da aposte e ganhe： WORCESTER, England – The legend of Sir Donald Bradman hovers aboveAustralia’s opening match of the Ashes tour against Worcestershire atpicturesque New Road
Will Swanton31-May-2001WORCESTER, England – The legend of Sir Donald Bradman hovers aboveAustralia’s opening match of the Ashes tour against Worcestershire atpicturesque New Road.Under the steady gaze and ringing bells of Worcester Cathedral, theAustralian one-day team takes the field tonight (AEST) at the traditionalfirst port of call for Ashes sides in England.If the forecast rain stays away, Australia’s batsmen will attempt to emulateBradman’s habit of re-introducing himself to English crowds each summer witha double-hundred against the Midlands club.The quaint white clubhouse perched just above New Road’s lush outfield ishome to a wonderful black and white photograph of Bradman playing a coverdrive on April 30, 1938.There’s a capacity crowd of 14,000, the imperial old cathedral dominates thebackground, and Bradman is on his way to 258 – his third score of more than200 against Worcester.Five of Australia’s Test batsmen – Matthew Hayden, Mark Waugh, captain SteveWaugh, Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist – are in the limited overs squad andlike in Bradman’s day, the match is sold out.It’s the perfect setting for them to start the tour on a run-filled note.”This is a great place for us to come and play cricket, it’s still the No.1tour to be on for an Australian player,” said Steve Waugh.”Coming back to England we feel comfortable here, a lot of us have played alot of cricket here and we just love playing in England.”The crowds are the best to play in front of, the tradition of places likeLord’s and some of the other grounds have just got a good feeling aboutthem.”Even being here for only a few days, it just feels like this is the rightplace to play cricket.”Waugh will not reveal the Australian starting XI until just before playbegins.Meanwhile, Worcestershire’s Queensland import Andy Bichel has withdrawn fromthe match, preferring to rest himself for the club’s bid to move out of thesecond division of the county championship.”The decision was up to him really and he just basically felt – and I agreewith him – that he’s better resting up and saving himself for a game thatmeans points for the county,” said Worcestershire coach and formerAustralian player Tom Moody.Bichel is a strong chance of being rushed into Australia’s Test squad duringthe Ashes if one of the chosen fast bowlers is injured.That is every chance of happening given the recent problems of JasonGillespie (foot) and Brett Lee (elbow).