Dear all
With Ponting still having issues with his little pinky it was up to Michael Clarke to step up and be counted, despite all the media pressure and the lack of form in the series. The Aussie Media kept up confidence, but it was pretty easy to see that hearts and minds were not there and once again England were a class act. The highlight of the whole event had to be Mitchel Johnson walking out to the crease to a very buoyant crowd all singing 'The Mitchell Johnson Song'** and then getting out with a golden duck - priceless!
The final day was once again pretty much an English affair, with half of the ground closed. We arrived late at 10.15 not realising that it was a 10.00 start (usually 10.30). So the area around the BA was mobbed. After moving around the ground we finally ended up in the Churchill stand with a perfect view next to the Ladies pavillion and staright over at the BA. They were singing their hearts out and as each wicket fell the noise got louder and louder. When the final wicket fell the whole place erupted......... they had done it..... a magnificent 3-1 series win.
We were lucky enough to be given VIP tickets so had access to the top floor which had free beer and food. It was lovely as once again all the usual suspects were there. Dean decided to call it a night and no sooner had he gone then, Ali Cook, Ian Bell, Swanny, Bresnan and Steve Finn turned up for a bit of a celebration. Its flattering to know that they want to spend their night with us, but is a bit wierd to have Graham Swann feeding you monster munch on a day like that. How surreal is that?
** He bowls to the left, he bowls to the riiiight, that mitchell Johnson his bowling is shite! - with accompanying arm actions. There are loads of really good recodings on Utube.
If at the start of this tour someone had offered me a series win I would have bitten their hand off and so to the final test at Sydney. We had already retained the Ashes, but that elusive series win would be the icing on the cake and the first one for 24 years, when I was nought but a teenager!
The ground itself is not one that we really liked last time and in the four years since we were last here they have built a new stand which has made it even more of an unpleasant experience. The ground operates a no pass out rule, which combined with a series of very narrow corridors to get around and a complete lack of coffee & decent food outlets it adds nothing to the experience. However the one good thing that was missing this time were the gloating Aussies especially Glenn McGrath on the boundary!
With Ponting still having issues with his little pinky it was up to Michael Clarke to step up and be counted, despite all the media pressure and the lack of form in the series. The Aussie Media kept up confidence, but it was pretty easy to see that hearts and minds were not there and once again England were a class act. The highlight of the whole event had to be Mitchel Johnson walking out to the crease to a very buoyant crowd all singing 'The Mitchell Johnson Song'** and then getting out with a golden duck - priceless! 
The final day was once again pretty much an English affair, with half of the ground closed. We arrived late at 10.15 not realising that it was a 10.00 start (usually 10.30). So the area around the BA was mobbed. After moving around the ground we finally ended up in the Churchill stand with a perfect view next to the Ladies pavillion and staright over at the BA. They were singing their hearts out and as each wicket fell the noise got louder and louder. When the final wicket fell the whole place erupted......... they had done it..... a magnificent 3-1 series win.
Once again the party started immediately with Michael Vaughan presenting the trophy and a replica of the urn which the team proudly paraded around the ground. Next stop was the Fox where we had been drinking after each day. The Australian Media had donated some money to the BA for a victory drink so we duly got stuck in. The upstairs area had some large windows which opened right up and ended up being used to lead the singing.
As the result had spilled over into day 5 the end of tour party had been organised at the Retro Hotel. As it was starting early we had a little stop off at the Captain Cook where we bumped into Michael Vaughan and had a bit of a chat, then it was off to the main event.
We were lucky enough to be given VIP tickets so had access to the top floor which had free beer and food. It was lovely as once again all the usual suspects were there. Dean decided to call it a night and no sooner had he gone then, Ali Cook, Ian Bell, Swanny, Bresnan and Steve Finn turned up for a bit of a celebration. Its flattering to know that they want to spend their night with us, but is a bit wierd to have Graham Swann feeding you monster munch on a day like that. How surreal is that? Suffice to say Dean had his revenge the next day as my voice completely disappeared .......
Hugs
Sara
** He bowls to the left, he bowls to the riiiight, that mitchell Johnson his bowling is shite! - with accompanying arm actions. There are loads of really good recodings on Utube.
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