Richard Branson's Message for the Ashes Met With Angry Responses

--> -->

Sreelata YellamrazuJul 10 2009

Business tycoon and owner of the Virgin Atlantic airlines, Richard Branson, would have to perhaps do something more than just plaster his face with a message for Australian captain Ricky Ponting across the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

branson with navratilove

Branson is not wrong in thinking that the Australians tend to get cocky about wanting to bury the English everytime an Ashes series comes round. Certainly England need some form of encouragement as they battle to halt the Australians on the third day of the first Ashes Test at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.

Branson put up a poster that carried a picture of himself superimpsosed with the St. George's Cross and carried the message, "Godo Luck, Ricky. You'll need it. Dicky X"

But Branson also has charity on his mind as he pledges to give to charity a sum of 1,000 pounds for every England batsman who scores a half century. That was what the 100 ft stunt was for = the Virgin Media Fifty50, launched by Michael Vaughan who announced his retirement recently.

It has caused quite a few angry reactions in Australia but Branson brushed off as light hearted humour and even posted on his Twitter blog that he was apologetic to ruffle feathers but once again added, tongue in cheek, that perhaps it was the truth that Australia found indigestible and egged England on.

But what England really missed was someone who could go on to score a century.

Ashes: Ian Chappell Believes Australian Selections Will Backfire

Ashes Century: Katich Thanks Bob Simpson

Ashes T1 day 3 Lunch: England and Anderson Strike

Ashes T1 Day 2 Stumps: Australia Gain the Upper Hand with Double Centuries

Buchanan Saves Best Criticism for Tendulkar

Ashes T1 Day 2 Tea Time: Australia Progress, England Need to Rethink

Ashes T1 Day 2 Lunch: England make 435

Ashes T1 Day1: Honours Even on a Good First Day's Play

Ashes T1 Lunch: England Struggle After Sedate Start

Ashes: Hurting Flintoff Wants to Do It for England

Ashes: Australia Look for Revenge on English Soil