1. Do you feel the scales are slightly tilted towards England this time given that Australia has lost several of its stalwarts since the last time?

Waugh: It will be a close contest for sure, much closer that it was the last time but it will once again go Australia’s way. England does not have the firepower to win the Ashes. Their two key players are Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen and one feels that there is an over-dependence on these players. If they do not fire, England has no chance on making it a close contest either.

2. Would you also reckon that Andrew Flintoff is a shade of what he was in the past, his best is over. What we saw in 2005 was by far the best?

Waugh: Freddie is a great all-rounder and an asset to the English side. If not with the ball he has the caliber to contribute with the bat as well. So if he fires there is every possibility of England putting up a tough challenge

3. Ashes has always been seen as ‘the battle royale’ in the world of cricket, an urn that is every cricketer’s dream. Would you say that its popularity has somewhat been over-run by the invasion of the T20 phenomenon

Waugh: I would say that each has its own place. Ashes is a battle for the traditionalists. There are Ashes loyalists so the hype and the popularity of this epic battle will never go down. What may happen is that Twenty20 makes new converts who later begins to love the game, its tradition, its history and hence start following the Ashes. I do not see that there is any conflict

Waugh: Right now the biggest of course will be beating England. And every Australian would want to see that happen. Over the years there have been new rivalries. Our contest with South Africa is also extremely interesting and intriguing. India with its new and inspirational captain MS Dhoni will always be a side to beat in their backyard. I would place India vs Australia closer to Ashes in terms of intensity and fan following

5. Do you think that besides meeting some of the stalwarts this time,Australia will also miss Andrew Symonds

Waugh: I think that is vice versa..Australia will miss him as much as he will miss Australia. It is unfortunate that despite repeated warning and an effort of reconstruct his career, Symmo still did not mend his ways. He had come to know of the Ashes selection while in South Africa, playing the IPL. So the latest incident of his binge drinking would have no bearing. But the consequences will be far reaching. I believe Symmo is being unfair with himself and his cricket

6. Given Australia’s performance in the World T20, Ashes will be Ponting’s shot at redemptiom?
Waugh: Well, these are completely different formats..T20 is the slam bang super short version of the game where one needs less skill and more stamina. But test cricket is also the test of one’s endurance and skill. If will be a big test for Ricky no doubt but no one will think about the World T20 when the test matches start. Ashes is in a league of its own

7. Do you think had it not been for the lure of Twenty20 cricket, some of Australia’s biggest stars would still be playing this ashes?

Waugh: These are changing times and like every professional, everyone is looking to make hay while the sun shines. I am sure cricketers will also be looking to do so. But to outright say that cricketers have quit international cricket because of the lure of IPL cash may not be entirely true. However, such cases in the future cannot be ruled out.

8. Finally, can you please predict as Ashes scoreline?

Waugh: As I have already mentioned, it would not be fair for me to give any numbers out but all I can say is that it will be very very close!

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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