Seagulls swoop on England

The seagulls have only added to the atmposphere of the Adelaide Oval over the last five days. Here, they sprung into action after the cacophony of Aussie noise which greeted Michael Hussey's winning runs. Took this quick snap and then scarpered out the stadium; blisters on the feet and contemplating that unbelievable morning's hour of batting from England. Four posts today - not bad.

Old VHS still stands the test

Surrey's announcement on Friday that Australian Matthew Nicholson would be one of the club's overseas players next year left me wondering where I had heard the name before. Okay, he played for Northants last season but it was something more long-term than that.

It's frantic times in the Nutley household at the moment. Moving house just before an Ashes trip has meant boxes everywhere, keeping tabs on the passport and... and then it hit me. Just as a bunch of old VHS tapes were about to get the chop, I saw one marked 'Eng/Aus '98 Melbourne, 3 Musketeers, You Only Live Twice'. It had to be Christmas.

That 4th Test is one of the great Ashes games. With Channel 9's "Got 'im, amaaazing" commentary it had everything: tons from Stewie and Steve Waugh; a blinding Mark Ramprakash catch with warpath celebration to match; Alan Mullaly hitting Glenn McGrath for consecutive boundaries; an inspired Darren Gough and Dean Headley's finest moment in an England shirt (6 for 60).

It boiled down to Australia needing just 175 to win and the now-fading VHS quality still shows the tension of that last session. Steve Waugh kept running out of partners but you knew, even with a raucous Barmy Army, the home side could still creep home. That is until until Deadly Headley gave England a 12-run victory.

Oh, and Nicholson took four wickets in the match. Unfortunately it was his only Test but he had played his part in a thriller.

Sunday semi round-up

England have yet to get a grip of themselves Down Under (what Freddie must be thinking as captain?), but at least the media have found some salvation in the form of Ian Bell and his growing confidence as a batsman.

The shorter game, of course, still eludes England. The really limited overs game saw England caught out as well as Dominic Cork's men were soundly thrashed in the Hong Kong Sixes yesterday... by the hosts.

If you are travelling to the Caribbean, I would take the Independent's advice and check out some of the sites of St Lucia over what could be some dour cricket played by England at the Beausejour Stadium.

News reaches Nutley of a leaked ICC document which sounded out Darrell Hair as the governing body's second best umpire before his controversial sacking.

Meanwhile, take a look at what England's movements will be this week, courtesy of Scyld Berry in the Sunday Telegraph.