I don't like Cricket

One year on, 87 days to go

Remember Trent Bridge? Remember the fourth day of the fourth test? It should have been a walkover.

At the start of the day Australia were 224-4, trailing by 259 runs having followed on. By the end of the afternoon session solid Aussie batting, but - as my Nan might say - some wizard bowling too, had left us with a target of 129 to win.

Easy, yeah? I reckon so. Aussies around the ground showed no fear, but the foul stench of panic could not be hidden behind an unusually stiff Aussie upper lip.

By the time we got to 57-4, that whiff was now coming from English pants and we were wading in a metphorical sewer of fear from all corners of the ground. Pietersen and Flintoff did what they had to: steady English nerves, accumulate easy runs. This game was going to have a result and it had to be an English victory. 2-1. Ashes regained. It was there for the taking. Freddie, KP. Do the job.

But then the wickets continued to tumble... KP, then Freddie, then Geraint (I'm only in for my batting) Jones. 103-5, 111-6, 116-7.

Hoggie and Gilo to do the business. 13 runs needed. Squeeky bum time. Who knew what was going to happen? Some Aussie nearby digs out of their Wisden and tells us they lost the Headingley Test needing 130. Nice reverse psychology, aussie, but deep down we know this match is ours.

A glimpse to the balcony robs us of that confidence. Harmison is padded up, white as sheet and filled with the fear of a potentially awesome responsibility. Warne is bowling like he's 25 and thin.

(Incidentally I heard someone on 606 say this of Warne a few months back "He's a fat bloke that can spin a ball a bit." Reassuring to know that we won't be cowed even by a genius).

But its ours. Gilo. King of Spain. King of the Ashes. We win. 2-1 is not a hope its a fact. Now all we need to do is go to the Oval in mid-September and get the rain dance going.

That happened one year ago today. You remember it. Now you know what's possible in 87 days time.

By the way, I was there in Trent Bridge, if you hadn't guessed, and I even have the ticket stub sitting beside me at this moment as proof that I really did see it.

posted by wes @ 3:01 pm