Retroblogging: The Ashes

I am quite enjoying the one day series between England and Australia ( a good start in game 2 as I write), but it is as nothing compared to the all-consuming, life-enhancing, tantric joy that was the Ashes.

I have suffered a couple of dismal series since I’ve been living in Oz, and there’s no more drawn out misery than coming in to work from the end of November through to early January to a mixture of smirking derision and patronising pity. Test cricket is agonising to lose, but I was reasonably confident at the start and even retained a quiet smugness after Australia drew level in Perth.

I guess Boxing Day 2010 is one of the greatest days in the history of English cricket. The Ashes in the balance, a huge crowd at the MCG, and we roll the Aussies for ninety-chuffing-eight and proceed to 157/0 by the close. Joy unconfined!

The icing was getting along to Day 4 at the SCG with a collection of Aussies (M, Lou, Dani and Todd). By this stage the home crowd’s mood had slumped to jaded resignation, but we had a good time nevertheless and I tried to soft-pedal the gloating as much as I could. Question of the day: Why Is Hilfenhaus?