Will the late Frank Myler go down in Ashes history?

WITH the Aussies already 1-0 up in the series with two Tests to play – both sold out at Everton (Liverpool) and at Headingley in Leeds, — we can't answer the question in the head because, in theory at least, England might win this Ashes series and the late Frank's memorable moment as captain of a Lions team which last won the Ashes will be no more.

It COULD happen, but as we all know it probably WON'T and the late, former Oldham manager's proud record as a player back in 1970 will be as relevant today as it was then.

I listened to a podcast featuring Tony Smith, an Aussie who once coached Great Britain and spent years here as coach of various Super League clubs, and it was interesting to listen to such a 'thinker' who claimed to have a foot in both camps.

I agreed with him that there was no long-term strategy to catch-up the best team in the world; that, on their own admission, the most England could expect was to catch the Kangaroos on an off day; that the green-and-golds came out of the best club competition in the world, the NRL, and that England needed a long-term strategy to close the gap, rather than anything in the short term.

I think he was saying that we all knew what was likely to happen in Test one at Wembley; that there is no substitute for talent, skill, expertise and speed; and that with the advancement of the Pacific teams, England have lost ground in the world rankings, though Australia are still top.

The facts of the matter support what he says.

It's 55 years since GB, as it was back then, last won the Ashes when Myler's men, coached by the great Johnny Whiteley, lost 37-15 in Brisbane before winning 28-7 and 21-17, both at Sydney Cricket Ground.

The team for the third and final Test, when Myler was carried round the SCG shoulder high, included the late, great Mick Shoebottom at full-back, Myler himself in the centre with Syd Hynes, the iconic Roger Millward at stand-off, Cliff Watson at No 10, Doug Laughton in the second-row and the incomparable Malcolm Reilly at loose — world-class players in their own right.

Chuck in Alan Smith and John Atkinson on the wings, Keith Hepworth at scrum-half, Denis Hartley and Tony Fisher in the front-row with Watson and Jimmy Thompson in the second-row with Laughton and it's little surprise they came out on top.

In later years, when we ran the Aussies close, we had the likes of Paul Sculthorpe, Adrian Morley, Martin Offiah and Ellery Hanley in the ranks, and we still couldn't quite manage it.

So why would we expect to do it now? I hope to be proved wrong, I really do, but do we honestly expect England to take the series, nullify Myler's status, and send the tourists home empty-handed?

I expect England to improve tomorrow in the second Test, but I can't see them taking the Ashes so Myler's status will be retained. As GB manager in the mid-1980s he picked a club record FIVE Oldham players to tour – Ray Ashton, Andy Goodway, Mick Worrall, Des Foy and Terry Flanagan.

By then, and in his maturity, Myler loved nothing better than a fag or two, a whisky or three, and a round of golf at his beloved Widnes Golf Club with his old pal Les Bostock. We can easily forget, though, that Frank as a young man was one of his country's best, mainly as a stand-off for Widnes, but also as a centre for St Helens and as captain of GB when they last won the Ashes in Australia's back yard.

As I say, I hope to be proved wrong, but my head tells me the same as it tells Tony – that the Aussies will prove once more that there is no substitute for class; that Myler's 55-year-old status will be retained; and that the green-and golds will again go home as Ashes winners.

I HOPE I'M WRONG — I REALLY DO.