McGrath names his targets as worries increase on England's batting form

Glenn McGrath went ahead and named Vaughan and Strauss as the batsmen he'd be targetting during the forthcoming Ashes. This isn't exactly news though, as he had already mentioned it three months ago. Perhaps it would have been newsworthy had he said that he was going to target Harmison, obviously more now more confident about his batting skills, having scored a test fifty last year. He is quick to point out that Warne made Strauss look stupid a few games ago.

On the positive side for England, at least this means Trescothick can breathe easy. We'll wait for Gillespie's pearls of wisdom to confirm that though!

"I've always liked to target either the captain or the best batsman, whichever one that has happened to be," McGrath said.
"A lot of times the best batsman is the captain, so that's been easy enough. To me, this time, it's Vaughan and Strauss.
"I haven't decided on one. I'm targeting two."

He obviously implies that he doesn't think Vaughan is the best English batsman. Either that, or he reckons Strauss ought to be captaining. These Poms always cause so much trouble. Why couldnt the best batsman have been captain? Would have made his job a lot more easier. Now he has to bother about dismissing two batsmen every single time. That also means no easy pickings for Gillespie, Kasprowicz, Warne and Lee. In Lee's case that'd be applicable only if he finds someone else to carry the Gatorade!

England would rather not have McGrath say these things right now. Their top order batsmen have, as Vic Marks puts it, chosen the right time to ensure they dont peak early. Atherton sarcastically notes that England's counties will be very happy to let the centrally contracted batsmen go, given their contributions so far.

Ian Chappell writes about Damien Martyn's progress over the last decade.

Atherton also talks to Ponting about Warne, England, ageing, Hayden, Clarke and P Kietersen.