Shane Warne urges Australia to be aggressive to quell Flintoff factor
With the Ashes up for grabs during the next five days, Australia needs to play positive cricket from ball one tonight to retain the famous little urn, says former leg spinner Shane Warne in an article for the Herald Sun.
"Australia must remain aggressive and try to win the Test match. The Poms, though, will approach this match with a nothing-to-lose attitude. That''s when a team can be most dangerous - when it has everything to gain," Warne says.
"England has to win here to pinch the Ashes, and its mindset has to be super aggressive, both at selection and on the field. It must play potential match-winners, so Steve Harmison has to get the nod. It will also welcome back Andrew Flintoff with open arms. He will undoubtedly inspire his teammates in his final Test for England," he adds.
"Australia will look once again to "Mr Reliable" Michael Clarke and Marcus North for most of its runs. But I have a feeling Ponting is in for a big, big hundred. Selection-wise, The Oval pitch will turn, so expect Australia to go in with a spinner. It''s a question of who makes way for Nathan Hauritz," Warne says.
"The fifth Test presents an opportunity for someone, on either side, to make a name for himself and go down in history as a hero," he concludes.
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"Australia must remain aggressive and try to win the Test match. The Poms, though, will approach this match with a nothing-to-lose attitude. That''s when a team can be most dangerous - when it has everything to gain," Warne says.
"England has to win here to pinch the Ashes, and its mindset has to be super aggressive, both at selection and on the field. It must play potential match-winners, so Steve Harmison has to get the nod. It will also welcome back Andrew Flintoff with open arms. He will undoubtedly inspire his teammates in his final Test for England," he adds.
"Australia will look once again to "Mr Reliable" Michael Clarke and Marcus North for most of its runs. But I have a feeling Ponting is in for a big, big hundred. Selection-wise, The Oval pitch will turn, so expect Australia to go in with a spinner. It''s a question of who makes way for Nathan Hauritz," Warne says.
"The fifth Test presents an opportunity for someone, on either side, to make a name for himself and go down in history as a hero," he concludes.
