Number 3?

England started their two day tour match against the Chairman's XI, in between the first two Ashes tests, in Alice Springs today.

Ballance put himself as a front runner for the newly available spot in the England Ashes 1st XI with a top-score of 55 as England declared late in the day on 212-7.

Australia closed the first day with 16 for no loss, Cazzulino and Harris putting the runs on the scoreboard for the home side.

The slow pitch in the Northern Territory stadium saw Joe Root open the batting, with Carberry who was dismissed with a catch at mid wicket, suggesting England are preparing the Yorkshire County Cricket occasional off-spinner for the number 3 spot.

My first choice to replace Trott at number 3 would be Ian Bell. But with his first test match stats Down Under standing at; 37 runs across two innings and just one catch to his name - is our summer Ashes hero the right man for the job?

What do you think?


Ball on Willow.

Trott's Timescale

Warwickshire County Cricket team (to be renamed the Birmingham Bears in the 2014 season's T20 Blast tournament) has confirmed there is no return date for England batsman Trott.

Director Dougie Brown spoke out about the situation; "It's all about Trotty getting better. There's no timescale from us and I'm sure there's not from England either".

England coach Andy Flower explains that Jonathan Trott "needs time to reassess" and get some "rest and recuperation" but hopes he "will continue to be a brilliant international batsman for England in the future".

The South-African born batsman flew home, shortly after England lost the first test of the Ashes to Australia by 381 runs, to be reunited with his wife and 3-year-old daughter.

Colin Povey, Warwickshire chief executive, promised to give him "as much support as we can" on his road to recovery from the long-standing stress-related condition that saw the ICC and ECB Cricketer of the Year pull out of the current Ashes series down under.


Ball on Willow.

Broad on Brits Bashing

Stuart Broad isn't fazed by the Ashes sledging that the Aussie squad are serving the Brits. In an interview he said they "train [themselves] to expect that" and how no line has been crossed on the field. Broad did touch on off field verbal behaviour saying; "As an England side we can pride ourselves on how we don't comment on the opposition".

This came after the Australian captain Michael Clarke was docked 20% of his match fee for threatening Jimmy Anderson at the crease in the opening match in Brisbane. Off the pitch, David Warner commented on Jonathan Trott's first test performance; "The way Trotty got out today was pretty poor and weak." before back-tracking slightly, agreeing "he went a bit too far".

Shortly after the decision was made to take Jonathan Trott out of the England squad to focus on his health. Broad said it's "heartbreaking for us to lose Trotty...he's been an integral pat of the side for the last 4 or 5 years...in his 49 tests".

So who's to fill the number 3 spot in England's batting order?

My bet? Ian Bell.

Wishing Trott all the best!

And that's Ball on Willow.

News Update 27/11/13

Ireland qualify for the World t20 after continuing their unbeaten streak with a win against Hong Kong by 85 runs.

Other international cricket news: Scotland will take on Italy after finishing 4th in their group. The playoffs come after they beat Denmark by 75 runs in Dubai.

Gayle has torn his hamstring running for a single against India. He will be out for the rest of the tour.

In county cricket: Trescothick has been confirmed as Somerset captain for the 2014 season. It will be his 21st season playing for their 1st XI, with James Hildreth as vice-captain.


And that's Ball on Willow.

Bresnan's Back

Yorkshire and England batsman Tim Bresnan has returned from injury to score 57 not out after recovering from a stress fracture in his lower back.

The all-rounder helped the England Performance Programme to 376-9 after being put into bat by the Queensland 2nd XI.

Also in the EPP side; Moeen Ali scored 83, keeper Jos Buttler with 54 and Middlesex 1st XI Sam Robson scored an impressive century in Brisbane.


Ball on Willow.

SPOTY Shortlist

The 10 names have been announced and now the speculation begins.

Mo Farah
Christine Ohuruogu
Hannah Cockroft
Andy Murray
Chris Froome
Justin Rose
Sir Ben Ainslie
AP McCoy
Ian Bell
Leigh Halfpenny

3 athletics stars in the mix; Mo Farah, Christine Ohuruogu and Hannah Cockroft. Men's tennis star Andy Murray, cyclist Chris Froome, golfer Justin Rose, sailor Sir Ben Ainslie, jockey AP McCoy, cricketer Ian Bell and rugby union star Leigh Halfpenny.

So who makes your top three?

Mo Farah was the second man in history to complete the Olympic and World 'double-double' in 5000m and 10000m.

Christine Ohuruogu is the first British woman to win two World Championship titles.

Hannah Cockroft set a new Championship record as she secured the sprint double abroad in Lyon.

Andy Murray brought the 77-year drought for a British Wimbledon win to an end in straight sets on the hottest day of the year in 40 degree heat inside Centre Court.

Chris Froome - can it be two cyclists in a row for the SPOTY award - he won the 100th Tour de France this year.

Golfer Justin Rose won his first major at the US Open.

Sir Ben Ainslie was nominated last year for his incredible achievements at the London Olympics but this year he created yet more history as he helped inspire an American Cup win. A moment in history unlikely to be forgotten anytime soon. The American team trailed 8-1 with one more loss the end of the competition. Oracle Team USA enlisted the help of Ainslie and the 8-1 trail soon became an 8-8 tie with the finale a winner-takes-all moment for both teams. USA won by 44 seconds. Incredible!

AP McCoy, 18 times champion jockey, won his 4000th race this year.

Ian Bell was England's Ashes hero in the batting lineup. Bell's usual average is 21 and in the Ashes he racked up an average of 62 with a total of 562 runs equalling Denis Compton's home Ashes record in 1948.

Rugby Union star Leigh Halfpenny starred int he winning British & Irish Lions tour kicking a new Lions test record of 21 points.

So my predictions?

1. Andy Murray
2. Mo Farah
3. Sir Ben Ainslie

What are yours?

We'll find out Sunday 15th December when Clare Balding, Gary Lineker and Gabby Logan present the evening to a 12,000 capacity crowd.


Ball on Willow.

BBC Sports Personality

It's that time of year again when the Sports Personality shortlist of 10 names is announced. It will be broadcast at some point on the One Show tonight (from 19:00 GMT).

The awards are being held on Sunday 15th December this year at the First Direct Arena in Leeds.

Gary Lineker commented on the venue saying; "It's going to be tough to follow last year, the most unbelievable sporting year in living memory, but the fact that it is the 60th anniversary, the fact that it is coming to Leeds, means it's still going to be a huge show."

Director of BBC Sport Barbara Slater added; "We're thrilled Leeds is to host BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2013. The sporting heritage of the city is outstanding and the new arena will be a great venue from which to celebrate the very best of sport."

Last year's winner of the award was of course Tour de France winner and British Olympic road cycling champion, Bradley "Wiggo" Wiggins. He was presented the prestigious public-voted award by the then-pregnant Duchess of Cambridge and legendary footballer David Beckham - who received his very own Sports Personality award ten years previous in 2002 - in front of a televised audience exceeding 15 million.

Who do you think will make it onto the list of 10?

Who do you think will edge out the competition to claim the title?

My money's on the British number one tennis player Andy Murray.

Winning the US Open got him 3rd place last year, behind Jessica Ennis (now Ennis-Hill) and Wiggo. Can being runner-up it the Australian open and of course taking the Wimbledon title, for the first time by a British player in 77 years, be what gets him the win? 

15th December, we'll find out!

That's Ball on Willow.

Clarke Fined For Foul Mouth

Australian captain Michael Clarke "was found to have breached Article 2.1.4 of the ICC Code of Conduct which relates to 'using language or a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting during an international match'."

Clarke was fined 20% of his match fee for a threat he made to Jimmy Anderson, telling him to expect a broken arm whilst he was batting.

This is the latest in a long string of aggressive and disappointing comments for the Australian camp.

What's next?


Ball on Willow.

Trott Leaves Ashes Tour

Things have gone from bad to worse for England after their crushing defeat as Jonathan Trott leaves the Ashes tour due to a stress-related condition he has a history of struggling with.

He scored only 19 runs in the two innings of the first test.

Trott commented on the situation saying, "I don't think it's right that I'm playing knowing that I'm not 100%...I cannot currently operate at the level I have done in the past." He added, "my priority now is to take a break from cricket so that I can focus on my recovery."

Alastair Cook recently spoke out about David Warner's comments, calling them "disrespectful" but England coach Andy Flower says "it is not directly related to that".

We wish him all the best in a speedy recovery!


Ball on Willow.

(One) Down But Not Out

Well at least I could have an early one tonight.

What else can be said if the crushing defeat Australia handed to England?

I'm sure the Brisbane newspapers have plenty to say and it seems Warner does as well. The Aussie opener had some choice words to say about batsman Jonathan Trott. "The way Trotty got out today was pretty poor and weak." Ouch!

The papers took a liking to a different English player though, Graeme Swann. The front page of a Brisbane paper this morning read, "three great tons have us cheering on day 3" accompanied by three pictures. David Warner (124), Michael Clarke (113) and Graeme Swann (2-135). Low blow!

561 was the target and England started their day 24 runs into it.

Cook and Pietersen hoping to make a splash. An hour's up and England are 71-2. But not long after - it just wasn't meant to be for KP in his 100th test match, as he goes at the hand of Johnson for 26.

England trail by 489.

The fifty comes up for Alastair Cook and that's his 33rd in test cricket. Johnson getting frustrated at the lack of wickets.

Ex-England batsman Geoffrey Boycott says it best; "This is what the game is all about. It is theatre, absolute drama. Johnson is getting ratty as hell because he is not getting them out with his best balls."

Bell lasts 70 balls as he's caught behind by Haddin for 32 off a short ball by Siddle.

England 130-4.

Rain stops play at 142-4 and it's pouring it down.

An hour and a half later and they're back out to play. No sooner is Cook at the crease that Lyon sends him back up those steps with only 3 fours to his name in his 65 runs.

Prior doesn't last long as it was Lyon who struck again leading Prior to only make 4.

Broad is beaten by a fast and short ball from Johnson and, like Prior, also goes for 4.

The collapse is well and truly underway.

It looks to be all over for England when Johnson gets Swanny out for a duck.

Rain stopped play again with England on 160-8 and Root and Tremlett at the square.

Tremlett is the 6th English player to go for single figures this innings once play resumes but not the last - Anderson goes c&b Johnson for 2.

And that's England 179ao and 1-0 for Aus in the series down under with Mitchell Johnson made man of the match.

I stand by the predictions I made at cricket.eventility.com - England to win 2-1 (and Broad to be man of the series).

Watching with bated breath.


Ball on Willow.

Is there any hope?

The Courier Mail calls them "a team of nobodies" but it only took 4 minutes for Broad to strike with his first ball and it was Rogers who was heading back to the dressing room. That's three days in a row that Stuart Broad has drawn blood first. Things were looking positive for English side.

Two appeals with Anderson bowling to Warner, neither reviewed, neither pitching in line with the stumps.

Chris Tremlett comes into the attack and Warner hits the second ball of the over into Stuart Broad's hands at mid on.

Australia 75-2 with a lead of 234 runs.

Rains stops play just before 1am GMT for all of 15 minutes.

Warner and Clarke seem to be enjoying Swann's bowling after the short break, dancing up the crease hitting fours. England finally think they have Warner and waste a review just before lunch.

The Aussies ahead by 304 runs.

Warner and Clarke make 100 and 50 respectively with Warner eventually going at the hand of Broad on 124. With Smith out shortly after for a duck.

Ian Bell drops George Bailey with Joe Root bowling.

No sooner is 100 up for Clarke that Swann finally gets his man.

Aus are 299-5 at tea.

One for the record books: Back out they come and 6 runs later Swann takes his 250th test wicket when Bailey hits the ball onto his stumps.

It takes an hour with the new ball for England to take the 7th wicket. And it's Tremlett again who gets Haddin out on 53.

Australia pass 400 and declare with a score of 401-7. England trail by 560 runs.

Carberry is out for a duck and England couldn't have had a worse start. England are 1-1.

Trott takes to the crease with little success again walking off the pitch scoring just 9, at the hand of Johnson.

Pietersen comes on to see out England to the close of play. England 24-2 needing 537 runs to win.

Can they do it? Or do they play this out for a draw?


Ball on Willow.

Bloodbath for Brits

England came out with one aim: two wickets, fast, wanting to limit their top order batsmen's exposure to the heat as much as possible.

Australia resume their efforts from yesterday on 273-8.

Jimmy Anderson was managing to swing the relatively new ball but it was the man who must not be named - Stuart Broad - who struck first for the second day in a row. Ryan Harris looked to leave the ball but didn't withdraw with enough speed. The nick travels to Prior's right but safely into both gloves.

England's ex-captain Michael Vaughan commented on the wicket; "Harris guided it through and it was a simple catch for Matt Prior. Harris was looking quite dangerous so that is a really big wicket for England."

Nathan Lyon steps on to the pitch, he starts off looking solid - helping Haddin edge closer and closer to his century. Then England call out with a big appeal as a ball from Jimmy passes Lyon's gloves. No such luck.

A few singles later and England finally get their man. Brad Haddin is run out, short of his century, on 94 - trying to go for a greedy two. Carberry with the throw into the gloves of Prior who beats the Aussie keeper.

Australia are 295ao after half an hours play at The Gabba.

Cooke and Carberry walk out together for the first time this series and you can see Carberry just having a look around the stadium - taking it all in.

Cooke steps up to the crease to face Harris.

England's opening stand of 28 is finally broken with Cooke edging the ball backwards to a very patient Haddin. Trott then comes out and delivers a rather short performance leaving England on 55-2.

After lunch it's Kevin Pietersen's turn. Can he bring this England team back into play?

Siddle drops KP and Pietersen is given a second chance. One he doesn't use for long as he gives Australian newcomer George Bailey a little catching practise and leaves scoring only 18. A huge wicket for Australia!

Carberry is bowled out for 40, Bell quickly after on 5 and Prior goes for a dismal golden duck. England now on 87-6 and Lyon has a hat-trick chance he completely wastes.

Can Broad and Root turn this carnage around?

Root goes for 2 making him the third successive English batsman to go for (low) single figures this innings. Will Broad and Swann break the pattern?

The answer, no.

Swann goes for a duck, caught again by Bailey and England are 91-8.

27 balls, 5 wickets, 4 runs. APPALLING!!!!

Tremlett comes in to support Broad, who seems to be England's last hope of saving this bleak innings. Tremlett goes for 8 with Anderson the last man in. And it's Siddle who gets the final wicket for Australia. Broad goes for a respectable 32 leaving the visitors on 136ao.

82-2 to 136ao - a complete collapse of England's middle order.

Australia go straight back in to bat, already leading by 159 runs.

Can England redeem themselves out in the field as Rogers and Watson try to dig a deeper hole for England to struggle out of in their second innings?

Close of play couldn't come soon enough as Australia walk off the pitch 65-0 with a 224 run lead.

What do England need to do on Day 3 to swing this game back in their favour? Is that even possible?


Ball on Willow.

Ashes: Day One

Stuart Broad has achieved what he set out to do, answer his critics jeers the best way he knows how - on the pitch.

Cooke and Clarke both stepped out in caps and blazers for the specially minted coin toss out on the square at The Gabba on Thursday 21st November 2013. The start of the Ashes.

Cooke called heads and lost the toss. Michael Clarke chose to bat (the same as England would have done should they have won the toss) and after a few cute kids, national anthems and some pyrotechnics, Rogers and Warner took to the crease. Anderson started the attack against Australia with Broad the other England bowler to open. He did so with a boundary, much to the crowd's delight. But it was Stuart Broad who was smiling when Australia were 12-1 as Broad took Rogers out of the occasion for only 1 run.

It was Stuart Broad who knocked Australia right back to eventually leave them on 83-4 with Warner very unlucky to be out just shy of his half century on 49 and a very important wicket of Clarke out for the same score as Rogers (1).

By tea Australia were 153-6 with Anderson and Tremlett taking out Bailey (who received his first cap for Australia in this test match) and Smith respectively. 

It wasn't Swann's day as he was bowling to Johnson, who before the series started had said he was ready to face Swann at the crease, and hit for boundary after boundary including two sixes.

The 27-year-old medium pace bowler (as the Oz press refer to him - when they have to mention him) Stuart Broad finally ended the 7th wicket partnership of 114 from Haddin and Johnson with the ball hitting middle stump, dismissing Mitchell Johnson for 64 (134). Giving Broady his well-earned 5-wicket haul for 65. Taking the ball, he held it up and turn around facing all areas of the stadium to almighty boos. What a way to silence his critics!

Anderson took one after that in the finally few overs, leaving close of play today with Australia on 273-8 with Brad Haddin no on 78* (132).

Has Australia fought back enough from 6-down on 132 to salvage their chances in this test match? I think it all depends on how they bowl. But with Johnson able to get 64 on this pitch - England's higher order batsmen must be chomping at the bit to get out there!

That's Ball on Willow.

News Updates

Nottinghamshire sign 34-year-old Australian batsman Phil Jacques on a short term contract for the start of the 2014-15 LV County Championship season from Yorkshire (770 runs last season). This came about after Notts let Alex Hales seek out an IPL contract. Jacques has also played for Worcestershire.

William Porterfield becomes the first player to score a t20 Century for Ireland with an unbeaten 127 as they beat the USA by 75 runs.

23-year-old Lewis Hatchett has signed a new one-year contract at Sussex.

41 minutes to go.


Ball on Willow.

News from Down Under

Australia opener Chris Rogers was dismissed by England right-arm off-spinner Graeme Swann on six occasions in the previous Ashes series. Will Swanny cause as much trouble for Rogers on foreign soil? Even Rogers is unsure of how things will play out; "I've got plans but I know he's going to bowl well at me. We'll have to see what happens."

Both Australia and England have agreed to HotSpot and Snicko being included in the DRS system for the second Ashes series of 2013. Real-time Snicko will help limit the number of obviously wrong decisions caused by HotSpot in the summer.

Still a lot of negative press surrounds England's bowler Stuart Broad (or "Stuart Fraud" as they have taken to calling him in Oz) because of his unapologetic nature over the seemingly controversial decision to stand his ground at the crease of Trent Bridge in July this year.

Still defending his decision, he likened the situation to football; "If Wayne Rooney jumped into a two-footed tackle in a Premier League game against Liverpool and the ref gave him a yellow card, would he go, 'You know what, ref, we're one-nil down but I'm going to walk off, come on, send me off'?" What do you think?

Tick tock, tick tock...we're almost there.


And that's Ball on Willow.

Tendulkar immortalised, KP hopeful and Robinson ready for a challenge

Sachin Tendulkar is expected to be immortalised in marble in a shrine built by Indian actor Manoj Tiwary (not to be confused with the IPL cricketer) in the Bihar state of Northern India. After his recent retirement, with a victory in his 200^th test match over the West Indies, Tendulkar received the highest civilian honour there is in India: the Bharat Ratna. The sporting royalty will not be alone in the 6000sq ft temple, with statues of MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh confirmed to be joining his in the temple.

Kevin Pietersen has expressed a hope of playing for England in both the 2015 World Cup in Australasia and against South Africa in the 2015-16 tour. Many didn't think KP would last as long as he has. Reaching his 100^th cap tomorrow has been a very bumpy journey for him. Stripped of his brief captaincy in 2009 and dropped from the squad for texting with the South African players during a test series between the two nations are two definite low points tainting his otherwise rather impressive professional career he has carved for himself.

Sussex manager Mark Robinson has been named Head Coach for the England Lions tour in Sri Lanka next year. Robinson has previously coached the England U19s and hopes this opportunity will be a great challenge "out of [his] comfort zone".

That's Ball on Willow.

The 100 Club

The countdown is almost over with Thursday 21st November almost here. Midnight in Brisbane is when it all begins. With England keen to retain the ashes trophy after their 3-0 win on home soil earlier this year, the first back-to-back series hosted in Oz is guaranteed to be an eventful one.

Kevin Pietersen, already England’s leading run scorer of all time – ahead of legends Graham Gooch and Alec Stewart, will make it into the record books as he steps out on to the fresh pitch of The Gabba this week and into the distinguished 100 club.

The first test in the Ashes series is KP’s 100th test and what a setting to do it in. However, slightly tainting this incredible moment in his career, Pietersen has been slated – yet again – in a front cover news story about his ego and antics in the dressing-room.

More bad press for the England side includes accusations that Broad asked two people to be removed from Sydney Cricket Ground’s members bar after they kept badgering him. Both took to twitter to defend themselves.

Let’s hope it does not affect them come Thursday.


That's Ball on Willow.

New Ball to the Blogging World

BALL ON WILLOW

Why?

Allow me a few words to explain myself...

My name is Jessica Ball. Born and bred in London with no plans to ever leave.

I have just turned 21 (boy did I milk that birthday!) and made the seemingly controversial decision, after a fantastic gap year travelling around Asia, to dismiss the social convention that is university. See, I've never been great with tests, revision, "reading around the subject" - so uni, it just wasn't for me.

Instead, I chose to join a company called Inapub.

www.inapub.co.uk

Let me make this perfectly clear. I do not work In A Pub, but for Inapub.

They are a company that helps Pubs and Breweries connect with people by creating offers and vouchers, listing events, advertising their services, facilities, menu's and drinks and build a loyal community. Also connecting all that content with our content partners like Google; national publishers, tourist boards and mobile app developers. Plus you can connect it to your social networks, like Facebook and Twitter. You do it once we find your customers everywhere! 

Anyway...

I've now been there over 2 years and have progressed into a well-established role running their social media, promoting their services and competitions. Hence the reason this blog exists.

See, I started playing cricket at the age of 5. I was the second girl to join Ealing Cricket Club sometime ago in the late-90s and have been hooked to the sport ever since.

***This is where the name of the blog has come from. Jessica Ball. Ball. A cricket bat is made of willow. Willow. Ball on Willow. Get it? Well I thought it was rather clever...***

Before I found cricket I had gymnastics. As a toddler I am told I loved it, continuing with it until I turned 16. In that time I found a general love of sport. All sport. Almost all sport.

From the obvious football, rugby, tennis and golf to the NFL and NBA - I have some sort of interest in all of them. (Liverpool, Harlequins, Murray and Donald, New York Jets and Knicks)

If I hadn't told my name, or that I joined the girls section at ECC you might have been a little shocked to know my gender. Most are surprised when I open my mouth and stats pour out about the sport of your choosing. In all fairness I don't think it's my fault - I think my dad was desperate for a son, I had to do!

By the age of 11 I narrowed down the sports I played (never the ones I watched) and by 13 I was a double indoor cricket champion for my club Ealing. This was also at the time of my first season playing for Middlesex girls U13s. For anyone who would understand, I was a rather appalling batsmen (the bails were roughly in line with waist!!) but I had great reflexes - the latter making me the perfect candidate for a wicketkeeper.

Once I started winter training in the nets with the U15s I knew I'd entered a different league of the game. My batting was not up to scratch and I had competition as first choice keeper. As one of the youngest in the squad it was always going to be a challenge to be selected in the 1st XI and it was a slightly frustrating season for me. Still, I stuck with it and decided I had to try a little more seriously at bowling - with not a lot of success.

With one of the most incredible opportunities I have still ever received to date - my father bid in an auction at Graham Gooch's annual charity fundraiser for a session for 2 in the Nursery at Lord's with the legend himself.

Shaking uncontrollably I begin my session in the nets improving my technique on the pull shot. Maybe 20 minutes later John Emburey strolls passed, waving to Gooch. He comes over to chat and the rest of our session is devoted to picking apart and rebuilding my bowling action. To cut a long story short I never kept again but instead took 3 5-wicket hauls over my last season with Middlesex.

I could go on to say Essex were playing Middlesex in a t20 game that evening and as the Essex batters began to warm up I might have been bowling to Chopra who scored the winning runs. And I may or may not have taken full credit for that win!....but I won't.

U15s was my final season playing competitive cricket at both Gunnersbury and Middlesex. Unfortunately a tumble went wrong in my gymnastics and I injured my back. After that I was never as good as I once was so I chose to get my qualification as a coach. To this day I still coach at Ealing every Friday during the season with the youngsters challenging my rusty ability in most sessions! Watching the girls come through the club and into the new ladies team is a pleasure to watch and I'm glad it plays such a big part at Ealing.


So that's me.

Ball on Willow.