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13 December 2006

Everyone in Australia is praying for an England win; or at least a draw. Thanks to the Pom’s capitulation and complete lack of faith when confronted with the Shane Warne voodoo, the entire populace of this sunburnt (and currently scorched) country is praying for a win for the visitors. A draw would suffice, I suppose.

Regardless of the way they do it, we do not want to win this one! It’s a very strange feeling for a green and gold supporter, but one which is completely understandable. I will explain why. The main reason is, despite our almost total domination of the game in recent years, we Aussies love a good contest. A whitewash is no fun (well not really that interesting). The second is far more selfish. My fellow countrymen and I want to be able to settle back on our couches on Boxing day, our bellies full to the brim with festive fare, and sit in the probable 30+ heat while watching a thrilling fourth test from the MCG.

If England can pull something out of the hat in this test, then the silly season will be all that sillier. It needs to be so. For the sake of the game and all of the furore created in the past 18 months England need to put us to the sword. The spectacle demands such a thing.

14 December 2006

It’s now 8.20 pm on the first day of play and I’m sitting at my parents’ house (it’s a steamy 28 degrees and very humid!) and England are now batting, in what has been an extraordinary first day of play in Perth . The man on every cricket lover’s lips, Monty Panasar, has taken five wickets (the third best figures for an Englishman at the WACA apparently!) and Harmison has done a Lazarus and returned from the brink to take 4. It currently bodes well for our fair skinned friends, although it is evident from recent form that perhaps a couple of decent sessions is all the Poms have in them at this juncture in each test. Time will tell.

Sorry to be an utter bore and harp on like Tony Greig reminiscing about his Sith Ifrican days, but what is most important is the result this weekend. WE MUST NOT WIN!

Now, there may well be a few conspiracy theorists among us who think that the ‘powers that be’ may rig the series in order to maintain public interest and (more importantly) TV ratings and endorsements. I am more of a purist and believe in the power of the game; a force which draws the supporter in, thrills and torments them through every minute of a five-day test.

More and more I am coming to realise that this kind of enjoyment; this passion and unadulterated excitement, is just part and parcel of the gentleman’s game.

Long live the Ashes and long live this series! Let’s see what tomorrow brings!

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