Monday, August 08, 2005
Evangelical cricket
Some - my non-criket-loving better half, for one - fail to understand how a game played over five days could possibly be exciting.

Fortunately for them, treatment is available, in the form of an Ashes Test match. If there has ever been a day to convert the heathens to the game, this was it.

(Actually, it didn't work, she was watching a Hugh Grant film. Somehow, I feel I have missed my opportunity.)

I didn't bother tuning in for the first half-hour of the fourth day, assuming the final two wickets would have surrendered for a dozen runs. Shocked to still see Warne there, and the required runs at 70, the remaining 45 minutes prooved to be some of the most absorbing cricket since the last World Cup semi-final tied ODI between South Africa and Australia.

It was an amazing finish to a remarkable game, epitomised by Flintoff consoling what must have been a distraught Brett Lee, before joining his team mates in celebration.

The whole nation was on tenter-hooks and in end must feel disappointed that Kasper succumbed to following a ball down the leg side, after the last pair had watched with patience and left so many balls before. By the time the last wicket fell, I am sure John Agnew (listened to on BBC web-streaming of TMS) was crying! He certainly had a wavering voice.

Australia will take heart that they competed till the end, were out-classed for nearly the whole game and still only two runs seperated the teams. England will be on a high, and with charismatic and infectious players like Flintoff in the side, will be difficult to keep at bay.

With McGrath still out for the third Test (and any team would miss him), a whole lot more application is required of the Australian batters. Clarke, Katich, Martyn and most especially Hayden, should take note of the bravey, focus and determination shown by Warne, Lee and Kasper with the bat. It simply should not be up to the tail-enders to keep the team's head above water.

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