Ashes series - England go 1-0 up

Scene at the Adelaide Oval soon after the match ended

The Australian team lost the second test match today - the innings wrapping up in double quick time, especially after Hussey got out to an ill-advised pull. Greame Swann took this opportunity to cut through the tail-enders.

Stuart Broad and Simon Katich will no longer play in this test series - the Aussies will miss the player more than the English team.

Ricky Ponting must be feeling the heat from his supporters and frankly, all the planning he can conjure up over the next ten days is of no use if he cannot get his bowlers to take wickets. After the first innings of the first test, the bowlers have not been able to bowl to the lower order batsmen at all.

Can the selectors bring back Shaun Tait to the team for the Perth test - his extra speed will surely help give an edge to the Oz team. Or are they desperate enough to call back Brett Lee? More than the bowlers, the batsmen will have to pull up their socks and perform in the next three tests. The team-morale needs to be improved upon, for they would have taken a big beating in this match. How will the team management deal with this, will determine the fate of this series.

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The casualties of IPL

Image via Wikipedia

Today, the main news-item of the day was about Mutthiah Muralithara - he plans to bid adieu to test matches after the West Indies tour.

Few days back, it was Brett Lee.

Andrew Flintoff fears that he may not play again.

Earlier, Matthew Hayden spent a season in IPL and jeopardized his chances to play for his country - finally, tendering his resignation.

The common thread between all of them - IPL. Is Mr. Lalit Modi bothered? Not at all.

Only when an Indian player follows the players above, the BCCI will wake up. Till then, the Modi-dom will rule and he is allowed to talk about 'test cricket'...

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• Aussie Lee set to quit Test scene (news.bbc.co.uk)
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• Test game must embrace day-night format or die, says IPL chairman (guardian.co.uk)