England Ashes Triumph

England regained the Ashes when they beat Australia by 197 runs in the deciding Test of the summer Match at a capacity-filled Brit Oval at 5.49 pm on a glorious sunny day, Sunday 23 August 2009, with a day to spare. The 2-1 margin was a repeat of the scoreline in the thrilling home series of 2005. Set to score 546 for victory by the England Captain Andrew Strauss the Australians, led from the front by Captain Ricky Ponting, made a valiant attempt to score what would have been a world-record fourth innings total. Ponting was gracious in defeat. Australia frequently played the better cricket but England won the crucial moments.

The final wicket fell at 5.49 pm when Mike Hussey was caught by Alastair Cook off the bowling of Graeme Swann for a determined 121 out of a total of 348. Swann bowled 40.2 overs in the Australian second innings and ended with four wickets for 120 runs.

My four England men of the series are: Andrew Strauss for his calm captaincy and crucial runs. Jonathan Trott of Warwickshire, the team I have supported since the late 1950’s, who made a sensational England debut, batting at number five. He was unlucky to be run out for 41 in his first innings and scored a brilliant 119 in his second innings. He fielded well and will undoubtedly become a permanent fixture in the England team for the next few years. Matt Prior who played with great enthusiasm and showed that he his reliable behind the stumps. Graeme Swann who took 14 wickets during the series with some excellently controlled spin bowling. Stuart Broad ended the series with 18 wickets and Andrew Flintoff ended his test career with the crucial run-out of the Australian Captain for 66, when he looked set for a long innings on a difficult but easing Oval pitch.

It’s a wonderful feeling to win the Ashes but realistically, England are an adequate, rather than a great side. I have a question mark over the following players who have not played to their full potential in this Ashes series:  James Anderson, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Paul Collingwood, Steve Harmison and Monty Panesar

For the record: England held on to draw the First Text at Cardiff. England won the Second Test at Lord’s by 115 runs. The Third Test at Edgbaston ended in a dull draw. Australia won the Fourth Test at Headingly by an innings and 80 runs. England won the Firth Test at The Oval by 197 runs.

At my suggestion, the Isle of Man Post Office produced a magnificent England v Australia 2009 miniature, first day cover, insert, and presentation pack – text by me. I also worked with them to produce a limited edition first day cover and insert to commemorate “England First Ashes Victory at Lord’s since 1934.

I am working with The Isle of Man Post Office again as they plan a special cover and insert  to commemorate ENGLAND ASHES WINNERS 2009. Watch this space for full details. Cricket, Lovely Cricket!

I am delighted that my good friend Kevin Grant has accepted an invitation to write  an occasional blog for my website. Kevin is a veteran Catholic journalist and writer and the best sub-editor that I know.  He and I spent two days together during the rain-affected third Test Match at Edgbaston that resulted in a dull draw. So what better start to his first innings than this unique take: “The Ashes and the B-29”?

To shown that Kevin Grant has justified his selection to my “First Eleven” here is a short biography:  Kevin spent his early working years with Unilever, in commodities then in advertising.  His National Service was as an air-gunner with Bomber Command, reflected in his text here.  He graduated by evening study at Birkbeck College, London in 1958.  He joined The Thomson Organisation in 1965, serving in Newcastle, Aberdeen, Reading and London before entering religious publishing.  At different times he headed two of the Catholic weeklies, The Universe and The Catholic Herald.

He was British Director of Aid to the Church in Need and edited its international Mirror from its Königstein HQ.  Through the Keston Institute he worked over many years for the relief of religious persecution under Communism.  Kevin was Master of The Keys, the Catholic Writers’ Guild, 1979-81, and has run his own editorial and publishing services bureau, Works Ink, since 1988.  He is particularly associated with The Catholic World Report and the Messenger of Saint Anthony.  He published Deeps and Shallows, verse captions to a minor life, in 2007.  He has been an amateur baritone soloist and actor.  He has followed Charlton Athletic, often forlornly, since 1946, England and Kent in the greater game.  A widower, he has a son and grandson in Italy.