Unofficial England Cricket - 2006- A Year of Highs, Lows & Controversy

2006- A Year of Highs, Lows & Controversy

January

England started 2006 on a high, having defeated Pakistan by 6 runs at the end of December, but the 5 match ODI series had already been lost

February

Michael Vaughan plays a warm-up game, but is subsequently ruled out of the March tour of India.

Simon Jones is also ruled out after he twisted his knee bowling in the nets

Ashley Giles will also miss the India tour due to a hip injury

March

England tour India without the injured Vaughan and Jones, with other absentees including Ashley Giles and Marcus Trescothick.

Andrew Flintoff captains England for the first time, with the first Test ending as a draw.

India comfortably beat England by 9 wickets in the second Test, before a Johnny Cash inspired England levelled the series in Mumbai

England lose both of the opening ODI’s leaving them with it all to do in April

April

Englands ODI woes continue, as they meekly surrender, losing the series 5-1

Simon Jones returns for Glamorgan

May

England draw with Sri Lanka in the series opener, thanks to a sturdy Sri Lankan tail end, but England take the second Test by 6 wickets, with Kevin Pietersen hitting a century

Vaughan makes a return for Yorkshire, hitting 67 against Scotland

Jones breaks down again

Andrew Flintoff picks up an ankle injury, forcing him out of the ODI series v Sri Lanka and the first entire series v Pakistan

June

England capitulate in the final Test, hitting just 190 of the 325 runs needed to win the series, and follow this up by embarrassingly losing the ODI series 5-0

Simon Jones has surgery on his knee. It’s unlikely he will play again this year

July

England face Pakistan, drawing the first Test, and winning the second thanks to Steve Harmisons 11 wickets, and Monty Panesars 8, with the two of them taking 19 wickets, plus a runout from Kevin Pietersen

Vaughan receives surgery on his knee, ruling him out for the rest of the year

August

Captained by Andrew Strauss, England win the third Test, with Pietersen, Ian Bell and Andrew Strauss all hitting centuries, plus Monty Panesar taking another 6 wickets

A controversial 4^th Test resulted in Pakistan leaving the field following allegations of ball tampering. England were awarded the match to take a 3-0 series victory

September

Marcus Trescothick withdraws from ODI’s v Pakistan, and rules himself out of the ICC Champions Trophy

Without Trescothick, England gain a creditable 2-2 series draw

October

England returned home from the ICC Champions Trophy early, following defeats against India and Australia. A victory against the West Indies by 3 wickets wasn’t enough to stop England finishing bottom of their group