My intention was to go over. I have a mate (best man at my wedding) who's lived in Sydney for yonks. In fact, he's married to Tom Moody's sister. However, I've blown the money I put aside for it and he knows me way to well to put me up at his house
Got a few mates who've emigrated down under, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, just need another one to bugger off to Perth and I'll have most of the Ashes covered, Bucket list is to do a complete tour but time off work will be an issue and the wife may also veto that, unless I take her with me, but where's the fun in that!
Just over a month now before we depart.. Squad is: Alastair Cook (captain), Joe Root, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Gary Ballance, Michael Carberry, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Matt Prior (vice-captain), Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Monty Panesar, Steven Finn, Boyd Rankin, Chris Tremlett. Of those selection, Gary Ballance, hmmm, not sure on this one, unless he pulls up trees in the warmup games he'll have to familiarise himself with the Gatorade bottles! Michael Carberry, I've liked him for a while, however I thought his chance had come and gone, did nothing special in the ODIs I'd have taken the wee lad from Notts, James Taylor. Monty Panesar, agree with this, he's a better spinner than people give him credit for! Why take all these three? Steven Finn, Boyd Rankin, Chris Tremlett, much of a muchness, there is no real cover for Anderson in this squad, I'd have taken Onions, not sure who'd I'd drop, prob. Tremlett?
Being from dan'sarf, I'm more of a Surrey boy (less about them the better...) But always watched out for Lancs results, ever since the great Wasim Akram played for you guys, guy was ****ing unreal, nearly as good as Paul Allot!
