Ashes Coverage in Australia

There's a little bit of choice going into the Ashes series this year, which isn't all that common for any overseas matches. But this is the Ashes, and so Fox Sports won't be the only option for Australian viewers, just as it wasn't in 2005.

SBS has joined in one the game again and is going to broadcast the series live, the only FTA broadcaster to choose to do so in 2005 and even now. As we all know, Nine's commitment to matches outside of Australia is more than weak.

The SBS broadcast will include morning updates, daily highlights and live coverage from 7:30pm for each of the five Tests, available in HD. FOX SPORTS will start their coverage at 7pm, with a one hour pre-game show. It will, of course, be in HD too.

FOX is throwing around names like Nick McArdle, Mark Waugh, Allan Border, Brendon Julian, Greg Blewitt, Damien Fleming, and there will be commentary from Shane Warne, David Gower, Ian Botham and Michael Holding.

The presentation team at SBS will he headed by Stuart MacGill, and the other two main players will be Damien Martyn and Greg Matthews. They'll be providing analysis of the Test matches and ODIs in England.

One of the good things about this is more choice for viewers, and perhaps a reprieve from some of the more annoying characters over at FOX. It also means viewers without cable subscription can watch the series live, which is always a good thing. So when you tune into the Ashes this year, which channel will you be supporting? Will you show the good old fellows at SBS a sign of your solidarity or will it be Mark Waugh all the way for you?

KP Hates Aussie Crowds

Yes he does. He knows all about it too:

"I have never heard abuse like the last time we were in Australia playing in the Ashes... Australia took me by surprise with the sheer levels of stick we got as a team. It was pretty relentless. Everywhere you go, you are going to get a small minority of a crowd who will come to the ground to heckle and chuck abuse. Australian crowds are really bad, though."

Yeah, bitch, it's how things go. We learn sledging before we learn the alphabet.

But KP comes across as a bit of a whiner there. He even thinks Allan Border's involved in the Australian conspiracy:

"In Australia, even some of their former players get involved with the abuse. I remember in 2007 when I'd broken my rib and had to fly home, Allan Border accused me of getting out of the country too quickly. He inferred I wasn't badly hurt and I considered that a massive insult. It was a cheap shot."

"In Australia, even some of their former players..."
Aussies. What can I say? Apparently we're just inherently a bunch of dickheads. Apparently. But I think KP's also exaggerating more than you'd think.

Okay, so we might sledge a heck of a lot, but Australians are made out to be a truly dastardly group who are the root of all evil. Now that we're on the topic, I might as well admit that JFK, 9/11, Katrina and the Depression were also because of us.

The Aussie cricketing team is worse. It's the villainous overlord ripping everyone else to shreds.