Huddersfield's Aussies give their Ashes verdicts

Jul 8 2009 by Roy Wright, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

THE Ashes begin today and Huddersfield’s Drakes League Aussies are – surprise, surprise – tipping the famous old urn to head back Down Under.

But they are a little less confident than they are known to have been in the past. Not surprising as the tourists have lost strike bowler Brett Lee for at least today’s First Test in Cardiff.

Plus the squad has several new and relatively untried faces having lost Test greats like Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Glenn McGrath and probably the greatest spinner of all time, Shane Warne.

As usual though, Australians are nothing if not super confident.

For the record, I agree and think the best thing we can hope for is a draw – but then my lousy forecasting is legendary, so let’s hope I’m wrong again!

Of the other Aussies in the League, Jake DeAraugo of Armitage Bridge and Hall Bower’s Nathan Fitzgerald are somewhere in Europe, while Meltham’s Jake Thorne didn’t reply

Ben Hilliard Golcar Age: 25 Origin: Adelaide Prediction ... A DRAW!

THE only one of the Aussies hedging his bets.

"I was really confident the last time we came over in 2005 and we got well and truly stuffed!" said Hilliard.

"This time I am not overly-optimistic, and I’m worried over our lack of a genuine spinner.

"It will be close, that is certain, and I fancy a 1-1 draw with rain probably affecting at least one match."

Ben DeAraugo Broad Oak Age: 24 Origin: North Melbourne Prediction ... 2-1 Aussies

THE Huddersfield League’s leading wicket-taker says: "I think the series will be a whole lot closer than some people think, but I’m still going for a 2-1 win to Australia.

"I know we have a number of newcomers in the Test squad, but I believe we still have the quality of players coming through and I feel they are ready-made for Test cricket.

"And we definitely have far more depth than England."

Shane Mott Scholes Age: 24 Origin: Hawkesbury, Nr Sydney Prediction ... 3-1 Aussies

MOTT is among the more confident of the men from Down Under.

He said: "I don’t think runs will be a problem with Ponting and Hughes, and I also think Stuart Clark, Peter Siddle and particularly Mitchell Johnson will go really well.

"I think both side’s are fairly weak in the spinning department, but I do believe Nathan Hauritz is under-estimated.

"It really all boils down to whether we can take 20 wickets in each game, that is definitely the key."