I love the Ashes. I've been watching the India-New Zealand series for the past three weeks and tuning into day one of the Ashes at the Gabba the other day felt like walking out of the desert and into some sort of oasis where quality cricket thrives.
Sure, NZ competed well in India but I hadn't realised how much I'd missed seeing really GOOD cricket. And there really is nothing like a 120 year old sibling rivalry to draw the best out of a sport - as Peter Siddle quickly discovered.
By chance, I dropped by mum's on Thursday to drop some stuff off and decided to stay for a few quick minutes and watch some of the game. What a treat! Only four English wickets had fallen in the day to that point, but in the 20 odd minutes I was watching, Siddle had Cook caught at slip, Prior clean bowled for a golden duck and Broad (who I always think looks a bit like Draco Malfoy) out LBW for the same. It was the first test hatrick I've ever witnessed. And just for good measure he took the wicket of Graeme Swann just as I was getting up to leave. The line and length he was bowling (ie. full and straight) is so far removed from the innocuous stuff dished up by India and NZ as to seem almost like revelation.
Good to see a pitch with at least a little life in it too.
Also, loved watching Hussey and Haddin bat today. I never really saw Hussey playing during his purple patch a few years ago but if it was anything like the way he batted in this innings, it must have been something to see.
Hopefully Aussie can push on for a win and first blood!
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