[TarJak]

Originally Posted by horsa

I must accept this is what you meant because that is what you tell me, but I have to say it doesn’t read that way. At the moment, there’s not much to feel pleased about, if you’re a supporter of English Cricket, and you need to understand that any hint that 2005 “was just a bit of luck” smacks a bit of cheap unnecessary vindictiveness.

I hope you can see that the events of Adelaide will have cut really deep. It’s a bit like a boxing match gone wrong where the champion has landed a knock out blow only to discover he has inadvertently killed his opponent in the process as well. Believe me, this is far worse than Headingley ‘81. I dread to think what this will have done to the psyche of the English game, the rest of this series, and maybe even the Ashes contest itself. All this talk of “bouncing back” and “ we must be positive” is only paper thin. Flintoff’s frozen demeanor at the press conference suggests a deeply damaged team.

Australia’s professionalism and Warne’s brilliance apart, the England team knows it cocked up big time – and this was supposed to be a team with mental toughness. One English media commentator believes they simply choked. They have nowhere to go for excuses. Even most of the Australian media have been sheepish about this, sensing the sheer cringing embarrassment of it all.

And then there’s Fletcher. He’s done wonders for the English game over the last eight years , but now he’s somehow contriving to wipe it all out.
There’s been a lot of talk about his wrong headed selection, and it’s difficult not to agree with it. Unfortunately, it’s creating the myth that the hapless Panesar is going to be a match winning saviour. He’s a clever bowler, sadly ignored by Fletcher, but he’s no Warne .I only hope he isn’t heading for an undeserved fall, crushed by the massive expectation that he can somehow reverse the series. We can dream of course …… hmmm “Panesar’s Series” . But let’s be realists. The insidious sadist that wrote the script for this series would take perverse pleasure in giving him a return of something like 0 for 130 at Perth ……… the same script writer, I might add, who decided that Giles was the only fielder placed to take Ponting’s catch on day three.

So you see ,when things go pear shaped, or as in this case, gigantic pumpkin shaped , we turn to the Ashes 2005. It’s our opium. It's going to have to last us a long time.

Horsa, Thanks for the response. I meant no vindictiveness and remember that whilst 2005 is your opium it is also a deep cut for a team and group of supporters who were very used to being on top in this game.

I think that the 2005 ashes result is one of the reasons why the Australian team has got it's act together this year. They do not want to be on the losing side at home and will walk slowly over broken glass in bear feet to avoid that outcome.

Being married to a pom gives me a little objectivity (not a lot), and whilst I may not have chosen my words as carefully as I should my intent is as was stated.