On yer bikes maite!!

As I write, the last few nails are being hammered into the Aussies coffin. England regain the Ashes after 17 years. The English press as expected will shower profound but unexpected ways to praise the current England team which ran away deserved winners. After every match, one would be left with the feeling..."What more can one expect from a test match ?", and in just a week's time the questions would be answered. I cannot resist but round up this epic series.
The first test was just another day in the office for the Aussies. That led to thoughts of 4-0....a whitewash.....the bookies were a busy lot. The next 3 tests were nerve-janglers, arguably the most exciting test matches played in the same series between any two test-playing nations. ( Of the ones that I have watched of course) If the first test was all about Mcgrath, Warne and the Aussie batting lineup, the second test was all about one man. Andrew Flintoff. A superb all-round display from arguably the best all-rounder in world cricket today.
The third test, though a drawn match was a thriller. Lee and Mcgrath hung on, hoping against hope to clinch a draw, that epitomised the Aussie-never-say-die attitude. Steve Waugh would have been pleased as punch. The highlights of the match were brilliant hundreds from Vaughan, Ponting and Strauss, an entertaining 90 from the cameo-man Warne and a six-wicket haul by Simon whatshisnameagain Jones. The fourth test was (gosh I cant come up with another word for pulsating) a nerve-wracking (hyuk hyuk)adventure from which the Poms emerged victorious by three wickets. A century from Flintoff and his partnership with the English version of Parthiv Patel, Geraint drop-it-like-its-hot ;) Jones in the first innings proved to be decisive in the end.

That set up a grand finale at The Oval. The Aussies would take home the Ashes if it was a drawn series, and the Englishmen needed to win to clinch the Ashes after 17 long years. Centuries from Strauss and Langer, Hayden doing a VVS, a timely century to pacify the selectors until the next rubber and that man Pietersen. A bulky bloke with a blond streak of hair that dispatched the leather to all parts of the ground, stands included. Butterfingers or not, he was the man. As they say, Cometh the hour, cometh the man. England scampered through the home-stretch, unscathed and victorious.
For a more comprehensive report on the Ashes, who else but cricinfo.

And in retrospect, there were far too many party jokes even before it all started.

The Daily Telegraph, Sydney
"What's worse than a whingeing Englishman? Gloating Pommies. One day we'll lose the Ashes and it will be as horrific as waking up after a night on the drink in a room full of images of Camilla Parker Bowles."
Glenn McGrath
"I think I was saying 3-0 or 4-0 about 12 months ago, thinking there might be a bit of rain around. But with the weather as it is at the moment, I have to say 5-0."
Terry Alderman
"I definitely believe if any of our batsmen get out to Giles in the Tests they should go and hang themselves. But I'm confident that won't happen."
Jeff Thomson
"England will lose the five-Test series 3-0 and the margin will be worse for them if it doesn't rain. If you put the players from Australia and England up against each other it is embarrassing. There is no contest between them on an individual or team basis." and if this wasnt enough, "Hoggard's like a net bowler when you compare him to McGrath and Kasprowicz."

Laughter-the best medicene.

My bet for player of the series, Andrew Flintoff. But you cannot simply forget Shane the legend Warne. He was at em all the time.

"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. If Lillee dont get em, Thommo must" Well I guess thats got to be rewritten after all. An epic series that will linger in the memory of all those who watched the drama unfold.
Cheers!