Merry Cricket!!

ENGLAND RETAIN THE ASHES DOWN UNDER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 24 YEARS!

They took the Test in Melbourne by an innings and 157 runs. Absolutely brilliant stuff from England. They dominated throughout, never giving Australia a look in.

After bowling them out for 98 on day one, England reached a frightening total of 513 (Trott hitting a magnificent unbeaten 168 - he has the highest average of any English batsman in Australia). Australia then went back in to bat and got off to a promising start, reaching 99-1. Bresnan, however, decided to ruin their comeback party. He took three huge scalps for five runs (Watson, Ponting and Hussey) - leaving Australia on 104-4 - to push England once again into the ascendency. The Aussie's ended day three on 169-6, still 246 adrift of the tourists. The end, it seemed, was most definitely in sight and England walked onto the MCG today knowing victory was merely a formality.

Despite a spirited last day from Australia, and a 50+ partnership between Siddle (40) and Haddin (55 not out), England cruised to a major victory. They celebrated, beautifully, with a mass 'sprinkler' dance-a-thon.

Strauss, in his post-match interview, was already focussed on Sydney and winning. Win (or draw) Sydney and win the Series; win the Series and beat the Aussie's for the first time in 25 years. For my entire life. Incredible. Bring on January 3rd!

More Straussisms:

- 'damp squib' (an expression of the posh)

- 'you know...'

- 'to be honest'

- 'dig/dug deep'

I'll keep you blogged...

Christmas Cricket Good Times

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

I do hope everyone had a lovely day. I, myself, had a super time with the famile - we ate a lot and played silly games and opened lots of presents. I got a poodle and a hamster and have called them Sassy LeClassy and Ralphy. They are with me right now, actually. Sassy is from Hong Kong and Ralphy is from England. They are toys.

The best Christmas present, however, was the one the England cricket team gave me in the small hours and into Boxing day. First day of the Melbourne Test (the penultimate of the series) and England, fresh off a crushing defeat, need to put on a strong display in order to put them back in the ascendency to regain the Ashes and win Down Under for the first time since the mid-eighties. Bresnan was in for Finn but otherwise England put up an unchanged team. There were two dropped catches before Tremlett made the first break through and Watson had to walk for just 5 runs. Bresnan struck next just a few overs later that saw Hughes leave for 16. Not a good start for the Aussies but a great start for us. And it just kept getting better as wicket after wicket fell. Ponting fell for 10, 'Mr Cricket' Hussey for 8 (YES PLEASE), Smith for 6, Clarke for 20 (top scorer...), Haddin for 5 (after this wicket Australia found themselves at 77-7. Delightful.), Johnson for a duck, Sidde for 11, and finally Hilfenhaus for a duck.

This, dear readers, meant that England had bowled Australia out for 98. Ninety eight. 98. 98 all out. I'm sorry, but I can't type that enough. 98 ALL OUT. Merry Merry Merry Christmas. That was Australia's lowest Test score at the MCG against England. What a great time for that statistic. England then came into bat and Strauss and Cook constructed a beautiful, clean and controlled 157-0 by the days end of play. That's already a lead of 59 and no English wickets have fallen. Merry Christmas everyone.

I'll keep you blogged...

Hmm...

So we lost. Not just a little bit, but big time. A comprehensive, sound, solid drubbing. It didn't seem possible after the first day and well into the second - I went to sleep comfortable in the knowledge that we'd bowled the Aussie's out for a meagre 268 and were on 71-0 and looking pretty peachy. I woke up six and a half hours later to Australia batting which was not a good sign. A woeful England batting display and an inspired Mitchell Johnson meant Australia were still in the lead as they entered their second innings. 81 runs ahead to be specific. The Aussie's then reached a pretty respectable but not unattainable score of 309, leaving England needing 401 runs to win. England's second batting attempt, however, was woefully rubbish as they were dismissed for a pathetic 123.

Australia have levelled the Test at 1-1 with two Tests to go. It's not the end of the world, we still have a better chance than Australia of retaining the Ashes. We have, however, made it a little more difficult for ourselves; a little more tense. The Aussie's will now have the momentum and will be feeling pretty good at the next Test. We need to make a good start on Boxing Day. We need to get our mojo back. We need to remember how to bat again.

I have noticed some Straussisms that amuse me:

- 'sub-par' (an expression often used to describe their batting)

- 'brand of cricket'

More to come if and when I notice them.

I'll keep you blogged...

Welcome to Perth

Perth: the most isolated city in the world. Cricket stadium: the Wacca (these Aussies...). England lead 1-0 after two tests and a win here will seal the Ashes for us. A good first day is a must. We win the toss and opt to field. A few early wickets perhaps, some good low-scoring overs. The possibility of bowling them out on the first day again? Surely not.

Well, actually, surely yes! (Or whatever the opposite to 'surely not' is...) England put on a beautiful display and reduced Australia to 268 all out. The Aussie's were 69-5 at one point so did well to reach that total, thanks mostly to 'Mr Cricket' Hussey, Haddin and Johnson (who was having some beef with Anderson which I always love in cricket. They get so bitchy. It's brilliant.) who all hit half centuries in an otherwise uninspired batting display. Collingwood made a stunning catch to oust Cap'ain Ponting (is his job in jeapordy?) who had played a few pretty tasty balls and looked to be settling in for a thrilling innings. He was pretty peeved to have to leave, I would think. And much more peeved to witness the fast and disturbing demise of his team. By the end of play Strauss and Cook had steered England nicely to 29-0.

Boy, I wish I had Sky Sports. Anyone want to buy me a subscription for Christmas?

Also, my brother just showed me the light and posted a link to Swann's Video Diaries of the Ashes. They are hilarious. Please find it on youtube. Seriously worth it.

I went to a Carol Service last night. One I used to sing in every year. It was great and nostalgic and really quite beautiful. It felt good to sing choral music again. I need to join a choir. I miss it. And I was killing those high notes (in a good way).

I'll keep you blogged...

Snooker

Oh, Higgins, how we've missed you. He just beat Mark Williams to win the UK Title and the last of 2010 10-9 in an epic comeback. He trailed Mark throughout the match, losing 6-2 and 9-5, and looked dead and buried when Williams went within a frame of victory. He admitted afterwards that he thought he'd get 'a frame or two back' after Mark reached 9 but thought he was out of it. Not so much, Higgins my dear, not so much. He went on to win five fine frames in a row and consequently a third UK Championship title.

It was a great match. Free, flowing, and very fast. Anyone who thinks Snooker is a boring sport should watch that game. A tearful Higgins dedicated his win to his ill father. I can't remember seeing Higgins that tearful before. I think that victory meant a lot to him. He's had a tough year - he was banned from playing for six months after failing to report a match-fixing approach. I don't really get how The News of the World got away with that; surely that's entrapment? Why wasn't it illegal? That's probably a dumb thing to say but I honestly think it's completely unfair. I cannot imagine Higgins doing anything like match fixing. I, for one, am pleased as punch that he's back and has so far made three out of three finals and won two of those.

I'll keep you blogged...

.............................................

00:57 - ENGLAND HAVE WON THE SECOND TEST OF THE ASHES BY AN INNINGS AND 71 RUNS!!!!

I'll keep you blogged...

Mourning

I am in mourning.

Stuart Broad has had to go home after suffering an abdominal strain. No more Ashes for him. No more Australia for him. He said playing an Ashes series in Australia has always been a dream of his so he must be seriously disappointed right now, especially as England have such a good chance of winning this one. Man, he must be gutted.

Poor poor Stu. My heart goes out to you you beautiful man. Although you'll be back in good ol' Blighty now so perhaps we'll happen to meet and you'll realise we were made for each other...

Ok, perhaps not.

But hey, who cares about all of that (I do!), England are about to win the second Test of the series!! Australia are on a pathetic 286-8. YES PLEASE!!!

I'll keep you blogged...