It was a great win.

The first four days were dominated by the bat and were rather dull but the last day more than made up for them.

I watched it on T.V. and it was great.

In Australia the last session pulled the third biggest audiance of a televised sporting contest for the year.

It was a great victory because at the end of the fourth day day it looked like a certain draw.
Then Warne started up in the morning session and England decided to play for a draw.
The wicket looked like a mine field that morning by the way England were playing it but when we came out to bat we showed them how to do it.
That four from Langer off the second ball of Hoggard signalled our intent and we never looked back from there.

It was also a great victory because of when it happened.
Going to two up in the most anticipated series for decades and pretty much regaining the Ashes made it great.
I don't thing you foreigners relize just how much 2005 burns the Australian players and fans.
Australian cricket crowd figures,T.V. ratings and general interest has been waning in recent years because you pretty much knew they would win all the time.
The reason we have had record crowds and record T.V. ratings this year is because their is also alot of interest from non cricket followers also who have became interested by the prospect of a great contest between two good teams with us winning back the urn after a hard fought series.

551 was the highest first innings declared losing total in history too don't forget.

Racheal.
Did you really think at the end of day two that a draw was a near certainty when England was in command?( I did not and if Giles had caught Ponting when he should of England would have probably won.)

P.S. I don't want a hard fought series.
I want a one way series with us winning 5-0.
PAIN,SLAUGHTER,HUMILIATION & REVENGE.

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" You don't want the truth,you can't handle the truth."

LOL. I'm afraid many over here took the same attitude in 2005.... though what was 'burning' them was perhaps what they took to be humiliation over a period of decades rather than one series that could easily have gone the other way!

I was actually pretty disgusted with the ending of the 2005 series: the England wasters were content to just sit on a balcony and revel in a series win rather than choosing to bowl and go for another win (no matter how slight the chance). Unlike you... I just want good cricket... and don't care who wins... so a tame draw with no effort to get a result just left a bitter taste).

Racheal wrote:

I was actually pretty disgusted with the ending of the 2005 series: the England wasters were content to just sit on a balcony and revel in a series win rather than choosing to bowl and go for another win (no matter how slight the chance). Unlike you... I just want good cricket... and don't care who wins... so a tame draw with no effort to get a result just left a bitter taste).

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It was the smart thing to do.

Hayden and Langer went off because of poor light when they should have played on too, so Australia have to share the blame for that dull game also.


With alot of our quality players retiring soon I think I am not going to be not so happy in the future, so please forgive the gloating.
If England come back to win or draw this series I think I might cop a little bit of pommy stirring so it works both ways.

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" You don't want the truth,you can't handle the truth."

England's win in the dark in Pakistan after the Pakistan team were moaning about the light has to be up there.Brilliant umpiring by Bucknor on that occasion.

True Greg, that was very dramatic and well deserved, but not exactly a comeback against all odds - Pakistan were never really in that contest.

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A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes
Mark Twain

If you want a turnaround then look no further than Headingley 81.