[warne] english tactics help him set up whitewash

I’ve stayed out of this until now. Haven’t I stayed out of it, printing ne’er a word, leaving it all to Normblog and The Tin Drummer? Now they’ve gone one step too far, the stupid, inept English travelling cricket circus.

ENGLAND has made another error in judgement. And, as with other miscalculations on this tour, it will come at a cost. The move by England's fieldsmen, most notably Paul Collingwood, to sledge Shane Warne at the crease during his final Test was folly of the highest order. Already motivated to perform well in his farewell to international cricket, Warne's resolve was stiffened further by the barbs fired by Collingwood, resulting in an innings that all but broke the resolve of the tourists and primed Australia for a series whitewash.

That’s the Aussie point of view although, to be fair, Tim de Lisle sees it a little differently. However, none of that excuses what has been a weak, ill-organized and badly thought out campaign which threatens to brand this team the worst in England’s history. They won the Ashes not so long ago. Can this team only play at home and against the old foe?