What a difference from four years ago. I remember the Edgbaston test as it was looking more and more likely Australi were going to make it before Kasprowicz was caught behind. I was so deliruous I picked up a table and thre it accross my lounge room. Who could forget the tension of the final day at the Oval and that great knock from Kevin Pieterson. We bought a bottle of champagne and celebrated in style. Not as much as Feddie Flintoff though.
Four years later and the same 2-1 margin but nowhere near the same amount of excitement. There is obviously not the same quality as last time round and England did beat an Australian side with so many great players such as Warne, Mcgrath, Langer, Hayden, Gilchrist etc. You would have to say that both the England and Australian sides are a work in progress. Australia have problems at the top of the order, are short of a quality spinner and don't have someone they can throw the ball to to get a wicket when they really need to. Englands major weakness is with their middle order and they struggle to take wickets on a flat wicket.
This was a strange serios lacking real quality and intensity. The final result should have been 3-2 if all games had been played to their conclusion. Certainly England outplayed Australia in 2 tests and likewise Australia outplayed England in two tests. Edgbaston was more advantage England and who knows what would have happened with an extra day there.
Well I am happy to have the ashes back in Englands hands and I just forward to November next year when the battle commences again. It seems strange that it will be a quarter of a century since we last won there by the time we arrive in Australia. But all records are made to be broken.
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