Day One belongs to "Miserable Monte"

An early start, excited 73 year olds just can't sleep and it was Dad who suggested a cup of tea at 4:30am- unsurprisingly I declined. But we were still on our way to the WACA by 7:30am for what was to be a splendid day for England. The toss was lost and at 47 for none after few overs it looked ominous but then Hayden chanced his arm once too often and Jones held a simple catch of Hoggard. Harmison had been held back but soon accounted for Ponting with a good ball that would have knocked back middle but for Ricky's pads. Monte struck in his second over bowling a bemused Langer and we lunched with Australia 69 for 3 and the momentum very much with England. Hussey though looked in determined form and Clarke was looking classy until he attempted to pull Harmison , when George and I were queuing for and ice cream and succeeded only in giving a return catch. Symmonds threatened to take Monte apart with 2 sixes and a four in one over, but Freddie stuck with him and an edged attempted cut gave Geraint his second catch of the day, albeit a juggled one. Had that gone down the day could have gone sour. Thankfully it did not and Gilchrist soon succumbed to an excellent Bell bat pad catch of Monte. Warne threatened but was undone by the Jones Panesar combination before Lee was LBW to the king of spin. Harmisom then mopped up the tail with Stuart Clarke comprehensively castled and McGrath caught at silly point.

244 all out was more than any Englishman had hoped for after the coin landed for Australia. A tricky session beckoned and although Strauss started confidently with consecutive fours off Lee, Cook soon succumbed caught by Langer off McGrath and Bell edged a quick ball from Lee to Gilchrist. Did Warne then drop the Ashes when Collingwood edged to his left hand off Clark? The next 14 days will tell.

The shirt had a great day with England greats of this and other eras all signing graciously. George too collected plenty on his miniature bat with Kevin Pieterson, Paul Collingwood, Steve Harmison and particularly Alastair Cook, after his personal disappointment, all very gracious .

A good day though could have done without losing Cook and Bell.

But Monte despite there being only two 7 year old's left waiting when he emerged from the dressing room, and despite a fairy tale day for him, could not spare the time to sign and, as if in a trance, totally ignored the lad with the England cap on who had cheered him to the hilt, as had the rest of us, all day. A disappointing end to a great day.

Monte has a chat with Athers