September 13, 2005
The Urn has Turned
Yes, after 16 years the urn has turned. England have drawn the final Test and won the Ashes.
But it took a dominant innings from former Sydney University player Kevin Pietersen to ensure that Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath did not convert the tantalising position of 5/126 into an Australian victory.
Oh well. Congratulations England. You were the better team.
Posted to Cricket by Keith PittyDefinitely a cracking series. The next question is what will the Australian selectors do before the super test series starting next month?
What chance to Messrs Gillespie, Kasprowicz and Martyn have of being picked?
And whilst his hundred at the Oval may have saved Matthew Hayden for now, what's going to happen if he carries his meagre form into the domestic season? Will he be carried for another sixteen (or was it seventeen?) matches until his next test ton?
Posted by: Andy Todd at September 15, 2005 11:06 AMI'll be surprised if we see Dizzy and Kasper in Australian colours again. For the Super Test MacGill should play instead of Tait but I don't reckon Watson deserves a spot. Perhaps Ponting needs to do a bit more bowling if some medium pace is required.
On the batting front, Martyn will be lucky to hold his spot. I'm not sure what else Michael Hussey has to do to earn his baggy green. They'll stick with Hayden for a while I think but it will be interesting to see what sort of Australian summer he has.
Hohns and co certainly have a challenge to manage the transition to the next generation!
Posted by: Keith Pitty at September 15, 2005 1:34 PM