The Ashes Diary Read Online Free PDF Page B

that hair shows the presence of drugs in your system for far longer than urine, so it’s a more accurate form of testing. It’s certainly a new experience for me, but they can cut my hair any time they like.
    After that I went straight into some rehab with Alex, which was necessary after a four-day match, and then a three-hour training session. Freshened up by our day off, the boys worked very hard. Darren set up different sections in separate nets to work on particular skills: one involved facing spin bowling, another had bowling machines set up with the ball swinging, and another net was for seam bowling. I think we all enjoyed working with such focus and intent.
    After training came some pre-Test media commitments: some guys had an open media session, others had to do interviews for Cricket Australia TV at the hotel, and all of us had our head shots done for Sky television; these are the little cameos you see when guys walk out to bat.
    There’s always time for team fines, levied by a committee of Brad Haddin, James Pattinson and Peter Siddle. When I transgress, the boys have decided not to fine me as an individual. Instead, I have to pay 25 per cent of the total fines that the team pays. So they’re taxing me based on the overall team performance. I guess that’s the captain’s lot. I didn’t quite agree! But you’re wasting your time arguing with that lot.
    To cap off the day, Peter Brukner ran another team trivia night, a lot of laughs. This one was more of a general knowledge test, on cricket, the Ashes, music, you name it.
    Tuesday 2 July. Worcester.
    If I wanted one thing from the warm-up first-class games, it was for the batsmen to score runs. In Taunton and here today, we’ve got exactly that. Today was terrific – 4/340 and everyone amongst the runs.
    It was overcast all day at the County Ground, allowing for a bit of movement in the air, but Shane Watson batted fantastically to make his first hundred on tour. It’s great to see Watto hitting it so well again, and the certainty of knowing he’s back at the top of the order seems to have worked a treat. Chris Rogers went beautifully for 75, carrying on the good form he’s been showing for Middlesex. Then Eddie and I made half-centuries to round it off. Fantastic batting practice, just what we needed.
    It’s true that the wicket was very flat, and Worcester didn’t give us their first-choice bowling attack. It’ll be different in the First Test. But you know, I don’t care. It’s good to get confidence and time in the middle. Any bowler can get you out at any time; it’s the same ball whether it’s delivered by James Anderson or a young newcomer at Worcester. You can only beat the opposition you’re given. And my philosophy is, you always aim to make the most of what you’ve got. That goes for a game, a throwdown session, or facing the best bowlers in the world in an Ashes Test. You set your standards for excellence, and aim to achieve that in every situation.
    The bottom line is, we’re moving through the gears towards where we want to be next week, and today was another great step in the right direction.
    Wednesday 3 July. Worcester.
    A lot of attention has been given to selecting our best top six batsmen. On the bowling side, it’s also complex. James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon played the first tour game as the best way of managing their workload. But it’s not a closed shop. There’s a chance for any of the other bowlers – Jackson Bird, Ryan Harris, James Faulkner and Ashton Agar – to make a push. We want to give everyone an opportunity.
    Today they gave an outstanding performance. On this flattest of flat wickets, they took seven Worcestershire wickets in a consistent day-long effort. ‘Rhino’ Harris, who’s got a fantastic Test average and is still working his way towards full fitness, generated good pace in his first spell. Jackson Bird – who was man of the match in the last Test match he played,