da bet esporte： The Australian limited overs cricket squad arrived in England tonight for its pre-Ashes tour and immediately piled onto the team bus for a two-and-a-half hour trip to Worcester.
Will Swanton30-May-2001WORCESTER, England – Let the games begin.The Australian limited overs cricket squad arrived in England tonight for its pre-Ashes tour and immediately piled onto the team bus for a two-and-a-half hour trip to Worcester.Captain Steve Waugh and the rest of the world champion Australian outfithave only two days to find their barings before the tour opener againstWorcestershire on Friday.English newspapers are describing the looming Ashes battle as “momentous”and “enticing” and the second Test between England and Pakistan, whichstarts Thursday, is regarded as little more than a prelude to the mainfive-Test bout against Australia.The Australians did not arrive at the grand Bank House Hotel, set among along stretch of green rolling hills, until after dark following their flightfrom Turkey.They will be on the field before they know it but congested schedules havebecome a fact of life for the modern cricketer, and captain Steve Waugh wasnot complaining.”There is so much cricket and a lot of tours, there’s not many lead up gamesto any tours anymore,” he said.”You’ve got to get accustomed to it because it’s just a part of cricketnow.”Australia’s thin preparation for next month’s tri-series against England andPakistan is the three-dayer against Worcestershire then a pair of one-dayersagainst Middlesex and Northamptonshire.England and Pakistan launch the one-day tournament on June 7 at Birminghambefore Australia begins its campaign two days later against Pakistan atCardiff in Wales.The Australian Test squad will have a similarly scarce build-up to the Ashesopener at Edgbaston from July 5 courtesy of three-day fixtures against anMCC XI and Essex.”A couple of guys won’t have a lot of cricket but we’re hoping they’ll get alot of practice beforehand and they’ll switch on,” said Waugh.”That’s part of being a professional.”