Cricket: We'll show the Aussies they're not supermen; THEY HAVEN'T

DO my eyes and ears deceive me, or do I sense a little over- confidence creeping into the Aussie camp?

Dare I say complacency, or even arrogance?

All of a suddenly there are mutterings of whitewashes and England players being beaten before a ball is bowled because of negative attitudes.

Well, you'll never catch me being negative. I go out there believing I can climb mountains.

I'd just like to remind our friends from the other side of this small world that they have not won this series just yet. And they have not knocked the confidence or the stuffing out of us.

We may be down, but we're a long way from being out.

Maths was never my strongest subject at school but I'm sure the best of five means you need to win three to come out on top. It's 2- 0 to Australia with three to play, and there is still time for us to come roaring back.

As long as there is the slightest chance of England regaining the Ashes, we will fight like crazy. I've never been a quitter - and the same goes for the rest of the England dressing-room. We've been totally outplayed in the first two games, but we can bounce back.

Let's get it straight, Australia are a very good team - the best Test side in the game right now. But they are not superhuman.

We can make them look as mortal as the next 11 men. It's just a matter of picking ourselves up and playing the kind of cricket that saw us silence the Pakistanis and Sri Lankans last winter.

We've had our injury problems but I'm never going to use that as an excuse. The fact is, you should have people capable of coming into the team of similar quality to those who are out.

You need strength in depth - and it's fair to say we don't really have that at the moment.

But that just means we must utilise the strengths we do have even more.

Our best chance of victory is to attack. I've never run away from anything before - and I'm not going to do so now.

Now, more than any time in English cricket history, we must stand firm, stick our chests out and meet fire with fire.

Yes, the Aussies have great bowlers in Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie. Their batsmen aren't bad either. But anyone can look great when you have the enemy on the back foot.

We would look just as impressive if we could just have that one good day - those one or two really good sessions at the start of the third Test. On paper it's so easy. You win the toss, either bowl them out for 150 or knock up 500 - then you turn the screw for the rest of the five days.

Cricket at this level is all about getting the upper hand and then applying as much pressure as possible. And when a side like Australia are allowed to do that they can make their opponents look terrible. Personally, I know I am not firing on all cylinders - and I hate it.

My batting is OK - my problem is with the ball. And if I don't get things sorted soon I'll find myself a spectator. I'm under no illusions - I need some wickets badly, and a big innings would be nice. What better time to put the record straight?

Sadly, it looks as though Nasser Hussain won't be fit in time. Either way, the 11 guys who take the field cannot afford a single bad session.

We have reached the crunch point of this series. It's do or die - and I'm not in the mood to roll over and play dead.

The England fans can help, too. They must get behind us and help us turn the tide.

There's still time to have the men with baggy green caps running for cover!

Interview:

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