What is more, Will’s blog has been a godsend to those of us in far-flung places. We owe Will a big thanks for such a forum so that loads of us do not have to suffer the stress of following the Ashes all alone. Thanks Will!

Anyway, a brilliant victory, couldn’t be there with the lads, but could hear all the brilliant singing of Englands 12th man as we limped to victory!

Come on ENGLAND

And for Rod to say that England’s batting is significantly better is to completely disregard the last 3 years of test cricket!!!

Sorry, Craig. I’m not talking about the last three years. I’m talking about the batting in this series! (well, perhaps the last twelve months)

Australia are a long way behind on any current objective measure and falling further behind every match. In the current series the English hold the two top places in the batting averages, and three out of the top 5.

Talking about the “last three years” is like talking about the end of the period when the great West Indies teams gave way to the Australians. Yes, on paper at that time those marvellous WI teams retrospectively came out in front, but we all knew there was a changing of the guard going on. The same applies now. England are clearly emerging as the new dominant nation in world cricket.

Australia will now go through the painful regrouping process that happened for WI, helped a bit, no doubt, by the fact that we are far richer and far more populous than WI. The immediate challengers to England, though, will almost certainly come from the India / Pakistan sub continent, rather than Australia.

It will take quite some time before my living place, Australia, recognises that its smugness hinders, rather than helps, its cricketing cause! Over the last twelve months I have heard Aussie after Aussie saying that they actually hope that Australia LOSES this series because they are fed up with the petty nonsense from our cricketing “heroes” ! When even Australians are responding like this it is surely time that those involved take a good hard look at themselves! Until they do, I suspect they will continue to move backwards rather than forwards.

If Ponting’s latest silliness is anything to go by I might actually being overly generous to Australain cricket! His outbursts certainly don’t sound like the stuff you expect from someone who knows there is a problem and is serious about coming to grips with it!

Cheers

Rod

I think atrocious is a little harsh. Most people I talk to in Aus are appauled by the dropped catches, no balls etc, but it’s mainly bruised egos talking. Australia have often dropped catches, and we know Gilchrist is not the best keeper in Aus, just ask “Chuck” Berry from Victoria, but most of that has been covered up by their performances over the last 10 or so years. Now the chances are being exploited by the best team we’ve come up against in that time, and it is made more obvious.
The “best” is a hard call to make – like who is the best ever batsman, or best side, but it is certainly the most gripping and entertaining series I can remember. That is due also, to the fact that is could be the changing of the guard, and the fact that I continually want to deny it is England we are playing

The captaincy from both teams has been dithering and defensive – someone hits a four so both of them put fielders out on the boundary straight away. Lee was batting in the first innings, England are ahead by 260 and Vaughan puts everyone on the boundary. And the less said about Pontings field setting for Flintoff when he had every man on the boundary the better.

England’s bowlers have been very very good, and more power to them. Add Warney in to the mix and they have been the quality that I expect of the two top teams. But the batting from both sides hasn’t been up to scratch – no team would get over 200 an innings if they could catch!!

And for Rod to say that England’s batting is significantly better is to completely disregard the last 3 years of test cricket!!!

As to England’s team for the Oval – do you know I’d forgotten all about Paul Collingwood – the obvious pick given we’re 2-1 up with one to play.

All they lack is the confidence (which had given way to very unappealing arrogance in recent years) that has characterised Australian cricket for the last decade. Its not too many weeks ago that Australian team members and the local media pundits were crying out that this would be a “straight sets” Aussie whitewash!

When they win this series the English confidence will come, but lets hope that they never aquire the Aussie yobbo arrogance that lies behind Ponting’s recent little outburst. Nothing worse than the current crop of whingeing Aussies!

Cheers

Rod

I don’t really see how you can say it hasn’t been great cricket. Would you really rather the top 5 in each team never scored below 50, that the bowlers never bowled a no-ball and where not one catch was dropped? 5 draws at the end of the series? I personally believe that the humanisation of this series has been what’s made it great.

The umpiring? Well, when are decisions not disputed. I don’t think it’s been any worse than most series. The captaining? Yes, both captain’s have made mistakes but I also think that there has been some very inventive leadership. Vaughan’s creativity and flexibility has been great to see, and is certainly the best captain England has had since Brearley.

You have 2 teams desperate to win. The Aussies who can’t bear the thought of losing the Ashes and a series which may signal a new era. And England, a young team, who are fighting with everything they have to finally beat a side seen as unbeatable.

If this is poor cricket then I hope it continues!

We Indians are thinking and watching and loving every minute of it. You are right, there is still one more game but this looks to be the greatest test series ever.

Some of the stuff that Kaspa, Tait and Lee dished up in the first innings was pretty ordinary stuff. I bet the selectors are wishing they had picked Bracken with all this swing bowling getting wickets at the moment (that was hard for me to say, because I am a Queenslander!!).

But the fielding has been rubbish from both sides. I was always taught as a kid that the keepers lead the way in the field and they definitely are showing the way in this series!! Makes Ian Healy’s work seem outstanding now (that’s better from a Queenslander!!).

Innocent, no subcontinental fan will deny Warne’s place in the temple of spinners. He is a true magician, the best that ever played.

Craig, agree with you – the cricket standards are not the best, but the bowling has been terrific. The batting and fielding is not world class, though.

Well done England, you are on the verge of doing to Aus what India couldn’t after getting so close (2003-4 in Aus). All the best, and can’t wait to see your team in India in 2006.

As Bing says “youv’e got to accentuate the positive,……..don’t mess with Mr in-between”

That’s Crosby not Lee.

Sure it has been close, gripping and times exciting series, but it isn’t great cricket.

This series will be known for the terrible umpiring. The terrible captaincy from both sides. And the terrible fielding from both sides!!

The exciting cricket has been brought about by the poor standard of cricket that we have seen. How can England have nearly lost that game, with that poor poor bowling attack of Australia (of course Warney is the only light!).

I would love to know the drop catches count for this series!! It’s like watching Australia circa 1984/85, when I think we dropped 50 catches in a summer!!! Someone told me the other day that Pietersen has 7 drops to himself!!!

Enthralling series, but a lot of poor cricket!

congrats, then all ye Englishmen! I could not bring myself to move to the computer and comment last night- though I really though GJones had LOST it!
This is beyond mots’s wildest dreams, no? The Oval. Whatever it is, its gonna one hck of an emotional ride.

congrats, then all ye Englishmen! I could not bring myself to move to the computer and comment last night- though I really though GJones had LOST it!
This is beyond mots’s wildest dreams, no? The Oval. Whatever it is, its gonna one hck of an emotional ride.

Will is calling this ‘the greatest series ever’, and I’d have to agree with him. Those Indians will need to rethink the marketing on their DVD’s. I can’t recall a series that has been so closely contested, with so many

Katich and Clarke played it slow and steady this morning, but Clarke has just been dismissed by a gentle swinging ball from Hoggard. Australia will go to lunch at 270 for 5 (a lead of 11 runs), and they’ll need

I was hoping that we’ll get good news of Simon Jones and Glenn McGrath – this is not the series to win your first cap…

These Tests have been so gripping and reflect the best in the game – though perhaps Ponting calling us English f** cheats reflects the pressure. We forgive him. All the nations of the world will be watching the Oval. Oh God, only have 10 days to grow back some fingernails!

Since then he has grown in my eyes as a player and a person for every game. A true sportsman who fights to the death for his country with both bat and ball yet with extreme good grace in both victory and defeat.

Great to be proved wrong!

What a comeback by Australia! To those reading from Oz who stayed up to watch it on SBS (what’s that about? Channel 9 missed a trick!) you must be very proud of your boys. That was a real fight and didn’t Warnie love it?!

I totally agree that this is the greatest series ever. It has had everything and congratulations to both teams for being part of it.

To my shame, I used to dislike Brett Lee. I will never forget his sportsmanship and good character over these matches. He is a true champion in my eyes.

Onwards to the Oval.