Urkk...

Never thought I'd felt so much tension READING a cricket game in progress before!!!

I am, of course, referring to the third Australian-England Ashes Cricket Test, which I was following via text commentary on http://www-aus.cricket.org

Left: Ricky Ponting, Man of the Match

Right: Outside Old Trafford, and no this ain't no Man U football match either, it's Cricket!!!!!

As much as I believed that Australia could get 399 in one day, in the end it became too much to ask of a team surprised by England's resilience. Nevertheless, it always remained a possibility whilst Warne + Ponting remained at the crease. However, once Warne was removed, Ponting had no choice but to buckle down for a draw with his two remaining teammates. But in a breathtaking moment, Ponting was eliminated, leaving Lee + McGrath (!) to survive for 4 overs!!


Aussie furniture being rearranged by the bleedin Pommies

It became a comedy of errors as Lee tried desperately to keep McGrath (Australia's 'best' batsman) off strike. Twice he tried to score a single at the end of an over to keep the strike, only to accidentally whack the ball away for FOUR instead!!! Ha ha...!

Fortunately, McGrath survived, even scoring a Four himself. In the end, Lee pummelled the last ball of the match away for yet another four, bringing the match to a draw as the Australian dressing room sighed collectively in relief.

Following a Test Match which was won by TWO runs, this was yet another nail-biter!! I can only imagine what it must have been like to the spectators at the stadium.
Can't wait for the Fourth Test now!!!!

THE ASHES ARE ABLAZE BABY!!!!