New Year starts slightly better.............but lack of control has been England's key downfall

A week ago as we left for Penang Australia stood at 84 for 5 and England had a chance at the MCG. When I was able to get internet connectivity after the Taiwan earthquake Hayden, who should not have been at the crease, but was thanks to two very poor decisions by Rudi Kurzen and Symonds had blastedAustralia out of sight. England's second innings collapse was almost inevitable and one can see why the selectors wanted to include Giles for his batting early in the series.

Again today Australia showed that once they capture 5 wickets England are finished. Mahmoud is clearly well out of his depth at 8. It is surprising that Dalrymple was not included for this Test as he would at least have helped shore up the lower order and with Flintoff finding some form England might have passed 300. While the bowling would hardly have suffered.

Throughout the series England have been unable to exert any pressure and from Harmison's first ball they have lacked control. Hoggard and to a lesser extent Panesar are the only two bowlers to emerge with credit. Simon Jones absence has been a major factor as neither Mahmoud nor Anderson have been able to unsettle the Aussie batsmen. By contrast, except in the 1st innings in Adelaide England have always had to fight for each run as McGrath, Clarke and Warne have found line and length from the off. England unsettled the Australians in 2005 with pace and bounce but this time the hostility has been replaced by waywardness. While slow pitches have hindered England a lack of discipline in the bowling has been more costly.Umpiring decisions have not helped with Strauss and Bell both suffering,while Hayden's let off's in the 4th Test had a major bearing on the match. England have been outplayed and well beaten.
On the batting side Marcus Trescothick has clearly been missed as he might have taken the game more to the Aussies from the off. Pieterson has been the one batsman to dominate and to look confident and have an air of permanence at the crease. Few though could argue with England's batting line up.

The bowling has been the major problem and for me Panesar should have played at Adelaide as well as Giles, with Anderson omitted as he like Mahmoud has been much too expensive. Hoggard needed more support, while Flintoff and Harmison needed someone to establish some pressure to enable them to prosper. Jon Lewis would have been a better bet for this series than either Mahmoud or Anderson.I hope he proves it in the one dayers............

As we prepare to leave Penang Harmison strikes to remove Hayden and Australia go to tea at 109 for 2.

What price a collapse before we land??

Well hardly a collapse but with Ponting run out by Anderson and Clarke caught behind off Harmison at 180 for 4 England are in with a chance. Hussey though is still there and we know what Symonds can do so early wickets tomorrow are a necessity.

Dismal England not helped by Rudi(again)

England's batting display post tea was nothing short of dismal- sure Warne bowled well as did the rest of the Australian's but England surrendered meekly- so much for talk of pride and fight- it was not on display this afternoon.

When they bowled Hayden and Langer got off to a flyer, helped by bowling that was too short and by Rudi who on two occasions gave Hayden extra time at the crease he did not deserve. Plum LBW twice to Hoggard, Rudi seems to think only Aussie bowlers can get LBW decisions. Both were very poor decisions.

A dismal day all in all as the rain continues to fall in Singapore and then just as I click publish Freddie finds the right length and Read makes no mistake with a simple catch to dismiss Langer. Will that be a turning point?

Warne gets to 700 as England struggle

Is there a fast, bouncy track in Australia? If there is England have yet to see it as we get yet another slow track. In conditions that would have been ideal for a Hoggard/Lewis new ball spell England win the toss and bat, but struggle against tight bowling in seamer friendly overcast conditions. At 101 for 2 with Collingwood looking to attack against Warne it looked OK but in the space of two overs things took a trun decidedly for the worst with Collingwood falling to Lee, well caught at slip by Ponting for 28 and Strauss bowled by Warne for 50 to give him his 700th. Crown and Aussie commentators go wild and Warne celebrates a tremendous achievement. What though is that on his chin?

Hopes rest with Flintoff and Pieterson......................

What damage though might Jon Lewis in tandem with Hoggard have done with the new ball?- plenty would be my guess with Clarke and Symonds strangling England after an early Lee breakthrough.

Two down

Glenn McGrath has announced he will retire after the World Cup so that's two of the world's greatest ever bowlers we will not be facing when we seek to win back the Ashes. Without them the Aussies would not be 3-0 up so we can look forward to a much less trying series next time round.

Warne down four to go

Well the retirements have started with Shane announcing he will hang up his Test boots after Sydney and Glenn McGrath expected to follow. For world cricket its a shame to see them go. But knowing we will not face them when we try and win back the Ashes is a boost. Reading the remarks at the press conference even Warne appears to accept some of his appealing has been over the top- it surely was at Perth, while England's reticence in at least one appeal cost them.

The England one-day squad has been announced and sad to see Harmison announce his retirement from ODI's - it leaves the pace attack looking a little short on experience and penetration, at anything like his best he would be an asset- although at least this should mean Jon Lewis secures his World Cup spot.............................

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!

Day Five - Rain saves Aussies??

Plenty to do to save the game


As one ambitious songster in the members put it - "only rain can save Australia now" as KP and Freddie set about the task at hand.

Awake to grey skies and renewed hope that England can head to Melbourne still holding the Ashes and somewhat oddly wanting to sit all day watching rainfall - sure the Barmy Army's rendition of singing in the rain would be worth the admission.





Got to the ground early bought a ball and thought would get George to practice his bowling. Tried the empty green spaces of the East terrace - no balls allowed, tried the green area out the back of the members stand - no access allowed. Finally sneaked through to the "old" net area and George was enjoying a good session when a WACA employee decided a 7 year old in bare feet with a plastic ball would somehow damage the turf. The WACA really has been quite an unfriendly, unwelcoming venue in contrast to the town itself - the attractions of the Cheltenham Festival become ever greater.

To top it all a security guard then told us we were not allowed a ball in the ground despite having bought said ball in the WACA shop - you could not make it up!

Where have all the Aussies gone. Surprisingly empty spaces in the ground with 5 wickets to fall for Australia to win back the Ashes. I need not have fretted about not getting tickets yesterday.

Flintoff and Pieterson take the fight to the Aussies and with some good fortune and considerable application win the battle for 18 overs with both reaching 50 before Warne took his second wicket bowling Flintoff with one that pitched outside leg and took off. 336 for 6 and hope is fading, and then poor Geraint Jones was run out while Warne appealed for yet another LBW, and his foot drifted over the crease, not the way to go. 336 for 7 . Mahmoud and Harmison came and went both falling LBW to Clarke and Warne, respectively the latter decision looked suspect given the turn Warne was extracting and the length of Harmi's legs which were stretched forward in sweeping. Monte battled 'til lunch but the clouds are not building rapidly enough........Two balls after lunch from Warne were enough as Panesar was bowled to give him 4 for plus a significant hand in Jones dismissal if only through another dubious appeal.

And that was that wild Aussie celebrations led by Adam Gilchrist who then gave his pads to a young Aussie fan, and once the hubbub had died down made sure he signed them. Great stuff!!

And then there was the Barmy Army who stood and sang (chanted) there hearts out for fully forty five minutes. George waited two hours moving from stand to Gate Two but to no avail as those England players that left the ground by coach walked passed heads down so no opportunity to add Monte, Matthew Hoggard and Sajid to the otherwise fully autographed bats. We moved to Gate 8 but as it may be a while before the Aussies come out will probably leave shortly. Did though get David Gower to autograph the shirt and enjoyed a chat with him though he did not recall Allan Lamb and the duck- will have to dig out the picture I have in storage when we get home.