Romeo
8 Jun 2006, 23:02
Border tips Aussies to win Ashes
June 08 2006 at 11:28AM Sydney - Former Australia captain Allan Border tipped a 2-1 Ashes series win for his nation on Thursday but warned the Australians would underrate England "at our own peril".
Border said Australia's home ground advantage would prove crucial in the campaign to regain the Ashes trophy that England claimed for the first time in 16 years in September.
"Overall, England are a good cricket team, but I just think at home we have got the players, as long as they all stay fit, to get those Ashes back," Border said.
"If England have some injury problems I think we will win and win well, but if they get their full complement here I'll give them a Test match and I think we will get two, so 2-1 will do me."
Border, the second-highest run-scorer in Test match history, nominated allrounder Andrew Flintoff as England's main threat but said quick Steve Harmison and captain-batsman Michael Vaughan could also cause damage if they recovered from injury.
"To me they still have the basis of a very good cricket team once they get all their players fit," he said.
"If they keep Flintoff fit and they get Harmison back and Vaughan back after his knee (injury) they'll be very competitive - we underrate them at our peril," he said.
The first of five Ashes Tests begins on November 23 in Brisbane.
June 08 2006 at 11:28AM Sydney - Former Australia captain Allan Border tipped a 2-1 Ashes series win for his nation on Thursday but warned the Australians would underrate England "at our own peril".
Border said Australia's home ground advantage would prove crucial in the campaign to regain the Ashes trophy that England claimed for the first time in 16 years in September.
"Overall, England are a good cricket team, but I just think at home we have got the players, as long as they all stay fit, to get those Ashes back," Border said.
"If England have some injury problems I think we will win and win well, but if they get their full complement here I'll give them a Test match and I think we will get two, so 2-1 will do me."
Border, the second-highest run-scorer in Test match history, nominated allrounder Andrew Flintoff as England's main threat but said quick Steve Harmison and captain-batsman Michael Vaughan could also cause damage if they recovered from injury.
"To me they still have the basis of a very good cricket team once they get all their players fit," he said.
"If they keep Flintoff fit and they get Harmison back and Vaughan back after his knee (injury) they'll be very competitive - we underrate them at our peril," he said.
The first of five Ashes Tests begins on November 23 in Brisbane.