LOST

December 1998 Adelaide LOST

November 1998 Perth LOST November 1998 Brisbane LOST Mike Atherton v Mark Taylor August 1997 Oval WON

August 1997 Trent Bridge LOST

July 1997 Headingley LOST

July 1997 Old Trafford LOST

June 1997 Lord's LOST

June 1997 Edgbaston LOST

Your chance to see England take on the Australians at Lord's

THE biggest sporting clash of the summer resumes tomorrow when England take on Australia in the Second Ashes Test at Lord's.

You can be there to see the action courtesy of Vodafone - the official sponsor of the England cricket team - and Standard Sport.

We have two pairs of tickets for Saturday and two pairs for Sunday, and one runner-up will receive a limited-edition cricket bat signed by both England and Australia.

Australia, led by Steve Waugh, won the First Test at Edgbaston.

The Fifth and final Test will be played at the Oval, where England captain Nasser Hussain will hope we are still in with a shout of the Ashes.

For your chance to win tickets to the Second Test at Lord's telephone: 0901 111 0153 and leave your name, telephone number, the day you would like to win tickets for and where you can be contacted between 10am and 11am tomorrow.

Calls cost 25p and cannot be accepted on any other number.

Alternatively, fax your entry to: 0870 909 3406 or email your name and telephone number to: [email protected] Only one email per person.

All entries must be received by 11.59pm tonight.

The winners will be the first four entries drawn at random after the competition closes with the next one receiving the runner-up prize and will be contacted by the Evening Standard before 11am tomorrow. No purchase necessary. Entrants must be 18 years or over.

Employees of Associated Newspapers, Vodafone and their families or households are not eligible to enter. Normal Evening Standard rules apply The Editor's decision is final.

There is no cash or prize alternative.

Copyright 2001
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