Comments on Triumph of the poms by Michael Atherton
Like Mike Atherton, I would like to see England win the Ashes. However, I would urge caution. The balance in the current Test series has shifted to England, but it is not all over yet and I cannot be totally confident that England will wrap up the series at the Oval next week.
Despite having lost the first test at Lords (cause for Australian complacency perhaps?), England should have wrapped up the Headingley Test and not allowed the Old Trafford test to end as a draw with four overs remaining. At Trent Bridge, a mature team would have easily knocked off the required 129 runs without losing seven wickets, but England has not yet acquired that traditional Australian confidence and has not yet got the killer instinct.
In addition, Simon Jones may not be fit enough to play next week, and just look at how Australia has missed Glenn McGrath during this series. It will be good for cricket generally if England win back the Ashes, but I’m not putting my money on it. Any bets on a tie at the Oval?
A small point: as Michael Vaughan was not born in Yorkshire, he is technically not a Yorkshireman, although he was brought up there. Finally, the term “Pom” must be the last acceptable politically incorrect term to define a member of a race or country, and Michael Atherton should not be using it. Imagine that Pakistan were to beat Australia, no newspaper article would appear bearing the title “Triumph of the Pakis” – and quite rightly so.
Eric Brown
Comments on Diary by Boris Johnson
Loved the article about Uzbekistan. I am also amazed every time I return home to find it hasn’t been burgled (been unlucky 3 times though), and agree with cracking down on Islam, but please, Boris, please do not make the mistake of voting for David Cameron for party leader.
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