Ian Bell insists reclaiming the Ashes next summer means more than becoming one of England's million dollar men. Bell stands to win £570,000 if England win the winner takes all match on 1 November 2008 against the Stanford Superstars in Antigua.
However, Bell is adamant that a repeat of 2005's Ashes triumph when the Australians visit next summer would have far greater meaning than any cash windfall in the Caribbean. Bell knows exactly what it means to win the ashes as he was an ever present during the 2005 series.
"It's really exciting to be given the chance to win this money but, as a team, we'd much prefer to win the Ashes next year," Bell said. "That might sound silly because the amount is so big but the Ashes is the bigger picture for us". Just to put that into perspective; the $1 million per man on offer for the winner of the Stanford match is the biggest team prize in the history of sport!
"The rewards for winning an Ashes series are not just financial. I know winning the Ashes in England is the best time you can have as a cricketer. Everyone remembers it for a long time - a lot longer than winning some money."
Bell also added: “There’s already momentum building under Kevin Pietersen’s captaincy. By the time we reach The Ashes, we’ll have a good idea of how good the team is.”
Bell could be right as Kevin Pietersen does seem to have the Midas touch, the massive turn around during the series against South Africa after he took over as captain; winning the final test and all of the one day games bar one (which didn't take place due to bad weather) against the number two one day team in the world proves that!
Showing posts with label Sport. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sport. Show all posts
Thursday, 23 October 2008
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
The Ashes 2009 itinerary anounced
The ECB have confirmed Australia's full itinerary for the forthcoming tour of England during the summer of 2009; the itinerary includes seven one-dayers in addition to the usual five Tests.
Australia will spend a total of four months in England with the Ashes follow the ICC World Twenty20 tournament, which also takes place in England during the month of June.
Australia will switch formats on completion of the Twenty20 tournament with a four-day match against Sussex at Hove, followed by another against England Lions at New Road (Worcester) to prepare for the five Test matches.
The Rose Bowl has also been chosen as the venue for the third ODI on September 9, and is preceded by the first two games which are to take place at Old Trafford.
"The summer of 2009 promises to be one of the most exciting in the history of cricket in England and Wales," David Collier, the ECB chief executive, said.
"The Ashes and the NatWest Series along with the NatWest International Twenty20 matches have the potential for providing the sort of wonderful cricket which can fire the nation's imagination.
"And of course all this follows the ICC World Twenty20 which guarantees that all the best Twenty20 players in the world will be in this country in June 2009." The news follows Glamorgan's coup last month when they were awarded the first Ashes Test, their inaugural Test match.
Mark Newton, Worcestershire's chief executive, was delighted with the news that a taste of the Ashes is coming to New Road:
"This is the closest we will ever get to playing a Test Match in Worcester and I couldn't be more pleased about the timing, 2009 will be a huge year for cricket in England and for four days Worcester will be centre of the cricketing world" he commented.
A two-day match against Kent at Canterbury has been penciled in for August 15, in between the fourth and fifth Tests, although Australia could face an England Lions team if Kent are involved in the Twenty20 finals day.
The full 2009 Ashes itinerary:
May (tbc) Australia arrive in UK Mon 1 - Thu 4 June
Warm-up period for World Twenty20 Fri 5 - Sun 21 June
World Twenty20 Wed 24 - Sat 27 June
Four-day game v Sussex (Hove) Wed 1 - Sat 4 July
1st Test Cardiff Wed 8 - Sun 12 July
2nd Test Lord's Thu 16 - Mon 20 July
3rd Test Edgbaston Thu 30 July - Mon 3 Aug
4th Test Headingley Fri 7 - Tue 11 Aug
Two-day game v Kent (Canterbury) Thu 20 - Mon 24 Aug
5th Test Oval Thu 20 - Mon 24 Aug
1st International Twenty20 (Old Trafford) Sun 30 Aug
2nd International Twenty20 (Old Trafford) (floodlit) Tue 1 Sept
1st ODI day/night (The Oval) Fri 4 Sept
2nd ODI (Lord's) Sun 6 Sept
3rd ODI day/night (The Rose Bowl) Wed 9 Sept
4th ODI (Lord's) Sat 12 Sept
5th ODI day/night (Trent Bridge) Tue 15 Sept
6th ODI day/night (Trent Bridge) Thu 17 Sept
7th ODI (Durham) Sun 20 Sept
Australia will spend a total of four months in England with the Ashes follow the ICC World Twenty20 tournament, which also takes place in England during the month of June.
Australia will switch formats on completion of the Twenty20 tournament with a four-day match against Sussex at Hove, followed by another against England Lions at New Road (Worcester) to prepare for the five Test matches.
The Rose Bowl has also been chosen as the venue for the third ODI on September 9, and is preceded by the first two games which are to take place at Old Trafford.
"The summer of 2009 promises to be one of the most exciting in the history of cricket in England and Wales," David Collier, the ECB chief executive, said.
"The Ashes and the NatWest Series along with the NatWest International Twenty20 matches have the potential for providing the sort of wonderful cricket which can fire the nation's imagination.
"And of course all this follows the ICC World Twenty20 which guarantees that all the best Twenty20 players in the world will be in this country in June 2009." The news follows Glamorgan's coup last month when they were awarded the first Ashes Test, their inaugural Test match.
Mark Newton, Worcestershire's chief executive, was delighted with the news that a taste of the Ashes is coming to New Road:
"This is the closest we will ever get to playing a Test Match in Worcester and I couldn't be more pleased about the timing, 2009 will be a huge year for cricket in England and for four days Worcester will be centre of the cricketing world" he commented.
A two-day match against Kent at Canterbury has been penciled in for August 15, in between the fourth and fifth Tests, although Australia could face an England Lions team if Kent are involved in the Twenty20 finals day.
The full 2009 Ashes itinerary:
May (tbc) Australia arrive in UK Mon 1 - Thu 4 June
Warm-up period for World Twenty20 Fri 5 - Sun 21 June
World Twenty20 Wed 24 - Sat 27 June
Four-day game v Sussex (Hove) Wed 1 - Sat 4 July
1st Test Cardiff Wed 8 - Sun 12 July
2nd Test Lord's Thu 16 - Mon 20 July
3rd Test Edgbaston Thu 30 July - Mon 3 Aug
4th Test Headingley Fri 7 - Tue 11 Aug
Two-day game v Kent (Canterbury) Thu 20 - Mon 24 Aug
5th Test Oval Thu 20 - Mon 24 Aug
1st International Twenty20 (Old Trafford) Sun 30 Aug
2nd International Twenty20 (Old Trafford) (floodlit) Tue 1 Sept
1st ODI day/night (The Oval) Fri 4 Sept
2nd ODI (Lord's) Sun 6 Sept
3rd ODI day/night (The Rose Bowl) Wed 9 Sept
4th ODI (Lord's) Sat 12 Sept
5th ODI day/night (Trent Bridge) Tue 15 Sept
6th ODI day/night (Trent Bridge) Thu 17 Sept
7th ODI (Durham) Sun 20 Sept
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