ENGLAND 1-0 AUSTRALIA
I just had to write a note regarding the Ashes. Yes, I know this will mean nothing to most of you, so I'm not expecting a flood of comments.
However, the Ashes are one of the world's greatest sporting clashes. Two great cricketing nations - England and Australia, the oldest of rivals - head to head over five tests (just how often do two countries compete so intensely against each other in any other sport?). Australia the Ashes holders (as they usually are). The second test at Lords, where England haven't beaten the Aussies since 1934 (the year my Dad was born).
And we won!!!! In glorious style too! Andrew Flintoff is now a legend for his performance. And joins only five other people who have scored a century with the bat in a Test, AND taken five wickets while bowling. To be able to both bat and bowl to that standard is the stuff of myths.
We were a little unsure at the close of play yesterday. Michael Clark and Brad Haddin batting frighteningly well for the Aussies. The usual English fear returning - could they really pull off the massive run chase we had set them? Then Flintoff comes out and bowls like the devil. 90+mph balls, smacking into the batsmens' elbows and helmets. And within ten balls, Haddin is history. Then, with Flintoff's pace and Swann's spin we just ripped them apart.
75 years in the waiting. Four days and two hours of stunning cricket. And history is made. Just wonderful.
And to cap it all, the Aussie captain, Ricky Ponting, usually a grim faced man, steps up to the mic, and is so gracious and warm in defeat. A complete gentleman, which is how it should be. It's not often an Australian captain gets so applauded by an English crowd.
That really was something special to witness. I have a collection of newspapers with significant headlines from my daughter's life. Tomorrow's headline of a Lords win against the Skippies will be joining them.
One Draw. One win. Three tests left. Can we really imagine the Ashes are coming home?
I just had to write a note regarding the Ashes. Yes, I know this will mean nothing to most of you, so I'm not expecting a flood of comments.
However, the Ashes are one of the world's greatest sporting clashes. Two great cricketing nations - England and Australia, the oldest of rivals - head to head over five tests (just how often do two countries compete so intensely against each other in any other sport?). Australia the Ashes holders (as they usually are). The second test at Lords, where England haven't beaten the Aussies since 1934 (the year my Dad was born).
And we won!!!! In glorious style too! Andrew Flintoff is now a legend for his performance. And joins only five other people who have scored a century with the bat in a Test, AND taken five wickets while bowling. To be able to both bat and bowl to that standard is the stuff of myths.
We were a little unsure at the close of play yesterday. Michael Clark and Brad Haddin batting frighteningly well for the Aussies. The usual English fear returning - could they really pull off the massive run chase we had set them? Then Flintoff comes out and bowls like the devil. 90+mph balls, smacking into the batsmens' elbows and helmets. And within ten balls, Haddin is history. Then, with Flintoff's pace and Swann's spin we just ripped them apart.
75 years in the waiting. Four days and two hours of stunning cricket. And history is made. Just wonderful.
And to cap it all, the Aussie captain, Ricky Ponting, usually a grim faced man, steps up to the mic, and is so gracious and warm in defeat. A complete gentleman, which is how it should be. It's not often an Australian captain gets so applauded by an English crowd.
That really was something special to witness. I have a collection of newspapers with significant headlines from my daughter's life. Tomorrow's headline of a Lords win against the Skippies will be joining them.
One Draw. One win. Three tests left. Can we really imagine the Ashes are coming home?
VIEW 5 of 5 COMMENTS
Seriously... I'm going to follow this series. I'm looking forward to the 30th! The purity of the sport and the sportsmanship are quite refreshing!