Day six - Heading home Ashes lost

It was always the nightmare scenario for those of us who booked to watch the Perth Test, the first at which the Ashes could be lost. In truth after Day One in Adelaide it should never have been a possibility but it is now a matter of history. This though was a good Test match at which to initiate George - after all there has only been one other in history where he could have seen a faster century and at least England were on top for a day and fought strongly on four. Day two was the day we lost this Test.

Highlights from an England perspective undoubtedly Monte's wickets day one, Pieterson's batting and that of Cook and Bell on day four. Lowlights the dismissal of Cook in fading light and the dubious decisions against Strauss in both innings. For the Aussies Hussey was immovable and Ponting oozed class, Gilchrist was simply superbly destructive and his gesture of giving his pads to a young lad on the boundary must have made that boys year.

Of the England side most recognised the pleasure they can bring through a simple signature and I will long remember the beaming smile on George's face after Paul Collingwood had posed for a photo with him and after Freddie had signed his bat. Geraint Jones, Chris Read, and day four heroes Alastair Cook and Ian Bell all helped to provide George with an enduring memory of this Test, while James Anderson would have, had the camera operator been more adept!!Monte may have his reasons for not signing on day one or when he boarded the bus 2 hours after the end of day 5. Each time George had waited patiently and only a handful of spectators remained. But we will always share the nickname we awarded him so there is an upside.

I hope the only two young Aussie girls and the channel 7 crew who waited with us for the Aussies to emerge were rewarded for their vigil outside Gate 8. Persuaded George to give up when two crates of Corona were delivered 5 hours after close of play as the Aussies quite rightly celebrated hard.

A great week - all that remains is to frame the shirt, autographed bats,and photos and to add some embroidery to the shirt I bought on Day Two. It currently says something along the lines of:
Australia vs England WACA 14-18 December
I was there

To be added:
.......when we lost the Ashes

And on the back

I'll be there when we win them back!!

Will then start planning a family trip to New Zealand for 2008 as watching Test match cricket overseas is a really enjoyable experience. I enjoyed conversations with many fans and a number of current and former players, while George simply lapped it all up - Dad too had a great time so perhaps we can regroup in 2008.

The Aussies have outplayed us and our obsession with pace seems to have been a major part in our downfall. Mathew Hoggard has been the pick of our bowlers and Stuart Clark and of course Shane Warne the pickof theirs. Anderson and Mahmoud have pace but lack control. Jon Lewis who is more like Hoggard and Clark, would in my view have been a better bet on the pitches that have been prepared than either, while surely two spinners were called for in Adelaide after the first Test defeat. As last time in Oz we gambled with unfit players this time in Anderson and Giles, who simply had not played enough cricket. The real problem has been that while most of England's players have contributed not enough have done so at the same time, while the Aussies have always delivered when required.

The good thing though is that when the Ashes are next up for grabs surely Warne, McGrath, Langer, Hayden and Gilchrist will not be lining up against us......so we lost the Ashes at the WACA- can we win them back at Headingly? it would help the barmy army songsters!