Images are scans of the actual book you will receive, so you know exactly what you are purchasing. Click or tap to zoom in.
Captain's Diary 2006: Australia's road to the battle for the Ashes
- Shop more books in the same category: All Books, All Secondhand Books, Biography & True Stories, Memoir
When Ricky Ponting returned to Australia following the 2005 Ashes series, he was a cricketer under pressure. Many commentators were highly critical of his captaincy. Dennis Lillee wanted him sacked.
Seven months later - following contests with a World XI, West Indies, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh - Australia had re-established itself as cricket's No. 1 team. Brett Lee had evolved into one of the leading bowlers in the game, Shane Warne was as good as he has ever been, Ponting was a more assured and assertive captain.
He had led his team to an almost perfect test-match record, and confronted debates about the team's program, player behaviour, his bat, umpiring, even some comedy skits on Allan Border Medal night. He saw Brian Lara become Test cricket's new leading run getter and had the better of an ongoing war of words with South African captain Graeme Smith. Among the eight Test centuries he scored during the season were two in his 100th Test.
Despite all the circket and controversy, the looming rematch with England in 2006-07 was always a major talking point. Captain's Diary 2006 is the story of how the Australian team prepared itself for the most eagerly awaited Ashes battle in history, and reveals why the Australian captain enters that fight supremely confident he and his men can win.
When Ricky Ponting returned to Australia following the 2005 Ashes series, he was a cricketer under pressure. Many commentators were highly critical of his captaincy. Dennis Lillee wanted him sacked.
Seven months later - following contests with a World XI, West Indies, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh - Australia had re-established itself as cricket's No. 1 team. Brett Lee had evolved into one of the leading bowlers in the game, Shane Warne was as good as he has ever been, Ponting was a more assured and assertive captain.
He had led his team to an almost perfect test-match record, and confronted debates about the team's program, player behaviour, his bat, umpiring, even some comedy skits on Allan Border Medal night. He saw Brian Lara become Test cricket's new leading run getter and had the better of an ongoing war of words with South African captain Graeme Smith. Among the eight Test centuries he scored during the season were two in his 100th Test.
Despite all the circket and controversy, the looming rematch with England in 2006-07 was always a major talking point. Captain's Diary 2006 is the story of how the Australian team prepared itself for the most eagerly awaited Ashes battle in history, and reveals why the Australian captain enters that fight supremely confident he and his men can win.