If someone had told me that the Aussies would win all 5 matches in this Summer's Ashes series at home, after India last year and the average performances in England during our Winter, I would have laughed and laughed. Whilst we can all dream, never had I imagined the team turnaround that happened across the Australian Summer. Cricket is such a funny game - you just never know!
After missing the Boxing Day Test for the first time in years and years, for work, and having great seats, B managed to organise tickets for me for the final Sydney Test, and I got up there in time to celebrate her birthday and her 100th Test Match, on the night of Day 1.
The Aussies were poised to win the series 5-0 with this final test, after a seriously amazing performance in Brisbane and Adelaide, and also in Perth and Melbourne. We had dubbed the whitewash Ashes series in Australia in 2006 The Smashes, so this one, so very one sided, has to be The Thrashers!
England was all out by Tea, for 155, against the Aussie first innings total of 326 the day before. Australia returned for another batting innings for the final session, losing 4 wickets, and adding 140 to the run total.
The sea of pink on almost every person walking in the gates, and all across the ground was so impressive and inspiring on Day 3. For Jane McGrath Day, and to raise awareness and funds for Breast Cancer and the McGrath Foundation's Breast Care Nurses across Australia, people wear pink, the stumps are pink, and every sign possible across the SCG is pink too. Amazing!
The Aussies kept in, until the middle of the middle session, being all out for 276, setting an impossible target. Incredibly, as this series went, Harris collected 5 wickets to assist a quick end to England's innings, match, and series.
Australian cricket was on a massive high, with unbelievable performances by our bowlers. The Ashes is such a massive sporting win, and one requiring much celebrating!
No comments:
Post a Comment