It was from the stands. Luckily I had a 70-300mm zoom lens (even though I look enviously at the press photogs with their $20k guns) to get a little closer to the players.

A day of amateur work makes you appreciate how difficult (and rewarding) it would be to capture the key moments (especially a wicket) for the professionals…

Of course the most difficult thing was being surrounded by 20,000 baying English fans

It was a little lonely when an English wicket fell (tumbleweeds rolled past and a few Australians hollered with joy).

Sadly, fifteen years of winning have meant that Australians are not equipt with the necessary emotional preparation for losing. We tend to get very upset and/or stressed when the routine miracle of years past doesn’t occur ;-D

Seriously - I find that most of the English fans have a much more balanced and even-handed view of the contest. I don’t begrudge them their success one bit. I absolutley believe we were outplayed as well as somewhat out of form in the 2nd and 3rd test.

Let’s hope that we have more than 2.5 bowlers firing and the top order re-assess how they play Freddy and Jones before Trent Bridge. If so - I believe we can still win.