Yes, well played Oz. Your team was well focussed, prepared and determined - we weren't... The Aussies have been preparing for months, we just turned up two weeks before the first test...   

lol we have a guy, 23 years old at the start of his career, capable of taking 8 wks in a match in Aussie conditions and he couldn't even get a game. We have a wicket keeper who is total shite, who, unbelievably, is on the team selection comittee...

Just remember next time all our better players are currently 21 - 23 years old, all yours are 35 -37...
Don't get too attached to the urn, it's coming straight back  

Congrats to Alastair Cook for having four centuries under his belt at the age of 21. Previous English 21 year old record holders were David Gower and Denis Compton both with two centuries. And there are still two tests to go before he's 22... 

I think 'our' Dad's Army is yet another example of how yoof ain't everything.

These old bastards ran rings around the kiddies sent to challenge them.  OK, so we do have only one under 30 ....but that's only because the oldies are still too good to drop.  The biggest issue the selectors here have is who to choose.  Even McGrath wasn't a cert, yet he's rated as one of the best fast bowlers ever.

The Aussies' next target is to rub salt into the wounds by taking the series 5-0 to show just how flukey the previous loss actually was.

The original Ashes game was in Sunbury, just North of Melbourne...about 10 miles from where I grew up...and since we always seem to win the thing it 'should' be kept here not in the Dart.  The MCG is the ideal spot...

Well...there's a faint glimmer of hope for the English....looks like Warne AND McGrath are going to announce their retirement....after the 5th test....

Nothing lasts forever. It's been a great era for Aussie cricket. To have so many 'greats' all in one team is something every side wishes for. Warne is going to be the first to 700wks, but (not to add a dampener) Murali is only 25 behind with several years of his career left...   

Strangely, right at the end, KP has his measure and everyone is saying why did no-one do that before? We shall never know. Maybe that's why he's quitting. Like most Aussies, full of it when they are ahead but total quitters when they are behind. Only two weeks ago he was saying he would stay until the 2009 ashes...

Some of us can remember the 80's - the time when the 'greatest of all' Aussie teams started the decade by being pounded by Ian Botham, the world's greatest all-rounder, and ended unable to beat a very average England. Who can forget Aussie Captain Kim Hughes sobbing in public because they lost the ashes    Would tricky Ricky do that? Nah, his ego is far too enlarged for such a feat.

Fuzzy....you're reading too much of that page three press of yours...you sound as bitter and twisted as the poor sods crying for the UK team's lynching.

Warne would have retired after the last ashes, had we won them...but stayed till this year...to help get 'em back.

He's not 'quitting'...he's leaving while at the top of his game.

Some of us too can remember the 70's...so what?  The good thing is...we were alive at least while the world's greatest spin bowler was reviving everyone's interest in test cricket.

And please....find me another Captain whose cricket performance isn't shite because of it.  Ponting can bat, and has only improved since being captain....

Pretty sure I had a thread...I'll dig it up...

Warnie got his 700 ...and today was five for 39... so he's at 704...and counting....the Barmy Army was praying for 10 more days of rain...[no such luck]....

90,000-odd fans saw yet another not-too-good-day for England Cricket.

Do THEY have an Old-Boys' Eleven....someone who can actually play?....

Once again fans are left dumbstruck by an outrageous decision. Why would Flintoff choose to bat in overcast conditions which suit bowling? What makes it worse is Hoggard is acknowledged as the world No1 when it comes to bowling swing at left handers...

Under Vaughan were were unbeatable for over two years. Under Strauss we thrashed an excellent Pakistan side 3-0. Under Flintoff we play like wet celery...

Fuzzy....since your last comment things haven't got much better...

Ashes ended as 5-0 ....second time ever...5th test was almost even a new 'low'....by 10 wickets and a day and a half extra at the pub.....

Out goes the argued reasons for dominance...Langer, Mcgrath and Warne....then Lee is out sick for the 20-20....and Oz posts the highest ever score to beat.....and Vaughan as cap still doesn't save the day.

Friday it'll be game-on for the One Day series...starting at the MCG....and something is going to have to improve.  When we have people like Hayden firing out of the blocks getting 20 off 7 balls faced...it ain't going to be pretty...

Vaughan did....but I think the others were too scarred [not 'scared'] from the past battles...

It IS a fun feature.....and the format is particularly lively...