The Ashes 2005

Just how much fun can you have with a red ball that just goes and goes and goes? If nothing else, this Ashes series showed some excellent uses of the red ball. It is the best Ashes I have seen. I loved it. I was driven crazy by the interruptions from the rain and the light. English summer?!! I think that made it difficult for the teams to get into the rhythm of things and yet they turned on some fantastic bowling and equally dazzling batting. There were some really bizarre things like the inexplicable dropped catches and that weirdo ball from Brett Lee which was the best laugh I have had in cricket. There was a really comical side to these Ashes as well as a series slog out between the teams. The guys really has to use their minds and their skills and that was the real highlight for me. It was really thinking cricket and as much mind games as ball games. cricket at its best except for the appalling weather. Having thought about it, I think it will do England a power of good to know they had to fight really hard to keep their Ashes. At this point in time I think they need them in the wake of the London bombings. It'll give them courage. Our guys put up a great opposition and there was some magnificent batting and bowling from a team which has served us well. They did have to play and play well to get to where they got. England was actually a team they could pit their wits against. As far as I can see everybody came out of that match a better cricketer than when they went in and we all learnt a lot along the way...and has hours and hours of great ticket. Well done to both teams. It was a draw. England gets to keep the Ashes under the rules, but the test was a draw...just remember that, and given the stupid weather, I think that's a fitting outcome to two well matched opponents.