Will, stop putting up a new post two minutes after I have composed and left my experiences of the day on the previous post! Now no-one will see it . . .

I’m with you - I think Gilly knew because there was a drink or something came out from the dressing rooma few balls before. But Hoggy was just buggered: I reckon he neither knew nor cared about any records out there.

I know England are on the end of a humbling defeat and will hand back the Ashes with a good deal less fanfare than was displayed when they captured them 18 months ago but, having listened to Duncan Fletcher’s interview after the third day’s debacle, there is nothing to worry about.
The preparation was spot on, team selection has been perfect, on-field strategy has been good, wicket-taking plans have worked and everyone has performed excellently apart from a two-hour blip at Adelaide.
So that’s alright then. Which must mean that we aren’t good enough, simple as that. If that is the truth, then the picture is more depressing than ever, but I prefer to take a different view.
The preparation was poor, team selection was mind-boggling inept, motivation has been patchy at best and our bowlers seem to have few plans for taking wickets — no that’s a bit harsh … better to say Anderson and Mahmoud haven’t got a wicket-taking delivery in their armoury.
I am trying to find something positive to hang on to, but apart from the intermittently sound batting of Collingwood and Pietersen (and don’t forget Monty), there is little to enthuse about.
Can we hope Read will be restored for the inadequate Jones? Won’t change England’s fortunes, but at least we can argue that the best team available is on the field.

According to an interview afterward, Gilchrist didn’t know about the record until he came off - Hoggard also would not have known. I think any bowler would’ve restorted to this under those extreme circumstances - especially McGrath, Warne etc so Aussies shouldn’t really complain. Besides whose to say there weren’t a few wide ones when Viv did it as well?

I think what was a bit harsher was the bouncer from Harmisson a few balls before - not for the fact that he bowled it, but it was way over Gillies head and should’ve been called wide.

Anyway, as I pointed out on a previous post, it could be ironic that if Read gets picked in Melbourne, England could finally have their best side on the fied - with the Ashes already gone!