Australia’s losing streak would count for little in the Ashes series–Andy Flower
England coach Andy Flower feels Australia’s recent losing streak would not affect the result of upcoming Ashes series between the two sides which gets underway from 25th of November.
Australia broke a seven-match losing string across all formats of cricket last Sunday by defeating http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 in the third ODI of the three-match One Day series, a series that was won by the Lankans 2-1. It was Australia’s ever first series loss against Sri
Lanka at home. Australia also lost the only T20 International played before the three One Day Internationals.
Prior to the Sri Lanka series, Australia had a dismal tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 where Ponting’s team lost the two-match Test series against India 2-0. The whitewash dropped the Kangaroos to No. 5 on the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Rankings, a spot behind their Ashes rivals,
England. The Test series whitewash was followed by 1-0 ODI series loss after two of the three One Day Internationals (ODIs) were washed out.
Flower said Australia's recent struggle against different International sides was obviously gratifying but would have a minimal impact when the first Test begins at the Gabba on 25th of this month. "...if our opposition are losing, then it's a
good thing for us”, said the England coach. Flower, however, did add that the performance of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 over the past few months would not be the most important factor “in who wins or loses".
Meanwhile, the Australian captain Ricky Ponting has warned his rivals that they would struggle with the Gabba track despite their extensive preparation for The Ashes. England will have had an experience of three tour games by the time
they reach the Gabba for The Ashes opener but the home skipper believes that it would not help the tourists deal with the pace and bounce of Gabba pitch.
"There's been a lot made of England's preparation, the fact that they're here early and they're playing lots of games, but they don't play a match at the Gabba before the first Test”, said Ponting, who has been heavily criticized by
various Australian cricket experts for Australia’s recent losses. “They'll definitely still find it hard to come to grips with what they're confronted with in Brisbane day one," he further added.
England, on the other hand, is eying an Ashes win on Australian soil after a gap of more than two decades. The side’s last Ashes win in Australia came in 1986-87 when the tourists retained The Ashes with a 2-1 series win.
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