December 2013(3)
June 2013(3)
May 2013(2)
February 2013(1)
January 2013(2)
November 2012(1)
September 2012(1)
January 2012(1)
December 2011(3)
October 2011(1)
September 2011(1)
August 2011(3)
March 2011(2)
February 2011(1)
December 2010(1)
August 2010(1)
July 2010(3)
June 2010(7)
May 2010(5)
April 2010(4)
March 2010(5)
February 2010(4)
January 2010(7)
December 2009(8)
November 2009(14)
October 2009(11)
September 2009(12)
August 2009(10)
July 2009(13)
June 2009(16)
May 2009(15)
April 2009(14)
March 2009(13)
February 2009(11)
January 2009(15)
December 2008(12)
November 2008(13)
October 2008(15)
September 2008(14)
August 2008(15)
July 2008(12)
June 2008(21)
May 2008(18)
April 2008(14)
March 2008(19)
February 2008(11)
January 2008(19)
December 2007(11)
November 2007(13)
October 2007(13)
September 2007(18)
August 2007(12)
July 2007(20)
June 2007(16)
May 2007(18)
April 2007(15)
March 2007(24)
February 2007(11)
January 2007(15)
December 2006(15)
November 2006(18)
October 2006(15)
September 2006(13)
August 2006(14)
July 2006(15)
June 2006(17)
May 2006(3)
Africa(1)
Christianity(7)
Cricket(122)
F1(100)
Football(184)
General(8)
Health(1)
Melbourne(51)
Politics(5)
Television(19)
Tennis(132)
Zimbabwe(63)
Socceroos drawn in tough group
All set for World Cup draw
Mandela dies
Mugabe announces election date
Kewell joins Melbourne Heart
Hugo on Eurosport beams Nations Cup matches: Really hoping Nigeria do well in this tournament b ...
Delivery Hero on England, France paired in Euro 2012: Can't wait for Euro 2012! ...
Wes on 2011/12 English Premiership Preview: Thanks Sybil, I think Man City cannot easily be di ...
Wes on 2011/12 English Premiership Preview: Thanks Bambo for the comment. I think its going to ...
Phil on 2011/12 English Premiership Preview: Good post, this looks like a very unpredictable se ...
BBC Blog Network
authorblog
mattheaton.com
Football Down Under
Dave's World
F1 Fanatic
Full Time Analysis
Owalog
Counter Steer
The change of captain to Michael Vaughan failed to inspire the team as England were dismissed for 144 runs chasing 222 runs to win.
I never got a chance to write about the fifth Ashes Test but in the end it was an embarrassing whitewash for England. Before the series begun it was said to be the most anticipated Ashes tour in Australia for some time but it turned out to be just ordinary especially for the last two Tests. Its not surprising that for the Boxing day test at the MCG, most probably the best thing about it was that we were spared going again for the fourth day and in the end we got our full refunds instead.
The turning point of the series I believe was the Adelaide Test. This is the Test where England had a very good first innings and had they got a draw or a win they could have gone to the WACA for the third Test with more belief. But going to the WACA knowing that they had to win at least two of the remaining Tests and add to that the manner in which they lost the Adelaide test a whitewash was on the cards even then because I think all the confidence had just disappeared.
It will be debated for sometime whether Monty Panesar should have played from the first Test and I think he should have but by the time he came into the fray the Ashes had already but gone.
We saw Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer playing Test cricket for the last time in this tour and I think they bowed out with a very good win to add their glittering careers.
Finally I was impressed by the Barmy Army support for England. They stuck with their team even in difficult
circumstances and also created a very good atmosphere especially in the chilly conditions of the MCG. I think they
deserved at least one win but that never came which is a bit of a shame really.