Finn sails into top 20

Steven Finn’s impressive Ashes debut has vaulted the seamer to 19th in the ICC Test bowling rankings - his highest career position.
The Middlesex bowler’s elevation, on the back of 6-125 in Australia’s first innings at the Gabba, means England are now the only Test nation with four players inside the top 20.
Finn joins the rest of the tourists' attack that played in Brisbane after climbing 10 places - Stuart Broad is 12th, James Anderson fifth and Graeme Swann remains second behind South Africa's Dale Steyn.
Jonathan Trott’s unbeaten 135 in the second innings sees the Warwickshire star climb eight places to eighth in the batting rankings, while Broad remains fourth in the all-rounder category.

Flower thrilled with Brisbane recovery

Team director Andy Flower was delighted he was able to watch England’s batting heroics on the last two days of the drawn Ashes opener at the Gabba.
Flower missed the second and third days of the match in Brisbane after successfully undergoing surgery to remove a melanoma on his face.
However, the 42-year-old was able to return to the Gabba to see Alastair Cook’s maiden first-class double century plus hundreds from fellow opener Andrew Strauss and Jonathan Trott.
Those tons enabled the tourists to declare on a mammoth 517 for one yesterday, having begun their second innings in a perilous position, and force Australia to play for the draw.

“Watching Cook and Trott build that partnership was particularly special,” Flower said of the second-wicket pair, who combined for a Gabba Test record 329-run alliance.

“The way we fought back in the game was outstanding. With a 220 deficit, that’s a very dangerous situation.
“I thought the team, and especially those batsmen, showed particularly strong character in fighting their way out of it.
“It’s very good to come away from that situation with a draw, and to have the opportunity of applying a little bit of pressure at the end.”
Flower, who arrived in Adelaide today with the rest of the England squad ahead of this week’s second Test there, had the potentially cancerous mole taken off his upper right cheek under local anaesthetic.
The former Zimbabwe wicketkeeper-batsman was relieved last Friday’s surgery has removed all the dangerous tissue and he therefore has no more health issues to worry about.
“I just got a little bit of a surprise with the results of that little biopsy,” he said, having taken England security expert Reg Dickason’s advice to have the suspect mole examined - despite previous medical assurances it was not malevolent.
“Then they had to whip some of that stuff away. I got some good results yesterday, so there are no issues in the immediate future.”

Cook humbled to better Bradman

Alastair Cook confessed to having mixed emotions after breaking Don Bradman’s Brisbane record as his maiden first-class double century emphatically secured a draw in the opening Ashes Test match.
Cook batted for 10 and a half hours en route to 235 not out as the tourists amassed a second innings 517 for one declared today - their highest total at the Gabba - having conceded a 221-run first innings deficit.
Set a notional 297 to win, Australia reached 107 for one from 26 overs when the sides shook hands.
Shortly before England’s declaration, Cook passed Bradman's 226 for Australia versus South Africa in 1931.
Having faced 428 balls, 26 of which he struck for four, he admitted: "I feel slightly humble at that, slightly ruining all the records there for the wrong reasons but it's a nice one to have.”

The left-handed opener knew he had done himself and his country proud, but initially appeared largely oblivious of the history made.
That included overtaking a recent landmark as Cook and Jonathan Trott’s second-wicket partnership of 329 surpassed Mike Hussey and Brad Haddin’s 307-run alliance on day three of this game.
"We didn't know about all the records, until Mark Nicholas started saying we’d broken a few, so Trotty and I might have to start digging to see what we have achieved," he added.
"It's been a fantastic couple of days. The pitch was amazing to bat on and got better and better; the conditions were in our favour but you still have to go and get them.”
The 25-year-old, who resumed on 132 this morning, registered his maiden first-class double ton after receiving plenty of encouragement overnight.
"It's my first in first-class cricket,” he said. “I had a lot of texts last night saying make it 'daddy' hundred. That's pretty much a 'daddy' hundred."
Cook got his eye in with a first-innings half-century on day one.
"Getting through the first couple of hours gave me a lot of confidence, but I was very disappointed after getting out for 67.
"It was very frustrating, and I was ultra-determined to make it count if I got in again. Luckily I did."
Cook had only minor moments of fortune, including on 209 when Ricky Ponting claimed a low catch at midwicket only for the officials to call on a ruling from the third umpire.

"You're entitled to stand your ground and wait for the decision," he underlined.
"I wasn't sure it carried - and I don't think Ricky was totally sure either. I was going to wait."
Trott, whose unbeaten 135 was his second ton in as many Tests versus Australia, hailed a job well done.
"It's nice to get in and play a big part with Alastair and to help save the game. I'm just happy to contribute really,” said the number three batsman, who began the morning on 54.
"It's a very difficult game, as we all know. I'm very pleased with how it's gone."
Trott paid tribute to Cook and captain Andrew Strauss for playing calm and confident knocks to get the ball rolling in the second-innings reply.
"The way Andrew and Alastair batted at the beginning set the tempo for the innings,” he observed.
“It's always nice to come in when you're 180 for one (sic), the job was done by them and we just continued to do the work really.
"We wanted to get it on a bit and set them something and have a little bowl at them and see what we could do.
“That was the sort of impetus that we needed, and it was nice to go through the gears in a Test match."

Strauss buoyant after Brisbane draw

Captain Andrew Strauss says England will head for Adelaide tomorrow confident they can win the Ashes after Alastair Cook led their second-innings escape from the Gabba.
Cook was the cornerstone in record stands of 188 with his skipper and fellow opener Strauss and then an all-comers’ best against Australia Down Under of 329 with Jonathan Trott for the second wicket.
He finished unbeaten on 235 - his first double-hundred in first-class cricket - alongside Trott, who made 135 not out, as England declared on an astonishing 517 for one.
After Strauss’ 110, this was the first instance since 1924 of England’s top three batsmen each making centuries.
The circumstances of the feat made it all the more notable, after England had begun their second innings needing 221 simply to make their hosts bat again in the first Ashes Test.
By the time Strauss called time on his deputy Cook - after 10 and a half hours, 428 balls faced and 26 fours struck - England had the luxury of inviting their hosts to bat again
With no realistic prospect of chasing a notional 297 to win in 41 overs, it was at least a successful exercise in damage limitation for Australia that captain Ricky Ponting could bag an unbeaten 51 out of 107 for one.
Yet it was Strauss who could reflect with great satisfaction on the eventual outcome - and continued optimism for what still lies ahead this winter.
“Everyone talks about how important the first Test is against Australia in Brisbane, so to get through that unscathed from the position we were in is a great effort,” he said.
“We’ve got a lot of belief we can go on and win the series from here.”
He knows that plenty more will be needed to retain the urn.
“We’ll have a spring in our step going to Adelaide - but we have to transfer that to the pitch.
“It’s all very well strutting about in the hotel lobby feeling good about yourself. You need to make sure that turns into runs and wickets.”
There was nonetheless much to cheer the vocal English support, especially on the final two days, in Brisbane.
“We did some very good things with the ball - some of our bowlers weren’t rewarded for quite how well they bowled,” Strauss added.
“We were in a pretty dire position after day three, so it speaks volumes for the characters of 'Cooky' and 'Trotty'.”

“The first day of an Ashes series is hard work mentally, and we did well to come back from losing a wicket in the first over.
“Ian Bell played exceptionally well; 'Cooky' played well. But (Peter) Siddle knocked the stuffing out of us with his hat-trick.”
Cook’s best was therefore required, and he delivered in spades.
“I’m not great on cricketing history, but you’d be hard pressed to think of a better innings in Australia,” said his captain.
“It must be a long time ago that a player batted as well as Cooky did. The concentration to see it through for such a long time - it’s one of the really special innings from an England player.”
Strauss was impressed by his team's character after a poor start for the team and him personally when he was out for a third-ball duck on day one.
"Getting out in the first over in the first Test is a pretty horrendous way to start,” he said.
“We felt pretty low then and after day three we felt downbeat as well, we'd done good things and we were behind in the game.
"But we dug pretty deep and we're very happy to be nil-all. Nothing changes and both sides will come out hard in the next Test in Adelaide."
Asked about England's approach to the second innings, Strauss said: "If you just go into your shell and try and survive you play into the opposition's hands.
“If you look for scoring opportunities it creates momentum for you and once we got that momentum it became easier and easier."
.

Deaf squad for Australia trip revealed

The ECB today named the England Deaf squad for the forthcoming tour of Australia in January 2011.
The squad will play one Test match during the Ashes series for deaf cricketers, followed by two one-day internationals and three Twenty20 internationals as part of a tri-series against Australia and South Africa in Geelong.
England will be looking to win back the trophy currently held by Australia after their last encounter in 2008 ended in a draw.
The Ashes series for deaf cricketers dates back to the early 1990s, which signalled the start of the May/Craven Trophy for the winners and was the fore-runner to the first Deaf World Cup in 1996.
George Greenway, James Schofield and Michael Weathersby are all new to the squad and will be making their first trip Down Under, hoping to show captain Umesh Valjee what they are capable of.
ECB national disability cricket manager Ian Martin said: “Everyone involved in deaf cricket in England is looking forward to the forthcoming series and the challenge that playing against Australia in Australia brings.
“The last Ashes series for deaf cricketers was very close and we are looking forward to a well fought contest. We are also looking forward to the tri-series involving South Africa, whom we have not faced for a few years.
“We have some new faces in the squad and a new, but experienced coaching team with the opportunity to bring two titles home. The squad are well prepared and ready for the challenges that lie ahead.”

England Deaf squad to tour Australia

Umesh Valjee (captain, Middlesex)
Paul Allen (Derbyshire)
Saul Allison (Surrey)
Liam Backhurst (Durham)
Matt Clinton (Yorkshire)
James Dixon (Lancashire)
Matthew Everett (Essex)
Stephen George (Devon)
George Greenway (Devon)
Chris Hughes (Warwickshire)
Stefan Pichowski (Kent)
James Schofield (Gwent)
Darrell Sykes (Yorkshire)
Michael Weathersby (Glamorgan)
Andrew Wood (Yorkshire)

Schedule

(all matches to take place at Geelong Grammar School)
January 17-19: Australia v England, Ashes Test
January 21: Australia v South Africa, ODI
January 22: South Africa v England, ODI
January 23: Australia v England, ODI
January 24: South Africa v England, Australia v England, both T20
January 26: Australia v South Africa, England v Australia, both T20
January 27: ODI final

England excel in Gabba draw

England will take valuable momentum into the second Ashes Test in Adelaide after dominating the final day of a drawn series-opener in Brisbane.

Alastair Cook recorded a magnificent unbeaten double century and Jonathan Trott scored his second hundred in as many Tests against Australia as the tourists declared their second innings on a mammoth 517 for one - their highest total at the Gabba - to set the hosts a notional 297 for victory.

Cook’s 235 represented the largest individual score at the ground, beating the previous record of Don Bradman, while Trott had taken his score to 135 by the time skipper Andrew Strauss called a halt to proceedings 40 minutes before tea.

The second-wicket partnership yielded an astonishing 329 runs, a record stand for England in Australia, and ensured the home side had to face a testing examination with the ball before the close.

Stuart Broad raised brief hopes of an unlikely England victory when he had Simon Katich caught by Strauss at first slip in the sixth over of Australia’s innings, but Shane Watson and Ricky Ponting steadied the ship thereafter and took the score on to 107 for one before the captains shook hands on a draw.

Watson finished unbeaten on 41, having been dropped by Paul Collingwood off Graeme Swann when he had 17 to his name, and Ponting looked in excellent touch as he raced to 51 not out on an increasingly benign wicket.

But the late rally will have done little to temper England’s delight after they hauled themselves back into the match in impressive fashion on days four and five.

Australia were unfortunate to see a number of edges land safely this morning, but as the day progressed they were forced to endure an utterly torrid time in the field

Resuming on 309 for one with Cook on 132 and Trott 54, the duo overcame some early scares at the hands of Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus to take England’s score past 350.

The Warwickshire batsman received a huge let-off on 65 as a lazy cut off Watson picked out Michael Clarke at first slip, but Australia’s vice-captain was unable to hold on to the simplest of chances, much to the frustration of the bowler.

Cook slashed Mitchell Johnson through point for four in the next over and Australia’s misery deepened as the seamer sent a horrendous delivery way down the leg side for five wides.

Back-to-back boundaries from Cook, the latter a glorious cover drive, took him past his previous highest Test score - 173 against Bangladesh in Chittagong earlier this year.

Xavier Doherty was then despatched to the fence on two occasions by Trott and the 200 partnership arrived in the next over.

With Australia now on the ropes, Cook lofted Doherty high over midwicket for his 19th boundary before seeing consecutive deliveries turn sharply past wicketkeeper Brad Haddin for four byes.

Cook soon moved to 200 - from 360 balls - with a quick single off Doherty.

And there was still time for Trott to reach his century from the penultimate ball of the session, ensuring England’s top three batsmen reached three figures in the same innings for only the second time in Tests, with Sir Jack Hobbs, Herbert Sutcliffe and Frank Woolley having accomplished the feat against South Africa at Lord’s in 1924.

Runs continued to flow after the interval, with the erratic Johnson coming in for the heaviest punishment.

The left-armer was unable to display any consistency in a dismal spell which saw boundaries conceded on either side of the wicket.

Cook survived a scare on 209 as he clipped Doherty to Ponting at short midwicket. Australia’s captain thought he had taken a clear catch, but the batsman survived as replays failed to conclusively prove whether the ball had carried.

Doherty was hammered down the ground by the left-hander in his next over and Trott repeated the trick as the partnership neared 300.

Cook had another let-off when Ponting spilled a tricky chance at slip off Watson.

By this stage, England had adopted a hugely aggressive approach, typified by a sensational lofted straight drive from Trott off Watson that flew to the boundary.

And when Cook spanked Doherty over mid-on for yet another four, he and Trott had overtaken the record partnership in Tests at the Gabba, set by Mike Hussey and Haddin earlier in this match.

Strauss decided he had seen enough soon after and Australia's bowlers were probably grateful.

James Anderson and Broad were given the task of making a breakthrough before tea and the latter worried Katich with a beautiful delivery that swung past the outside edge.

It was a similar ball that accounted for the Essex man soon after and Anderson was unfortunate not to pick up Watson in the final over of the session as a length ball seamed away from the right hander’s defensive prod.

Watson picked up back-to-back fours off Anderson shortly after tea, prompting the duo to exchange verbal pleasantries for the remainder of the over

Ponting greeted the introduction of Swann with an on-drive to the boundary.

The off-spinner thought he had removed Watson later in the over, only for Collingwood to spill a regulation chance at slip after a straighter delivery had taken the shoulder of the bat.

Ponting took the attack to England as the end approached, cracking Steven Finn for consecutive boundaries and collecting a huge six over wide long-on in Swann’s first over.

There was just enough time for the Tasmanian to bring up a 56th Test fifty, from just 41 balls, as Australia ended a chastening day on a high note.