Cricket: The Ashes 'foot in mouth' awards

GLENN McGRATH:

"We find it amusing and amazing how they always talk it up with about 12 months to go, telling everyone that they've finally got the team to beat us."

TERRY ALDERMAN:

"I definitely believe if any of our batsmen get out to [Ashley] Giles in the tests they should go and hang themselves. But I'm confident that won't happen."

MATTHEW HAYDEN:

"I don't really care much for all this 'are they closer?' I really believe that it's all about us. If we are executing our skills, I don't believe there's a side that can get close to us."

GLENN McGRATH:

"I think I was saying 3-0 or 4-0 about 12 months ago, thinking there might be a bit of rain around. But with the weather as it is at the moment, I have to say 5-0."

PAUL REIFFEL:

"England are playing pretty well, but I'm just not sure they know how to win yet."

JEFF THOMSON:

"England will lose the five-test series 3-0, and the margin will be worse for them if it doesn't rain. If you put the players from Australia and England up against each other it is embarrassing. There is no contest between them on an individual or team basis."

TERRY ALDERMAN:

"If Australia get away to a good start then England have got no chance. They have got to be competitive in that first test at Lord's, or else it's goodnight."