The Ashes - it's just starting to get interesting...

I just love 'The Ashes' when it's on. Having the challenge of playing the Good Ol' Enemy, England, in cricket is always fun. With two of the tests down, and Australia having won both of them, it is going to be very difficult for England to win (or draw) any of the others.

This last test (the second) looked as though it was going to be a good one for England. As I said to one of my friends at the beginning of the third day: "I wouldn't mind England winning at least one of the matches, but did it have to be the second one? They could at least have made it the fourth of fifth test." That's how confident I was in Australia pulling a win out of this test's hat.

England looked to be in a convincing position to win the test at the end of the first three days when Australia had 551 runs to get and were struggling to reach half the score. At the end of the fourth day it looked very much like it was going to be a draw. At the end of the fifth and final day, Australia had won the match by dismissing England for an unbelievable 129 earlier that day. This meant that Australia only had to reach 168 runs to win the match.

As always, Australia treated this score as it deserved on the final day of a test match - as a one-dayer. When I got home from school and was able to join in watching the television coverage Australia was in the position of needing 120 runs off about 25 overs. This did not look challenging to me at all. And so it proved in the end. Australia won with Michael Hussey hitting the winning runs with three overs to go, and Australia only losing four wickets.

This last day score reminded me a bit of one of the tests that we played against South Africa, with Graeme Smith as captain. Mr Smith was chivalrous to declare on the last day in the morning with giving Australia most of the day to reach only 250, 300 (or something like that) runs. I thought that it was very nice of him to do this, but not nearly enough runs for us to be challenged in pushing for only the draw. Australia won that match as well through playing the final day like a one-dayer. That's the positive thing about the Australian cricket team. A lot of the test players are able to play one-day style when called upon to do so.

Overall, the final day's score of 168 was gained by Australia proving that England really have to improve their confidence and ability before they take on our guys again. C'mon Aussie, c'mon, c'mon...I'm sure you guys can win the next test and regain The Ashes for 'the Colonists'.