463 days in waiting

... but an emotional Australian team have won back the Ashes.

As the Barmy Army trumpeter finished Jerusalem this morning, the subdued ground woke up. It felt like England's last rites though; grandiose applause ringing around the ground from the 10,000 or so supporters.

But I still thought that England could come away with a record-breaking draw or win. Then Billy struck up Bon Jovi's 'Livin' on a Prayer' and you were reminded that Pietersen and Flintoff's stout resistance couldn't last all day. Four wickets for 14 runs at the end told the story of England's soft demise, although much can be taken to Melbourne: Cook's future; KP the middle-order rock; Harmison's rhythm and no doubt a relaxed Christmas with the wives and ECB entourage.

Thoughts on the series? Ring the changes for England? Another 4-1 outcome?

All tied up

England's cricket today was how WACA president Dennis Lillee (right) views the tie policy on its club's members: lose it if you want.

The relaxed, former Aussie paceman would have been content with his side's tight bowling, but the tourists simply gave their wickets away - 10 caught dismissals on the scorecard told the story. And if Kevin Pietersen had merely stroked Brett Lee for a fifth ball single rather than get you-know-how'd at long-off then we wouldn't have had to witness another of England's classic last-wicket partnerships to squeeze them past 200.

As it is, Freddie Flintoff's grasp on the urn is sliding quicker than the grease on my +30 factor legs after a day in the Perth sun.

On a brighter note, the expats in the Netherlands seem to be enjoying themselves as this amusing news feature on YouTube clip shows. Not sure about the film thriller background music though. Anyway, as a Dutch-sledging cricketer might say... mind the windowssh Tino!

Camera, lights... snap

It's a jungle out there. The imposing WACA lights in Perth, as snapped from a lovely little park next door. Thursday is edging closer in what is now a pivotal game for England. Win and the Ashes series is right back in the balance. Just think about it: England 2-1 down going into Melbourne and Sydney has got the sunburnt hairs on my back pricking right back up. What are your thoughts for the third Test? Tap away...

Cooking up a Perth world record

There seems to be a food connection to recent posts. Yesterday was about curry, today Ali Cook scored his first tour ton and now England fans are in for a shock - when Matthew Hayden orders in Perth, he scores a bucket load of runs.

Fellow readers of other cricketing blogs will know of Hayden's love affair with food: his two cook books are bestsellers Down Under. There's nothing of the Jack Russell here (eating nothing other than baked beans on tour), Haydos is a serious cook and his recipes dictate this.

In October 2003, Hayden ordered smoked ham and pumpkin soup, now one of his favourite meals, at the team's Perth hotel before Australia's first Test against Zimbabwe at the WACA. The following day Steve Waugh won the toss and Hayden and Langer went into bat. Over ten hours later, the Queenslander had bludgeoned 38 fours and 11 sixes on his way to a world record 380.

The Perth time difference, as mentioned in Line and Length yesterday, was at the forefront of Hayden's peckish decision. He wrote in his first cookbook that he found the dish while searching for "something light" to help him get to grips with the West Australian time. Whether or not he forgot about the recipe is another matter; he hasn't beaten 20 at the WACA in four knocks.

Nevertheless, Hayden's skills off the field haven't gone unnoticed. He has been given the task of choosing the menu for a Steve Waugh Foundation dinner next February.

Wounded pride

It's cricket festival time here in Perth. Lilac Hills, a sleepy ground nestled next to the river, is hosting a couple of one-day games in the build up to the third Test. Today, Alec Stewart skippered an England XI, while on Tuesday, the Legends Twenty20 teams will be managed by Dennis Lillee and Ian Botham. Word has it that Lillee will open the bowling, while Beefy, when he heard this, is now expected to face the opening over. After Wednesday's post, this is most pleasing.
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I can't help of being reminded of a war memorial statue in Adelaide, situated on the way down to the ground, and thinking how a wounded England will respond to that last day defeat. (They begin to pick up the pieces from Adelaide when they start a two-day game at the WACA tomorrow).

The statue relates to a cracking piece of trivia I was recently told which, Danny Wallace, author of Yes Man, heard at a drinks party. It goes like this: if a statue of a soldier on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle; if the horse has one front leg in the air, the soldier was wounded in battle; if the horse has all four legs on the ground, the soldier survived in battle.

I can only imagine the sound of 11 Englishmen and 44 hooves (plus other squad members and support staff) riding high at the SCG in January. Can you?