England bring the Ashes home

Can we play you every weeeeeek, can we play you eveeeeeery week?!

England have won the Ashes! Ah the pleasure in typing/thinking/saying/shouting/singing that is indescribable.

Andrew Strauss and his boys have done the nation proud in regaining the little urn, by thrashing the Aussies in our own back yard. England have won the 5th and final Test by a massive 197 runs. Graeme Swann took 4 wickets on the final day, while Steve Harmison cleaned up the tail with 3 quick wickets. Emotional and jubilant scenes followed, as not only have England brought back the Ashes, but Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff has bowled his last ball in a Test match. Not his greatest match, but his run-out of Ricky Ponting was definitely a turning point in the afternoon. Ironic for such a great all-rounder that his final contribution in the whites is a run-out from mid-off. Gotta love the man.

England got off to a flyer by taking the wickets of Simon Katich (43) and Shane Watson (40) early on in the day, but Captain Ricky Ponting (66) and Mike Hussey (121) dug in for the tourists, until that decisive Flintoff run-out. From then on in, wickets continued to fall throughout the afternoon, until Alastair Cook clung on to the winning catch off Mike Hussey. Graeme Swann taking the last wicket of the series.

Andrew Strauss was given the award for England's player of the series, while Michael Clarke won Australia's award. Stuart Broad won man-of-the-match for his wonderful spell of 5-37 in the first innings, plus some important runs down the order. So Freddie gets the greatest send-off he could have hoped for, and the celebrations have begun.

"I'm gonna take the mrs out for a meal tonight and then spend the day with the family tomorrow", he claims. As if! As Ian Botham said, "he'll be taking the mrs out for a Bacon & Egg roll at five in the morning!". Great scenes at the Oval, and the great thing is, they'll be at it again in 18 months time!

Congrats, Jonny Trott!

'mon the new kid!

A little congratulations is in order for one Ian Jonathan Leonard Trott. He battled his way to a maiden Test hundred today, and what a time to do it. England were 39-3 when Trott came to the crease, but a big partnership with skipper Strauss, and some very handy ones down the order with Broad, Swann and Anderson took England to a lead of 546.

Trott was eventually caught in the gully for 119 but received a standing ovation as he trotted (excuse the pun) off the field. The cameras caught a glimpse of his parents in the crowd - slightly embarrassing for his Mother who was shedding multiple tears - but a lovely, touching moment nonetheless. Well done Johnny boy!

Wickets tumble on enthralling day

15 wickets falling on the second day at the Oval. I'm mad, right?
But you would be mistaken in thinking that I was incorrect if you didn't watch one of the best day's Test Cricket in a long time.

An overnight 307-8 was where England stood as the bell rang out over the Oval pavilion on the second morning. Stuart Broad, James Anderson, and Steve Harmison were the men given the difficult task of lifting England up to a respectable but below-par 350. A total that would challenge Australia, but by no means right them off.

The day started badly for England, however. James Anderson recorded his first Test match duck as he was undone by a Ben Hilfenhaus in-swinger. Anderson trudged off with his record shattered, and ending at 58 innings without a Test duck. AB de Villiers lead the way with that statistic - he played out 78 innings before recording his first duck.

Some decent hitting from Broad and Harmison saw England up to 332, before Broad edged a Hilfenhaus cutter to Ricky Ponting in the slips. A slight delay followed, with a bit of confusion. It turned out that as Hilfenhaus bowled that ball, Broad's leg stump bail had fallen off. However, both sides accepted it, and that was that as far as the England innings was concerned. Andrew Strauss would probably have been very disappointed not to at least reach the 400 mark after an excellent start to their innings, but the pitch was already showing signs of wear and tear that would no doubt aid Graeme Swann with his off-spin.

Australia's innings started slowly, but Shane Watson and Simon Katich dug in and took the score up to 73 before the first wicket was lost. Broad in the action again as he trapped Watson in front, LBW for 34. And there started one of the greatest collapses the Oval had ever witnessed. Broad went on to claim 3 more wickets in his next 3 overs, giving him figures of 5.1.16.4 mid-way through the afternoon session. Ricky Ponting dragged one on, Mike Hussey was trapped leg-before by a full in-swinger, and Michael Clarke drove on the up to Jonathan Trott at short extra-cover. That was Trott's first catch in Test Cricket, and boy did he enjoy it.

shame about the mugshot, but a great moment nevertheless

After Broad's burst, it was Graeme Swann's turn to steal the show. On a big-turning pitch, the Notts off-spinner had the Aussies in one hell of a pickle. He first did for Marcus North, who on second look was very unlucky to be given out LBW after getting a fairly noticeable inside edge onto his back pad. A rye smile from North followed, but jubilant scenes from England said it all. They were dominating proceedings. It wasn't too long after that Simon Katich reached his fifty - a gritty, very Katich-like knock, much needed by the tourists. Australia would dearly have loved Katich to go on and make a match-saving ton, but it wasn't to be. When on exactly 50, he got a healthy inside edge onto a Swann delivery that failed to turn, and ballooned the ball up to short-leg where Alastair Cook took one of the simpler catches of his blossoming career. Katich trudged off furious with himself, and with the scoreboard reading 109-6.

Brad Haddin is renowned for being an excellent player of spin. However, it wasn't spin that claimed his wicket. It was that man Broad again. A beautiful away-swinger pitched full on middle stump, that Haddin played all around, crashed into the off stump and set the Barmy Army off again. 111-7, and only one thought on Aussie minds - to avoid the follow-on. Mitchell Johnson made 11 before edging a Swann turner, while Stuart Clark and Ben Hilfenhaus made just 6 apiece before falling to Swann and Flintoff respectively. Swann finishing with series best figures of 4-38. Clark was very unlucky to be given out bat-pad when the ball clearly missed the bat by a couple of inches. Asad Rauf not doing himself any favours with that one. Peter Siddle remained unbeaten on 26, making him one of only 4 Aussie batsman to make double figures. All out, 160.

England came out to bat in the knowledge they led by 172 with 9 and a bit sessions left in the match. They lost Alastair Cook (9), Ian Bell (4), and Paul Collingwood (1) cheaply, leaving them 39-3, but they end the day on 58 with no further losses. Andrew Strauss (32), and Jonathan Trott (8) are the not out men, and they have the comfortable task of ensuring England set a solid base tomorrow morning, from which they can press on and get a huge lead, before attempting to bowl Australia out for a second time.

There is no doubt as to who's day it's been. Stuart Broad has had a mixed time of it lately, particularly after the Cardiff Test. He's had his critics, but it seems ever since Mitchell Johnson got involved with him while Broad was making runs at Headlingly, he's been a different bowler. Figures of 6-91 at Leeds, followed by 5-37 in this match. His variety has been his downfall in the past, but today he used it to perfection, causing every batsman he bowled at problems, and keeping composed after taking his first couple of wickets. There's been much talk as to whether he could be as good as Andrew Flintoff, and with performances like these, you have to agree. We've seen the potential he has with the bat - an average of over 32 with two fifties has taken care of that side of his game - but it's his bowling that needs to really progress in the next 12-18 months if he's to stake a claim for being England's next genuine all-rounder. I don't think there's any doubt that if he continues to work hard at his game, and put in full-blooded performances

like we've seen today, that Broad can do just that. As an England fan, I'd love him to fulfill his potential, and some. He's got a bright future ahead of him that kid, we just need to give him some time, and he'll become one of the best.

A mention for Graeme Swann too. Only 6 wickets in the series prior to today, and 4 of them in one innings. There were questions over his form after Cardiff, a pitch that offered considerable turn, but he's answered them today, on a surface that has turned more than Sophia Gardens. 4-38 is a fantastic return for a finger-spinner on any Oval pitch, and even more so against Australia. So well done to him, and the rest of the England boys.

Match in the balance after Siddle's 4

Peter Siddle's 4-wicket haul on the first day at the Oval restricted England to a below-par 332. Ian Bell's 72 was the highlight of the England innings, who after being 176-2 would have been hoping for a score of over 400.

Siddle finished with figures of 4-75, his second best return of the series after an emphatic 5-21 in the first innings at Headingley. There were 3 wickets for the series' leading wicket-taker Ben Hilfenhaus, and two for Mitchell Johnson, who once again was the most expensive and less threatening of the 4 seam bowlers. Jonathan Trott's wicket came courtesy of some sharp work by Simon Katich at silly point - Trott going for 41, an impressive start to his Test career.

With the pitch being described as the worst at the Oval in over 20 years, a result seems increasingly likely. There was sharp turn on the first day for Marcus North, only a part-time off-spinner don't forget. Graeme Swann, therefore, should be able to exploit the substantial rough outside the right and left-hander's off-stump.

If England are to fight back and win from this position, their bowling has to be immaculate. Swann will need some wickets for his confidence, and to answer the few growing critics that he has, while Andrew Flintoff will no doubt be pumped up in his final Test match outing.

Stalemate at Edgbaston

England remain 1-0 up in this year's Ashes after a bore draw in Birmingham. England were bowled out for an impressive 383, but failed to bowl Australia out on the final day despite two late wickets last night from Graham Onions and Graeme Swann.

Shane Watson (53) made his second fifty of the match, before Mike Hussey (64), Marcus North (96), and most notably Michael Clarke (103*) who steadied the Aussie ship and saw them to a draw. With two days washed out it was rather inevitable that the match would end in a draw.

The teams now head for Headingly where the 4th match will start on Friday. England have further cause for concern over Andrew Flintoff, who seemed increasingly immobile throughout the last day. As for Australia, Brett Lee looks set for a return in place of Mitchell Johnson, and there still remains doubt over Brad Haddin's broken finger. Graham Manou may have to deputise for second consecutive match, although Manou himself had to receive treatment after a blow on the hand from Stuart Broad.

Onions inspires dominant England

Graham Onions set the tone for England on the 2nd morning at Edgbaston, by taking two wickets with the very first two balls of the day. Firstly, Shane Watson was trapped in front by a nip-back'er, before moments later, Michael Hussey left a straight one that clattered into his off-pole.

Onions went on to pick up two more wickets, as England bowled the tourists out for a below-par 263. The total would have been far less had Nathan Hauritz (20*), Peter Siddle (13) and Ben Hilfenhaus (20) not added 60 for the final two wickets.

Onions, together with Jimmy Anderson, fully utilised a swinging ball and the Australian batsmen were helpless. Michael Clarke can argue that he was a little unlucky with his LBW decision - Hawkeye showing the ball was missing leg-stump - but there was no uncertainty in the dismissals of Ricky Ponting (38), Marcus North (12), and the debutant Graham Manou (8). Ponting was the victim of some hostile bowling from the impressive Onions, North undone by an Anderson outswinger that was claimed admirably by Matt Prior behind the stumps, and Manou castled by an unplayable delivery from the same man. Anderson went on to claim 5-82 in a pacey spell.

England went into bat in the afternoon with a minimum of 50 overs still left to bowled, a total that would be cut down to 36 due to rain and bad light. Alastair Cook (0) went early to the bowling of Peter Siddle, a delivery that he would have been better off leaving. The highs and lows of cricket evident in this dismissal - the disappointment of Cook overshadowed by the joy of Manou, who claimed his first International dismissal with the catch behind. Manou was drafted into the lineup just minutes before the start of play yesterday as a replacement for Brad Haddin who broke his finger in last minute preparations. The change was so late that there wasn't even time to award the South Australia keeper his Baggy Green cap. That ceremony was delayed for the second morning. A special moment none-the-less for Manou, who wouldn't have expected to be making his debut at all this summer, let alone in such dramatic circumstances. Shades of Glenn McGrath from 2005, when he trod on ball in the outfield just before play. Perhaps a good omen for England.

After the departure of Cook in the second over, Ravi Bopara and Andrew Strauss were forced to be extra watchful, and Bopara's elegant strokeplay coupled with Strauss's calm aura, settled nerves around the ground. Bopara (23) has often been criticised for his laziness at the crease at times, and that was certainly his downfall today. Facing his first ball after Tea, the Essex man dragged a wide one onto his stumps with a nothing shot, gifting Hilfenhaus his first wicket. Bopara's expression said it all - one of frustration and displeasure. Once again Bopara looked good, but has failed to make a significant contribution. For a player of such talent and ability, one is frustrated by Bopara's constant momentary lapses in concentration.

England ended the day on 116-2, with Strauss (64) and Bell (26) unbeaten at the crease and looking solid. For Australia, all eyes were on Mitchell Johnson, and despite going at less than 4 an over, which is somewhat of a rarity for Johnson in this series, he seldom looked threatening. His best moment of the day came with a shapely inswinger to Ian Bell, that thudded into the Warwickshire man's pads, bringing a loud appeal from the slip-cordon and bowler, but to no avail. On second look, Johnson looked to be very unlucky, but as the saying goes, 'when you're in form, things go for you. When you're striving for form, everything goes against you'. That incident, coupled with his horrible misjudgement of an Anderson hooper in Australia's innings, kind of sums up Johnson's couple of weeks. He's just not at the races at the moment, a shame for Australia who were really banking on his bowling this summer. With Brett Lee touted to be fit for the Headingly Test, Johnson's time seems to be very nearly up.

The forecast for the next 3 days isn't great, and we'll be hard pushed to see a result, but where there's a will, there's a way!

Edgbaston Test to be a washout

The third Ashes Test of the summer, due to get underway tomorrow, looks destined to be a complete washout. With the forecast predicting rain for the rest of the week, and all weekend, it seems hard to believe any significant play will happen.

Steve Rouse, the Warwickshire groundsman, is staying optimistic however, and he believes that with a bit of luck, play might be possible on Friday and Saturday, but that clearly isn't enough time to force a result, something the Australians must do in order to get back in the Series. "The boys (groundstaff) will be working all night in an attempt to get the ground ready, but it seems very unlikely that any play will be possible tomorrow", Rouse states. "The forecast is for rain tomorrow, but it should clear up by Friday, so hopefully we can get underway at some stage".

Even for the most extreme optimists, any prospect of play seems a long way off, and for Australia it is exactly what they didn't want. 1-0 down in the Series, and with only 2 matches to play after the third Test, a lot will have to be done to turn around the deficit. Australian Vice-Captain Michael Clarke is remaining positive, however. "We showed how we can play at Cardiff. We dominated that Test Match and were very close to a win, so the boys believe we can turn the Series around. We're excited about Edgbaston, and we want to show how we can play and hopefully we can get a result".

On the day that Andrew Strauss claims Australia have lost their aura, the tourists are still in a quandary about whether to drop the out-of-form Mitchell Johnson for Stuart Clark, and whether to stick with Phillip Hughes, or replace him with fiery all-rounder Shane Watson. With the conditions as they are at Edgbaston, it may be a good idea to include the extra batsman, but perhaps not at the expense of Hughes. Marcus North's performance at Lord's leaves something to be desired, and although he scored a century at Cardiff, albeit on a road of a wicket, his place in the side is all but assured.

England seem settled on their lineup despite Ian Bell falling awkwardly on an ankle during a friendly game of football between teammates. Bell is due to slot in at number 4 in the order, meaning Ravi Bopara keeps his place at 3. England will be confident of defending their 1-0 lead especially if current conditions stay the same throughout the summer.

Bell to slot in at no.4

England captain Andrew Strauss has confirmed that Ian Bell will bat at number 4 in Thursday's 3rd Ashes Test at Edgbaston. Bell comes straight in to replace the sidelined Kevin Pietersen, meaning that Ravi Bopara keeps his place at number 3 in the order.

Bell's Ashes record isn't too impressive, with an average of just less than 25. However, with the knowledge that he is in the side for the next 3 Tests, he will be confident to improve upon that record. Kevin Pietersen described Bell earlier in the week as a "world-class talent", but if that label is to stick, he has to produce the goods on his home ground first.

The Warwickshire right-hander's highest Test score came last summer against South Africa at Lords, where he scored 199. However, since then, Bell has only picked up one half-century in 12 innings, without a century, and his last appearance in the England whites was in the West Indies in the winter, at Kingston, a game in which England were skittled for just 51 in their second innings.

England fans will be hoping that Bell can recapture his form of 2006, a season in which he made 3 centuries in 4 innings against Pakistan at home. It's these kinds of performances that enhance his reputation as a top-class talent, but he now needs to show that talent on the biggest of all stages.

Pietersen ruled out of Ashes

It has been revealed that England star Kevin Pietersen has been ruled out of the rest of the Ashes summer after requiring surgery on his troublesome Achilles injury. Pietersen, who has averaged 38.25 in the first two Test Matches, will be out of action for at least 6 weeks, keeping him out of the remaining 3 test matches, and the two Twenty20 Internationals starting on the 30th of August.

Despite not hitting top form in the past couple of Test Matches, Pietersen remains England's premiere batsman, and will certainly be a big loss. Speaking on Sky Sports News, Bob Willis remarked that a big score was just around the corner. Asked whether Pietersen's form was what the fans should expect from a player of his ability, Willis replied: "No it's not, we expect him (Pietersen) to be scoring big hundreds in an Ashes series, and I have no doubt that a big score was just around the corner for him". Pietersen's record against Australia is up there with the best. He averages more than 50 with a highest score of 158, statistics that back up Bob Willis' claims that he was due a big score.

Without KP in the side, there will not be a repeat of his 2005 heroics at The Oval, in the Test Match that secured England's famous Ashes victory. Pietersen's mesmeric 158 lit up the crowd that day, and will remain in the memory of all England fans, whether present at the ground or merely watching on television. Those sorts of performances have become the norm for Pietersen, who averages just below 50 in Test Cricket. His hard-hitting, aggressive nature quickly made him a fans favourite, but while his form in Test Cricket has been remarkably consistent since making his debut back in 2005, his One-Day International form has dipped. With just one ODI hundred in the last 12 months, England supporters will be hoping that he comes back stronger than ever after this latest setback, and shows the kind of One-Day form that thrust him onto the World stage in South Africa, 5 years ago. His 3 hundreds in the series remain one of the greatest feats in English One-Day Cricket. Pietersen will be a key player during the ODI series later this summer, and a fit KP is a world-beater.

So who will replace him for the next 3 Test Matches? The obvious candidate is Ian Bell, and he is certainly the man getting all the mentions right now. Bell is averaging 80 in the County Championship this season, and this kind of form surely has to put him at the top of the list. Another name mentioned has been Robert Key. Kent's captain has also been scoring runs recently, and this could be Key's last chance to push for a place in the side. However with Bell's International experience and with age on his side, it would be somewhat of a surprise should he not be named in the XI come next Thursday. Bell's record against Australia is less than impressive, with an average of just over 25. His record at Edgbaston (the venue for the next Test) is even worse, averaging a run less. If Bell is to fill the shoes of Pietersen over the next few weeks, he will need to drastically improve on those statistics. He has been criticised in the past for not converting 40's and 50's into big hundreds, and if there was ever a time for him to hush those critics it is now.

Freddie to bow out after Ashes

England cricketing hero Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff is to retire from Test cricket after the ongoing Ashes series. Flintoff has had a series of serious injuries in the last 18 months, and his most recent knee injury has prompted him to call time on his stop-start career.

Flintoff will be remembered most by English fans for his incredible individual performances in the 2005 Ashes series in this country. In his first series against the old enemy he lifted the crowd when times were hard, he had the wool over Adam Gilchrist through the whole of the summer, and he completely rattled a side that, prior to arriving in England, looked invincible. The most touching moment of that series came after the dismissal of Michael Kasprowicz at Edgbaston, in what has been touted the greatest Test Match of all time. Flintoff's gesture of consolation and admiration for Brett Lee left goosebumps on the skin of even the 'hardest' cricket fans.

Throughout his career Flintoff found himself on the back page of the paper on numerous occasions, sometimes for the wrong reasons. He was seen staggering out of number 10 Downing Street following England's victory in 2005, although that's understandable and indeed, forgivable. In 2007 he made the headlines for taking a drunken trip on a pedalo during the World Cup, the same night as England's opening match defeat to New Zealand. And in 2009, just days before the commencement of the Ashes, he missed a team bus heading for the memorial of those who died in World War II. Flintoff has always had a 'bad boy' side to him, as did Ian Botham, whom Andrew Flintoff constantly gets compared to. Botham was the prime example of the bad boy cricketer, spending numerous evenings in nightclubs, and at one point, when England captain, banning the whole team from training. Perhaps Flintoff can be forgiven, due to his phenominal ability with a cricket ball.

Not only have Flintoff's misdemeanours made the headlines in the past, but an injury-ridden career has had it's fair share of articles.

1999 -Returns from his maiden international tour, of South Africa, early with a broken foot.

2000- A back injury rules him out of the tour to Pakistan.

2002- Delays a hernia operation in an attempt to complete the tour of India, but ends up missing the final Test Match.
Also misses the chance to make his Ashes debut, after suffering with a groin problem.

2003- Plays in the World Cup in South Africa, but misses out on home Tests against Zimbabwe with a shoulder injury, picked up after being hit in the nets by fellow Lancastrian Sajid Mahmood.

2005- Returns from South Africa after Test Matches to have ankle surgery, prompting him to miss the One-Day Internationals. Luckily for him and England, he is fit for the home season, including the victorious Ashes series in which he played a major part.

2006- Captains England against Sri Lanka but is then set back by another ankle injury and more surgery, keeping him out of action for 12 weeks. He returns to captain England in the Ashes down under.

2007- More surgery for Flintoff after the Caribbean World Cup, and misses most of the home season before returning for the One-Day Internationals against India. However, he doesn't play a full part in the series, because of, you guessed it, more ankle trouble.
Limps through the World Twenty20 and requires more surgery after. He misses the winter Internationals.

2008- Was due to play against New Zealand at home but picks up a side strain while bowling for Lancashire. His comeback is delayed for the second Test Match against South Africa at Headingly.

2009- Returns from the West Indies after the third Test with a hip injury, but returns for the ODI's.
IPL stint with Chennai Super Kings is cut short after a knee injury, and he is kept out of the World Twenty20 in England soon after.
Knee swells up again during 1st Test of the Ashes, and announces retirement from Test Match cricket soon after.

There is no doubt that Andrew Flintoff has been one of England's greatest all-rounders of all time. His big frame, vociferous character, and tremendous ability on the cricket field quickly made him a fan's favourite. Without Flintoff in the side, England are a weaker side, and he will be greatly missed in the Test arena. Lets hope that this particular decision has a positive affect on England's One-Day fortunes, and if he can stay fit, he still has a lot to offer his country. That's a big 'if' though. He will continue his contract with Chennai in the IPL also, allowing him freedom to play - something he relishes. Thank you Fred, for being a truly fantastic servant to English cricket.

Cash in boys!

England's excuse for a Cricket team once again failed to turn up this week - this time for the 1st Ashes test match at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.

England's first innings total of 435 actually drew half a smile to my face, and for one moment I believed we could win the Ashes! But no. Australia managed to rack up nigh-on 700, with only the loss of 6 wickets. Their innings included 4 centurions - Simon Katich (122), Ricky Ponting (150), Marcus North (125*), and Brad Haddin (121). Once again, England's individual inability to bring up the gallon was their downfall, and they now find themselves trailing by 137 at Lunch on the last day, with only 5 wickets remaining.

Just what is it about English cricketers that gives them this unique ability to unimpress time after time? They have the talent. They have the coaching. They have the brains. The only thinkable reason is that they earn more money from the bad press they receive the following morning. No? Beyond me!

I long for the day when we, as England fans, can celebrate a Test Match hundred against a decent nation. West Indies were dreadful, lets face it. Scoring a century against them is like taking candy from a 2 year-old. It's about time that these cricketers, who earn plentiful amounts to entertain us, and bring home silverware for their country, step up and actually play to their potential ability. I'm fed up, and the whole of the nation are fed up, with mediocrity and under-par performances from so-called 'world-class' players.

Maybe we should take an example from the Irish. For the second major tournament running, they managed to upset a test-playing nation, and find themselves in the second stage. They have a captain, William Porterfield, who leads from the front. They have the hard hitting Kevin O'Brien who has an ability that no England player bar KP seems to possess, in hitting sixes, and they have a reliable, experienced opening bowler in Trent Johnston. I know that Ireland are yet to play Test Match cricket, but the same principles are there. Be aggressive, take the initiative, attack the Aussies, and win the blasted match by hitting blasted centuries! Hello, but if four Australians can do it, surely at least ONE Englishmen can rise to the not so big challenge?

Vaughan set to announce retirement

After being left out of last week's Ashes squad, Michael Vaughan is expected to announce his retirement from all cricket before the end of the month. Vaughan, who has been repeatedly hailed as England's best ever captain, will hang up the gloves halfway through the 2009 season, and in doing so, leave behind a very successful career with England and Yorkshire.

Back in 1999, Vaughan made his debut against a world-class South African side, making a resilient 33, before just 5 in the second innings. Perhaps it's fitting that he should end his career against the same nation. In the first innings he was dismissed first ball by the fiery Andre Nel, before the same bowler dismissed him for 17 in the second innings. However, sandwiched in between was a career full with trademark cover drives, elegant pulls, and numerous classy hundreds, most memorable those during the 2002-03 Ashes Series down under, in which he hit 3 centuries, including 183 at the SCG. He led England to 26 Test Match wins, 8 more than Mike Brearley, and 9 more than Nasser Hussain.

Vaughan held great respect within the dressing rooms, perhaps an indication of how successful he was. Players looked up to him, and more often than not, his batting set the example to the younger, less experienced players in the squad. His decision making was brave, and ruthless, and his ability to stay calm under immense pressure was incredible, and utterly inspiring. He very rarely showed emotion on the field, win or lose, with the odd exception - who can forget the Edgbaston Test of 2005 against the old enemy? Vaughan's temperament is something the younger generation should take heed from. Not only did he get his timing right in the field, with inspired bowling changes and innovative field placements, but his batting often clicked at just the right time. Looking back to the 2005 Ashes, a series of poor scores was followed by a much needed 177 at Old Trafford. He oozed class and confidence at the crease and that innings propelled England on to a performance that almost won them the match.

England will be hard pushed to find a better captain than Michael Vaughan, and a captain as calm, inspiring and as classy as the Yorkshireman. One gap that Vaughan left unfilled in his career was the lack of an ODI hundred. It bewilders people how a player of his quality could fall short on so many occasions, yet the question of how will remain unanswered. Lets not let that fog over our memories of Michael Vaughan. He will be forever remembered as the man who brought the Ashes home. A true legend.

Silence in the slips please Ricky!

With the Ashes only 10 days away, not only will there be the absence of Shane Warne's peroxide blond hair, Glenn McGrath's constant jibber-jabber at English batsman, and an England victory (most probably), but now, we won't even have the pleasure of enduring a bit of Australian 'banter' in the slip cordon. Cricket Australia has told it's current batch of warriors to tone down the talking, and get on with the cricket.

For decades, 'sledging' has been a major part of our game, in particular Ashes battles. In the last series down-under, Paul Collingwood and Shane Warne infamously came together while the latter was batting at the MCG. Collingwood told Warne he can't bat, and Warne being Warne replied by hammering Monty Panesar over mid-wicket for six before turning to Colly with the words "that's for you mate!". Now, without such confrontation, where are we going to get our fun from on a dull fifth day when both sides are playing for the draw? Sledging adds a bit of fire to an otherwise placid match, and gets the pulses racing.

One could argue that much of Australia's success has come from the sledging trade, as it were. Teams are afraid to take on the broad-shouldered, big-mouthed, statesmen, but now England have no such worry. Not that it would affect them anyway. Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff and colleagues were absolutely ribbed in 2005, but still triumphed, and with some of the calmest young cricketers on the planet, in the way of Alastair Cook and Ravi Bopara, now in the side, it is doubtful any words from Ponting and co. would have any affect whatsoever.

Ian Chappell is the man responsible for bringing such a thing into our game. He once said to a batsman, who shall remain unnamed, "that was a subtle as a sledgehammer", and from there on in, so came our wonderful verbal battles. And here, just for you, are the top 5 sledging quotes from our much loved cricketers:

1) Glenn McGrath v Eddo Brandes
'Pigeon', as he was known, was bowling to Zimbabwe's plump no.11, who was struggling to lay bat and ball. McGrath, being the old-stager he was, thought he'd have a cheeky pop at Brandes, and shouted directly at him: "Why are you so fat?". Brandes response, not to be outdone, was: "Because every time I shag your wife, she gives me a biscuit." Needless to say, Glenn kept his mouth shut after that.

2) Viv Richards v Greg Thomas
Thomas, the Glamorgan medium pacer, would have been forgiven for thinking he was on top of Viv Richards after beating the great West Indies batsman's bat a couple of times. He may have even been forgiven for saying to Viv: "It's big, it's round, and it's red in case you're wondering". However, after the next ball was resoundingly placed into the stands by Richards, followed by the words, "you know what it looks like, now go and fetch it", Thomas would have wished he'd kept his mouth firmly closed.

3) Merv Hughes v Robin Smith
Similar to the Richards/Thomas scenario, Hughes had beaten the edge of Smith's bat a couple of times, before giving the England batsman a piece of his mind, with the words: "You can't fucking bat mate." The next ball was hit for four, before Smith turned to Hughes and said: "Hey Merv. We make a great pair - I can't fucking bat, and you can't fucking bowl." What a match that must have been.

4) Rod Marsh v Ian Botham
Two big characters out in the middle, and as Botham arrived at the crease, Marsh greeted him with the words: "So how's your wife and my kids?" Rather distasteful Rodney.

5) Daryll Cullinan v Shane Warne
Daryll had had a few problems with Shane in the past, but only because he couldn't hit the ball. Warne dismissed Cullinan more times than any other bowler in his career. As Cullinan came to the crease, two years after he had last faced Warne (and been dismissed by him), Warne couldn't help but inform him of that situation: "I've been waiting two years for this moment". Cullinan's reply was a cheeky: "Looks like you spent it eating". Clever, Daryll. Clever.