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The Ashes: Perth day three

First came renewed confidence within the bowling, now it was the turn of the batsmen, and who better to lead them than the man they know as Mr Cricket. With 517 runs already in this series at an average of 103.4, we are seeing Mike Hussey (116) in the form of his life.

Following up fellow Western Australian Mitchell Johnson’s efforts with the ball, it was another day that belonged to the locals. A combination of exquisite drives and perfectly timed pull shots put England’s bowlers in the doghouse for several hours, but it could have been so much different.

Indifferent form for his state had national selectors’ mulling over his inclusion only a week before the first Test, and it may well have been a Sheffield Shield match against Victoria that swung selection in his favour.

A knock of 118 in the second innings in Melbourne set his team on the way to victory, but the way he went about playing his strokes will have played a major role in faith being restored with him. Also, it was in the same match that Johnson took 5-35 while scoring an unbeaten 121, a feat not too dissimilar to what has taken place here thus far.

Shane Watson (95) is a man who has struggled to convert good starts into triple figure scores, and despite falling short by a mere five runs this time, a century would have been deserved. A series of perfectly timed driven boundaries were the highlight of his three-and-a-half hours at the crease, but he was one of five to fall to a persistent Chris Tremlett (5-87).

The Surrey bowler, spurned on by a strong performance in the first innings, was the pick of the England attack as he took crucial wickets at key times to keep the tourist’s in the hunt. Following on from Michael Clarke’s wicket at the end of the second day, he went on to take Watson, Steve Smith (36), Brad Haddin (7) and finally the seemingly unbeatable Hussey.

Steven Finn (3-97) ably supported Tremlett but the damage had been done as England were set an imposing target of 391 to win the match, whilst retaining the Ashes in the process. But as we pointed out yesterday, this England team has a unique collapsing ability.

It seems like only yesterday that Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott surmounted 517-1, and to transform that into 81-5 identifies that something is going wrong in the England camp. Johnson (2-28) and Ryan Harris (2-22) put the hosts firmly in command during the final two hours of play, and fans and media alike in England will now be questioning the sudden loss of concentration within the side.

Could it be that they felt they had one hand on the Ashes? Who knows, but it is seemingly inevitable that England’s barren Test streak at the Waca is set to go on.

The Ashes: Perth day two

Many England fans will have been waiting for a day like this, one where yet again debates would rage on how and why the tourists collapse quicker than a deck of cards. But after 12 days of the Ashes now gone it is only the second time, after the first day in Brisbane, that Andrew Strauss’s men can say they’ve been comprehensively outplayed.

It was a rejuvenated Mitchell Johnson (6-38) who tore through the tourist’s middle-order to bring Australia roaring back into this match. It is amazing what one day can do for confidence, it seems only yesterday that the 29-year-old was dropped after the first Test for failing to claim a wicket at an expense of 170 runs.

Yet it is at his home ground where he thrives and it was proved today with some fine swing bowling. The South Africans suffered his wrath in late 2008 where he picked up his best Test figures of 8-61, and it was a case of deja-vu as he put the hosts firmly in command.

It was a day in stark contrast to that of the first as Australia’s bowlers stuck to their task well by providing consistent line and length deliveries that bamboozled an out-of-sorts batting display. With only Strauss (52) and Ian Bell (53) providing any resistance, the common sight of an English collapse finally reared it’s ugly head once again.

But take nothing away from a disciplined bowling performance from Ricky Ponting’s side, it has provided them with a cornerstone for a comeback that would wipe the critic slate clean. Ponting (1) himself however will be battling personal demons after another failure with the bat, totaling a mere 83 runs at an average of 16.6 so far in the series, which will again raise questions over the skipper’s international future.

Despite being on the back foot however, the wickets of Phil Hughes (12), Ponting and Michael Clarke (20) will give England hope going into the third day. The recovery mounted at the Gabba will serve as inspiration, but Perth’s cracking track will be far more hostile for batsmen, and batting their way out of the current hole will be easier said than done.

So after being belted in Adelaide, the Aussies have begun to show the fight that gave them the fearsome reputation that they have enjoyed for many years. And after conceding only their third Test defeat in the last 18 home Tests’ against the Poms, the Baggy Green’s appear to have restored order, for now.

The Ashes: The Waca day one

Paul Collingwood is known for his spectacular catching ability, and at the end of day one he had put another nail in the coffin of Ricky Ponting’s (12) captaincy. Having already edged through the vacant fourth slip area without scoring the Aussie skipper almost gained another reprieve but for the athletic Collingwood who plucked a sumptuous one-handed catch off a ball that was travelling.

The Australian’s do not have fond memories of the Durham all-rounder, with Matt Hayden and Ponting again falling to his terrific abilities in matches past. Following on from the recalled Phil Hughes (2) dismissal, Ponting left the field in a state of disarray after his brief stint left the fragile Aussies on 17-2.

From thereon in it would prove a fruitless first session for the Baggy Greens’ as England’s seam attack ripped through a fragile and somewhat nervous batting line-up. Chris Tremlett (3-63), recalled to the squad after three years, merited his selection with some fine bowling that utilised the bounce and pace of the flat track.

But several wickets that fell were unnecessary, with Ponting, Michael Clarke (4), Steve Smith (7) and Brad Haddin (53) all falling to wayward shots, summing up the current plight they seem to be suffering. Mike Hussey (61) once again provided the base for a comeback, using guise and skill to frustrate England’s four-pronged attack.

Mitchell Johnson (62) went out guns blazing to temporarily put Steven Finn (2-86) and Graeme Swann (2-52) on the back foot. But after a brief spell of Australian tail-wagging the day belonged to a clinical England once again.

The passion and confidence of the tourists squad is higher than it has been in years, and despite Cricket Australia ringing the changes at every opportunity, it seems England are on the march to victory.

But of the 11 Test matches England have played at the Waca, their sole victory came in 1978, and that is a heavy weight that Strauss’s men seem confident in removing from their shoulders.

The Ashes: Perth preview

There was a time when Australia went on a 16 Test match winning run, beginning against Zimbabwe in 1999 before Pakistan, India, New Zealand and the West Indies were all swept away. Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Andy Bichel and Damien Fleming were in their prime and tearing through every batting line-up that was placed in front of them.

Today the bowling attack is beyond words in contrast. Insecure, underwhelming, a completely unknown quality in comparison. Following left-arm spinner Michael Beer's selection ahead of a beleaguered Xavier Doherty, Australia have selected seven main bowlers since the first Test in Brisbane.

Cricket Australia will be hoping that Beer, who has only played five first-class matches, could be a hidden gem in the rough as they continue to search for Shane Warne's replacement; by no means an easy task. His average of 39.93 is marginally better than his predecessor Doherty, but this continuous chopping and changing will eradicate any stability that the team is attempting to build.

Simon Katich's Achilles injury will prevent him from playing any further part in the series, but Marcus North's scores of 1, 26 and 22 have once again underlined his poor form. His replacement, Steve Smith scored well against England''s seam attack during Australia 'A's match prior to the first Test, notching a competent 59.

But James Anderson, Steven Finn and Graeme Swann are a different class in their current form, so the Baggy Green must hit the ground running if they are to impose themselves on a quick WACA pitch. Back in the day when Perth could claim it had one of the fastest tracks in the world, batsmen feared it and bowlers thrived on it, with severe cracks giving it a dangerous name.

Recent matches have dismissed it's dormant status, exploding once again to the delight of tall seam bowlers. Could this be where the towering Chris Tremlett takes the lead in the race for Stuart Broad's spot in the team?

Don't forget, it was here where West Indian seamer Curtly Ambrose took seven wickets for one run in less than an hour against Australia in the 1992-93 series. If cracks appear such as the crevasse that appeared in a recent match between second XI sides for Western Australia and New South Wales it would take a brave man to make a wager on the upcoming third Test.

It may also be here that the recalled Mitchell Johnson will rediscover his threat, which has thus far been absent to England's dominant batting line-up. He will be thankful that Doug Bollinger failed to take a grip on the spot given to him in the latest Test.

Despite the pitch's new-found trampoline-like bounce, the Australian side does not look like recreating the speed and precision that Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson used to dispatch England in the mid-seventies. Cricket Australia's inability to have faith within certain players will have confidence at an all-time low and to see Ricky Ponting's side walk away with anything looks unlikely.

A lack of height could prove the difference on an indifferent pitch, with Anderson, Finn and Tremlett all looking down on Australia's stout bowling attack. This could be curtains for Australia, and possibly Ricky Ponting's illustrious career as captain.

Final prediction: England win

Day five at the Adelaide Oval

Former England player Mike Gatting has fond memories on his travels to Australia, not least the 2-1 win they claimed over Allan Border's side during the 1986-87 tour. The burly England skipper, infamously known for being Shane Warne's first Test victim, is the latest England captain to have left Australia with the little urn.

Andrew Strauss is in danger of repeating this feat following their demolition of an Australian side devoid of organisation, incisiveness and confidence as they suffered their heaviest defeat to England since 'Gatters' career highlight 24 years ago.

It took less than an hour-and-a-half for England to banish the memories of Adelaide in 2006, Graeme Swann (5-91) claiming his tenth five-wicket haul in 25 Tests by bowling Peter Siddle (6) through the gate. It is England's biggest victory over Australia since Bill Lawry's side capitulated to lose by an innings and 81 runs at Sydney in 1965.

Now many fans would have been waiting for the inevitable England collapse that is standard procedure on every Ashes tour in recent times, but for some reason or another this team has some fight in it. Ranked fourth in the world Test rankings, the chasm in class that was on show underlined England's vast improvements in all departments.

You simply could not take anything away from England, it was the perfect game. With the benefit of hindsight, waking up to an England collapse on an Ashes Tour Down Under was almost a formality, so much so that anything other than a heavy beating would make any supporter choke on their toast.

Stuart Broad suffering a severe abdominal injury was the only downside to this scintillating performance. It will leave the 24-old-old unable to take any further part on the tour.

In their last two innings England have scored 1,137 runs for the loss of only six wickets, that in itself tells the story of how the Baggy green's bowling attack lacked depth, precision, consistency, I could go on but for the life of me I will run out of superlatives.

Pure and simply they looked ordinary, maybe that is because we have been exposed to the dazzling performances of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Matthew Hayden, and many more who gave every nation they came up against a schooling in cricket. We were almost expecting a continuing trend that failed to materialise, and this has brought Cricket Australia back to earth.

To follow on from such national heroes was always going to be difficult for Australia's new front-line attack, but fans all across the country will be turning in dismay, waiting and hoping that order can be restored. Shane Watson averaging 48, and Michael Hussey averaging 113.3 are the only two players who have shown real fight for the hosts' in this series.

England's top four now have top scores of 110 (Strauss), 235 not out (Cook), 135 not out (Trott) and 227 (Pietersen), a statistic that will leave England fans happily dumbfounded. So 1-0 it is, and with Perth next I think England can afford plenty of optimism.

Day four at the Adelaide Oval

After singing Kevin Pietersen's (227) praises for much of yesterday, he again proved to England why he is such an asset to the team. As a player he is undoubtedly talented, but his influence on the field has been a far greater gift, a talisman by name and nature.

Despite only adding 14 to his overnight score before falling to victim off a slog-sweep off Xavier Doherty (1-158), KP made his highest ever international score, beating his previous best of 226. Receiving a warm round of applause from all corners of the ground on his departure, the 30-year-old has hit form just when needed, leaving Ricky Ponting in a dire frame of mind.

Two scores of 158 and now a 227 will tell you that Pietersen is settling into a good trend against the Baggy Green. At the Oval in 2005 he saved England's second innings, seeing them home to the draw they craved when defeat seemed inevitable. The other was at this very ground four years ago, but as we all know, England imploded spectacularly.

Ian Bell (68 not out) continued his rich vein of form while Matt Prior (27 not out) survived a pair by the skin of his teeth before entering one-day mode to pile the misery on the Aussie bowlers. So 375 runs separated the respective first-innings' totals, an interesting reminder of the gulf in class for this match.

Simon Katich (43), suffering from an Achilles injury, finally faced his first ball after four days of waiting, but was unable to provide any serious heroics. Ponting (9) became the outstanding Graeme Swann's second victim to round off a poor Test for the captain.

Shane Watson (57) once again failed to convert a gritty half-century into something more substantial, nicking Steven Finn to Andrew Strauss. With his new status as a 'walking wicket' weighing him down, Michael Clarke (80) produced a stirring knock to keep his critics at bay.

You could not have written a script for this series, and another day ended in curious fashion, part-time spinner Pietersen providing the perfect end to the perfect day by taking the wicket of Clarke with the final ball as the sun sank behind the stands. With confidence soaring, a jubilant Pietersen claimed, "I'm an all-rounder now".

Steady Kev, keep that ego in check, on second thought it could be the first time an international side has beaten the Aussies in their own backyard by an innings since 1993. Maybe we can afford a little excitement.

Day three at the Adelaide Oval

I'm beginning to run out of superlatives to describe how well England are playing, while at the same time struggling to describe how badly the host's game is falling apart. The bowling has been disciplined and well balanced while the batting has been nothing short of mesmerising.

It has given England fans renewed confidence in their team having been the whipping boys for Australia during the host's golden era. To have scored 517-1 in the first Test, only to continue that trend by reaching 551-4 at the end of the third day of the following Test will have many English fans curiously, but happily scratching their heads.

Another breathtaking innings from Alastair Cook (148) was emulated by a man who had not scored a century in 16 Tests since March 2009. Kevin Pietersen (213 not out) ended the day as the hero, displaying the kind of swagger and confidence that took him to his current status within the England setup.

Off the legs he was sumptuous, his cover drives were precise, and his pull shot was lethal, dispatching everything Ricky Ponting had to offer to the boundary. Aided beautifully by Paul Collingwood (42) and the in-form Ian Bell (41 not out), Pietersen went about his work in devastating fashion.

A recent trip to South Africa to play for province side Kwa-Zulu Natal has seemingly brought renewed vigour into the 30-year-olds game, working closely with former coach and close friend Graham Ford to eradicate the cracks within his game.

On a bowling note, Graeme Swann will be licking his lips at the sight of the growing rough patches appearing on the wicket. Part-time spinner Marcus North found tremendous spin that surprised many, and with Xavier Doherty struggling to find his stride, Nottinghamshire's Swann could well be the key player in the business-end of the game.

The question is how long will England bat before putting Australia in? Taking 10 wickets on a pitch as flat as this will not be easy, and Ricky Ponting will not need telling twice how important their second innings will be.

Day two at the Adelaide Oval

In 1928 Wally Hammond, only 25-years-old had the Test series that defined his career. On the tour of Australia, the Kent-born batsman averaged 113.12 after scoring 905 runs, including four centuries.

England won the series comfortably 4-1, with Hammond almost doubling the total amount of runs scored by Australian Jack Ryder lying behind him. It remains one of the strongest performances by an English team in Australia.

Alastair 'the chef' Cook (136 not out) is in danger of outgunning one of England's greats, having made 438 runs in three innings. He has scored with an air of confidence far beyond his years, refusing to give the host's any glimmer of hope as England began to turn the screw against a misfiring bowling attack.

Ryan Harris, a replacement for the out-of-sorts Mitchell Johnson, was the only man who made the tourists work for their runs, conceding only 51 runs in 19 overs. Doug Bollinger, Peter Siddle and Shane Watson felt the brunt of England's top-order, consistently failing to find a good line and length.

The less said about Xavier Doherty the better; the Tasmanian living up to his first-class bowling average of 48.10 with a series of short deliveries that offered the batsmen enough time to have played the shot twice. But we must praise the brutal display by Andy Flower's team, Jonathan Trott (78) riding his luck but retaining his good form, before Kevin Pietersen (85 not out) finally arrived at the crease after waiting a total of 574 minutes with his pads on following the unbroken 329 partnership between Cook and Trott at the Gabba.

Cook produced a scintillating combination of drives and cuts that England batting coach Graham Gooch will be swooning over. Form such as this defines a series, and when you realise that Hammond was 25 when he put the Baggy Green to the sword on the 1928-29 tour, Cook, of the same age, now has an opportunity to match if not better him.

Now 72 runs ahead with eight wickets in hand, England have Ricky Ponting's men in the palm of their hand. To top it off, Essex-man Cook overtook Nasser Hussain at the top of the charts for an Englishman unbeaten at the crease by a mere 60 seconds, reaching 1,022 minutes at the close of play.

Day one at the Adelaide Oval

England have rarely enjoyed success in Australia in recent tours, but the Adelaide Oval in particular has given the the English nightmares. The last three attempts at leaving the city with anything other than defeat saw them disappointed.

The latest will have hit the team and the fans the hardest, falling to a six-wicket loss having posted 551-6 in their first innings. The demons of the past need to be put to rest, and what England would give for stalwart Paul Collingwood to notch another big innings after scoring 206 here in 2006.

The incredible comeback at the Gabba in Brisbane was a perfect advertisement for Test cricket, taking each team to the brink before settling on a draw. There was everything from record scores to hat-tricks, so could the second Test emulate this? It didn't get off to a bad start if your an England supporter.

Simon Katich (0) departed without facing a ball following good work by Jonathan Trott at mid-wicket, Ricky Ponting (0) recorded only his fifth golden duck in his career after nicking through to Graeme Swann off the consistent James Anderson. The Lancastrian picked up the walking-wicket of Michael Clarke (2) whose inconsistency shone through in his brief spell.

Marcus North (26) stuck around for a painstaking 93 balls while the ever-present Mike Hussey (93) rode his luck to torment England's bowlers once again. A long tail does not want to be called upon in the first afternoon, particularly when the side have only made 207 before Ryan Harris strolled to the crease.

A pitiful 245 was all that Ponting and co could muster, and England must now seek to eradicate the poor Adelaide history to replace dampened memories with a morale-boosting win. Time for the batsmen to follow up an excellent start by the bowlers.

Day four and five at the Gabba

Defiance is a term England batsman are unfamiliar with, year after year we see them attempt to recover from dire situations only to implode with consummate ease. Andrew Strauss (110), Alastair Cook (235 n.o.) and Jonathan Trott (135 n.o.) took this record and tore it up to rewrite Ashes history.

The tourists' seem more acquired to falling like Italian striker's who have had their knee grazed, yet they stood taller than the Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai. When everyone doubted the man they dub 'the Chef', he has put all of his critics, including myself, to bed.

The trio broke a total of ten records including Cook reaching his top first-class score, achieving the highest ever partnership (329) by two batsman (Cook and Trott) at the Gabba, while the Essex batsman also claimed the highest score in a Test match after he passed Sir Don Bradman's 226.

But 517-1 is a score that I recommend that you print off and frame, for it is one that will struggle to be replicated for the foreseeable future. Strauss appeared in a different nous by showing a vast array of attacking strokes, Cook showed maturity beyond his years, and Trott reached his fourth ton for England after gaining starts on plenty of occasions.

There were some comical drops in the field, most notable Mitchell Johnson when Strauss was on 69, and Michael Clarke when Trott was on 75. Two catches that you would not expect to see in international cricket, but it summed up the body language from a miserable Aussie side.

Only part-time bowler Marcus North claimed a wicket on wicket showing so many cracks in it that you could probably lose a lifetime's worth of keys down them. Mitchell Johnson will be called into question, a wretched run of form was epitomised by his 0-170 in this Test.

Doug 'the rug' Bollinger was brought into the 13-man squad for Adelaide along with Ryan Harris, but there will be serious doubts that either team can claim 20 wickets in a match after only 11 were claimed by the respective sides. Two partnerships of over 300 underlined how much of a batting paradise these pitches are proving to be, and both captains' will need to identify bowling line-ups that they believe have the ability to wreck their opponents chances.

Simon Katich's (4) failure summed up a sorry last few days for Ricky Ponting and co, but now they have time to regroup, but also prepare for the barrage of criticism the bowling line-up will take for being as ineffective as it was.

So the Adelaide Oval is the next port-of-call, much like Brisbane, I'm expecting a high-scoring encounter. Until then, let me leave you with the fact that England's trio of heroes are the first to all achieve centuries for the nation in a single innings since 1924, when a certain Jack Hobbs and Herbert Sutcliffe opened the batting.

Day three at the Gabba

When England first boarded the plane at Heathrow on the 29 October, fans, pundits and former players were saying this was the best chance in 24 years that they had at achieving mission impossible, winning the Ashes in the Baggy Green's backyard.

It's not every day that Ricky Ponting's side go into a series as underdogs, but with several first team players misfiring, and an initial 17-man squad selected, no-one was questioning it.

Yet day three at a sun-drenched Gabba saw the Aussies bring their opponents back down to earth with thump. Mike Hussey (195), who scored an confidence-boosting knock of 118 for Western Australia against Victoria eight days ago, recaptured this form is sublime fashion.

When Australia lost Marcus North yesterday at 143-5, the match was walking a tightrope and could have fallen either way. As it was, over the course of the third day the Aussies not only passed England's mediocre score, they almost doubled it.

Now England skipper Strauss should hang his head in shame for a good part of what took place in the second session today. Clearly frustrated at the lack of wickets coming their way, a series of negative field placements to dry up the run flow coming from Hussey and Brad Haddin (136) will have driven several England fans in the UK to bed.

A defining moment, amidst the endless boundaries ebbing from Hussey and Haddin, the latter lashed at a wide delivery from Steven Finn after passing his century that would have gone straight down second slip's throat. An anguished look upon Strauss's face said it all, outstretched on the deck having been the closest to the ball, the skipper knew that desperate times had caused him to remove all remaining slip catchers.

Aside from Haddin gaining reprieves through dropped catches from Paul Collingwood and Alastair Cook, the former catching him later in the day, Australia batted with delightful craftsmanship and superb intelligence. They deserve to be in the position they have put themselves in, as despite a spirited performance by debutant Steven Finn who took 6-125, the day belonged to the hosts.

A tale of two men has given this game a plot, and now Strauss and co must give the story another twist in order to avoid going one down. The memories of Jonathan Trott and Stuart Broad's partnership of 332 against Pakistan, or James Anderson and Monty Panesar against Australia at Cardiff in 2009, need to be called upon to recreate what many now say would be a miracle.

The saying is, 'form comes and goes, but the talent is always there', and if England are going to wade out of this mire, it is crucial they perform with the bat. To end the day unscathed after 15 pivotal overs was the perfect start, but the job is long from finished, and they will need to bat for at least the next four sessions if they are to get any kind of result in this game.

It is clear that the hosts' were not too fond of the underdog tag, and while Hussey and Haddin prepare to dismantle England once again, Strauss will be pondering what they have done to find themselves on the end of a potential drubbing. Chapter four, ready when you are.

Day two at the Gabba

What a perfect advert for Test cricket, a game swinging back and fourth so much that a pendulum would struggle to keep up with it. At one moment Australia are seemingly in the driving seat before a couple of quick wickets bring England steaming back in.

Yet a certain Mr. Cricket, aka Mike Hussey, was to have the last word, having survived a stroke of good fortune on his first ball. A gem of a delivery found the edge of a loose prod from the Western Australian, but sadly for England, dropped just shy of Graeme Swann at second slip.

Ever since the arrival of Twenty20, many fans, players and even clubs have been drawn in to the multi-million franchise. It is rare to find a Test match that can create 'oohhs' and 'aahhs' on every ball, so much so that every wicket or boundary is greeted by ecstasy or agony.

Tests' themselves have a similar feel to that of a story that you are reading / hearing for the first time, you simply cannot predict what is going to happen. Several people cannot understand that even after five days no result can be finalised.

But it is not the result that makes or breaks Test matches, it is the journey that you experience along the way. Boundaries, wickets, dropped catches, run-outs and referrals are just a few aspects that create the storyline for a match.

Even Shane Warne on Twitter revealed that he believes this series will be one to remember, even if the cricket isn't to the best of standards. The match in Brisbane is nicely poised and ready for someone to take the initiative.

Resuming on 25 without loss, the Baggy Green openers of Simon Katich (50) and Shane Watson (36) settled into their stride with ease. The heat was matched by the sunshine racing across the outfield, bathing the stadium for a terrific days cricket.

Watson departed first, nicking the flawless James Anderson to Andrew Strauss at slip. Skipper Ricky Ponting (10) joined the scene, taking the home side to lunch at 96-1. But a slack stroke from 'Punter', attempting to glance a leg-side delivery, only succeeded in dabbing the ball to the gleeful Matt Prior who claimed his 100th Test dismissal.

Now Michael Clarke is known for his confidence, but nerves were showing more than a child beginning their first day of school. The 29-year-old played and missed six times in a mind-numbing innings that mustered only nine runs in the space of 80 minutes.

Katich reached his half-century with a tidy knock down to fine-leg, before a fullish delivery from Steven Finn was knocked back in the direction of the Middlesex man, who somehow managed to crumble his 6ft 7inch frame to take a wonderful catch just off the deck. Shortly after, Clarke, clearly susceptible to the short delivery, eventually attempted a pull that took a top-edge to Prior.

Marcus North (1), a man whose form is as predictable as the weather, emerged as Graeme Swann's first victim, nicking the ball to Paul Collingwood at slip. The 31-year-old has now passed 25 runs in only five of his last 23 Test innings.

The afternoon session was one that England savoured, however the pendulum was to swing with one more mighty effort. Hussey produced an array of shots, including dispatching the unusually nervy Swann over mid-on for a maximum, whilst being aided by a confident Brad Haddin (22 n.o.).

So the scene is set, the characters are ready and round three is about to begin. Can you predict what will happen? The name is Test cricket.

Day One at the Gabba,

Shane Warne collected the wickets of Phil DeFreitas, Darren Gough and Devon Malcolm in successive balls in Melbourne in 1994, hysteria gripped Australia. It was only the fourth time that an Australian had collected a hat-trick against the old enemy.

However, history suggests that it is now England's turn to claim the coveted three wickets in three balls. The following tour saw Darren 'Dazzler' Gough follow suit, leaving hat-tricks claimed against one another nicely poised at four apiece.

The pitch on day one was hard and flat with a green tinge to it, a standard Gabba track. The mischievous weather however decided to alter the typical situation of the opening Test, taking the sun away whilst leaving the stifling 27C heat.

Winning the toss for only the fifth time in 19 Tests between the Baggy Green and England, Andrew Strauss called his team in to bat, clearly taking note of Sir Len Hutton's and Nasser Hussain's crushing defeats after electing to field first in Test's passed.

The Gabba, pure and simply, has always given English fans little hope. It Not meaning to absolve on the negative side of the first day, but a total of 260 on a track as flat as that of Brisbane's finest, does not bode well. It was the length, pace, and precision of the only player representing the state of Victoria in the Australian squad, Peter Siddle.

Now, it being his 26th birthday was a generous bonus for him, but to dismantle England's middle order along with claiming a hat-trick was beyond most prior to the start of play. Alastair Cook (67) played a tidy, anchor-like innings, before he became Siddle's first victim.

Having been dropped when England were on 73-2 by debutant Xavier Doherty, Cook had taken his fair share of luck. Matt Prior (0) could have done little against his lone delivery, a peach of a yorker beating the Sussex man all ends up.

Step up Stuart Broad (0), a dazzling 169 against Pakistan earlier in the year had England fans hoping, but Siddle was not to be denied. Another full-length ball gave the Nottinghamshire man little room, cramped him up, rapped him on the pad, and that was that.

Prior to all the carnage, skipper Strauss (0) cut his third ball straight to a grateful Mike Hussey at gully, a ball nine times out of ten he would have belted through the gap. So with the captain back in the hutch, Jonathan Trott (29), averaging a mere 24 in five innings since arriving Down Under, stepped up to the plate.

With a threatening innings seemingly materialising, Trott played all around an up and down ball from Shane Watson to leave England at 41-2. Kevin Pietersen (43) showed typical gusto with a range of shots being brought out of the 30-year-old's locker.

A tentative prod off Siddle proved to be his downfall, with the usually rock-like Paul Collingwood (4) leaving the field soon after, having played an almost identical shot to his predecessor. Siddle's onslaught began soon after to provide the standard English collapse, going from 197-4 to a paltry 260 all out.

Graeme Swann (10) and James Anderson (11) stood their ground but could not prevent the inevitable, the latter falling to Doherty. Ian Bell (76) provided another superb display with the blade to prove that he has hit scintillating form just when needed.

Safely negotiating the last seven overs of play to end on 25 without loss, Australia will be feeling fairly smug after the taunts of the world's media over the past few weeks. It is also worth noting that in nine of England's 10 defeats at the Gabba, England's first innings score has not breached 265 runs, something worth mulling over.

Difficult Gabba Test awaits England

For English and Australians alike, it doesn’t get much bigger than this. The barbecues are fired, the beers are chilled, and there’s a brand new six-ounce cherry that is waiting to define who will own the bragging rights for the next two-and-a-half years.

From Graham Gooch to Nasser Hussain, all have failed much to the delight of our Aussie cousins. The excitement is gripping cricket fans’ in both nations, as we are now a tantalising 24 hours to what is of the most anticipated Ashes series in recent history.

Comprehensive defeats of 384 runs and 277 runs in the 2002-03 and 2006-07 tours do not sit well in English memories of the Gabba in Brisbane, but Andrew Strauss’s team know what is expected of them. A repeat performance yielding a similar result would ultimately give Australia the boost they need to reclaim the Ashes, and England a demoralising defeat which they may not recover from).

Steve Harmison is the latest Englishman to have struggled on a flat track at the home of the Queensland Bulls. When he opened the bowling from the Stanley Street end, hopes were soaring after reclaiming the Ashes 18 months earlier.

But the Gabba in Brisbane has not proven good hunting ground in recent tours of Australia for the English. A wild first ball that ended up in the hands of Andrew Flintoff at second slip began a chain reaction that never saw a recovery breach the horizon.

England have not found the Gabba to be good hunting ground for several tours now, with their latest victory coming in 1986 with Ian Botham’s last hurrah; a splendid knock of 138 proving to be his last triple figure score for England.

That tour was the last time an Englishman came home with the urn, a fact that has haunted every captain that has led his team Down Under for the inevitable slaughter for the past 24 years. In fact, only four English captains, in the shape of Sir Len Hutton, Ray Illingworth, Mike Brearley and Mike Gatting, have emerged victorious in an Ashes series since the end of World War Two.

Traditionally, the 'Gabba wicket has been a batting paradise with a track that is known for staying flat and true throughout a Test match. The fast bowlers may get slight assistance early on, but that is the most they can expect to receive.

The last two trips out onto the field first have seen England battered by a relentless Australian bowling formation containing arguably two of the best bowlers in Test history – canny fast bowler Glenn McGrath and legendary spinner Shane Warne.

Yet it is the persistent Mitchell Johnson and the uncapped Xavier Doherty who step into their ever so large shoes. Now these shoes cannot, and probably won’t be filled for several years, but Strauss and co cannot believe that this will automatically win them the Ashes that they crave.

Johnson is an accomplished Test bowler with best figures of 8-61 in a single innings; one that none of England’s touring party can better. But a batsman’s track it remains, and despite the possibility of rain, one route must be taken.

If the option to bat first presents itself, England must take it. Scores of 492 and 602-9 declared have proved pivotal for Australia on their past two opening innings against their bitter rivals, and the tourists have wilted under the pressure.

On a flat track with a sell-out crowd against them, confidence will be the biggest factor in a series that will define many players’ careers.

Here is a list of recent results for England at the Gabba, since England last won the series in 1986-87:

2006-07: First Test: lost by 277 runs, went on to lose the series 5-0.

2003-04: First Test: lost by 384 runs, went on to lose the series 4-1.

1998-99: First Test: draw, went on to lose the series 3-1

1994-95: First Test: lost by 184 runs, went on to lose series 3-1.

1990-91: First Test: lost by 10 wickets, went on to lose the series 3-0.

England v Australia: wicket-keepers and bowlers

Matt Prior v Brad Haddin

England’s No. 1 glovesman has finally put his foot on cementing his place within Andy Flower’s squad. A stirring average of 42.13 covers the flaws that his keeping can occasionally produce, yet with Surrey’s uncapped Steve Davies waiting in the wings, mistakes must be averted if he is to retain his place. Haddin, for several years Adam Gilchrist’s second in command, is another who will fear for his place in the starting XI. Tim Paine and Graham Manou lie in wait if the New South Wales man fails to produce the goods. However, the 33-year-old did enjoy a strong spell against England in 2009, averaging 46.33 including one century.

Stuart Broad v Mitchell Johnson

The offspring of former England opener Chris Broad has proved himself to be a consistent performer who, despite the odd tantrum, will put his back out for his country to gain victory in this series. Broad must focus on confusing the Australian selectors’ even more by putting constant pressure on the host’s leading batsmen. Johnson has 166 Test wickets to his name, and recent prolific form for Western Australia has given him the status as one of few optimistic Aussie players. He will want to dispel the below par performance in the 2009 Ashes behind him, and England must be wary of this.

Xavier Doherty v Graeme Swann

Labelled as the top spinner in international cricket at present, suggests that Swann will be a dangerous character Down Under. His fearsome record of nine five-wicket-hauls in 24 Test matches is one that few current spinners can match, least of all Xavier Doherty. The Tasmanian twirler has taken part in two ODIs and has a first-class bowling average of 48.10, so England fans not to worry; the next Shane Warne hasn’t surfaced yet.

Doug Bollinger v James Anderson

Doug ‘the rug’ Bollinger has an outstanding record in his 11 Tests thus far, coming up with an average of 23.79 and looks likely to join Australia’s frontline attack ahead of Peter Siddle. Coming across as more of a lager man than a fine champagne, the burly pace bowler is sure to give England something new to consider. England stalwart James Anderson will be playing a pivotal role in giving England an edge, and he must be prepared for a roasting on some of the flattest tracks in the world. A hit-and-miss average against the Baggy Green will not inspire confidence, but as one England’s frontline bowlers he possesses the weapons to leave the Aussies in tatters, but this skill must be brought to the Gabba on Thursday morning.

Steven Finn v Ben Hilfenhaus

England’s youngest recruit has not been daunted by the big stage thus far, but it doesn’t get much bigger than this for an English cricketer. A couple of series against minnows Bangladesh and a misfiring Pakistan team is not the greatest of experience, but the 21-year-old Middlesex man has proved that the necessary tools are there to produce the highest level of cricket. Tasmanian bowler Hilfenhaus was one of the few Australian bowlers that walked away from England in 2009 with his head held high. A string of stirring performances in a Glenn McGrath like manner had England in disarray on several occasions while he was also the top wicket taker for the series with 22 at an average of 27.45. England will have to learn from their mistakes if they are to conquer the 27-year-old.

So, with the first ball due to be bowled in the next 24 hours, let the carnage commence.

England v Australia, head-to-heads (batsmen)

Strauss v Ponting
England's skipper knows all to well that this has been the best chance for England to win the Ashes Down Under since the victorious tour in 1986-87. Ponting however, does not want to be the first Australian captain to lose three series to England and will attempt to use home strengths to his advantage.

Cook v Katich
A misfiring Cook has finally found some form in the recent tour matches, but the left-hander must be wary of being caught in the headlights as he was before in 2006-07. New South Wales batsman Katich has also been struggling to find his feet, as a series of disappointing displays with the bat will keep him looking over his shoulder.

Pietersen v Clarke
England's star batsman has not been able to produce the form that propelled him to stardom in recent months, but despite the comings and goings of the form, Pietersen will be in his element against Australia. Clarke averaged a sublime 77.80 on England's last tour to Australia, and the New South Wales player will seek to replicate this form to devastating effect.

Bell v Hussey
Warwickshire batsman Bell seems right at home in Australia, with a terrific knock of 192 coming against Australia 'A' coming just a week prior to the first Test in Brisbane. He also averaged 33.10 on the last tour in 2006-07, the third highest by an Englishman behind Strauss and Pietersen. Hussey, or 'Mr. Cricket' as he's known, averaged an outrageous 91.60 in 2006-07 against the English, and despite some indifferent form of late, will be relishing facing Strauss and co once again in his own backyard.

Watson v Trott
The all-rounder can be a useful asset to the Baggy Greens’ chances of reclaiming the urn, if he fires on all cylinders. Averaging 48.00 with the bat in the 2009 series was confidence personified, and as a fifth bowler, will provide Australia with a new dimension. Trott marked his debut against Ponting’s men with a century at the Oval and he will look to continue this trend. In danger of becoming the nation’s favourite South African, the 29-year-old will play a key role in whether or not England can achieve glory.

North v Collingwood
The Western Australian cannot anticipate which player will turn up each day, an unflattering failure to get beyond 31 in 22 of his 32 innings will undoubtedly play on his mind. Yet five centuries in such a short space of time confuses analysts even further, so it is up to North who turns up on day one. England’s old faithful, in the shape of the athletic Paul Collingwood, may well be singing his last hurrah Down Under. The 34-year-old has enjoyed two Ashes series victories, along with humiliation in 2006-07, despite scoring 206 at Adelaide in a defiant stand with Kevin Pietersen. A man who will not let the team down at any cost.

Tomorrow, the wicket-keepers and bowlers.

Weekends are a sportsman's paradise

Weekends in sport don't get much bigger than that. Sebastian Vettel claiming the world title in Formula One, England claiming their biggest victory over Australia in 34 years in the autumn international at Twickenham, and Chelsea hammered at home 3-0 by Sunderland.

This is what sport is all about, shocks and surprises, a jolt in the predictable line of results. On Friday, Spaniard Fernando Alonso looked odds on to win the drivers' title, many expected England to bottle it again to the Aussies, and Chelsea would walk all over a lacklustre Sunderland side.

But that's when you see sport at it's best, you can never predict a result until it has been finalised. Vettel sat 15 points behind Alonso when they lined up in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, but the wheels began to turn when Vettel kept Lewis Hamilton at bay on turn one, with Alonso dropping behind Jenson Button into fourth.

From there it would go downhill for the two-time champion, a mistimed pit-stop brought him out behind little known Russian Vitaly Petrov, who held his ground for the remainder of the race. Vettel held off the McLaren's to become the youngest drivers' champion in the sport's history, and what a fitting end to have three champions on the podium.

In the rugby, New Zealand romped home as expected against a poor Scotland team, Ireland were made to work for the victory against Samoa and world champions South Africa struggled against a spirited Wales side, but inevitably emerged as winners, just. England wanted to break the mould, and came out with a victory margin that has not been seen since a 23-6 mauling 34 years ago.

Flying Northampton winger Chris Ashton brought an excitement to the field that has not been seen since the likes of Jeremy Guscott, and that in itself was a sight to behold. Stealing possession on their own try-line, England lock Courtney Lawes found Ashton who ran in a 90-yard try to bring Twickenham back to life with one of the tries of the autumn.

The game never looked like slipping from England's grasp, a refreshing sight for any fan considering inconsistencies that seem to plague Martin Johnson's men. Most certainly a step in the right direction for English rugby.

Arsenal claimed a win at Everton, Manchester United snatched a late draw, Tottenham utilised their talisman in Gareth Bale, but Chelsea were all at sea this weekend. A sight rarely seen in English football as Carlo Ancelotti's men were torn to shreds by Steve Bruce's Sunderland.

A goal to nil could be considered lucky, but for the Black Cat's to put three past Petr Cech without reply from Anelka and Co is astonishing. The Blues never looked like they had an interest in the game, and how they were made to pay by a team that were expected to be bowled over.

Nedum Onouha, an on-loan Manchester City defender waltzed past three defenders in scintillating fashion to put them ahead on half-time before a slick team move resulted in Asamoah Gyan expertly slotting past the onrushing Cech. Many around me were puzzled at this scoreline, and even more confused at how the champions of England were putting in such a dire display.

Granted, we can't expect them to perform out of the ordinary each week, but Ashley Cole's comical 'pass back' to Cech, which resulted in Danny Welbeck helping himself to Sunderland's third, summed up a quite miserable performance. Despite the shock, it came as a breath of fresh air; to see that a team like Chelsea can be conquered so convincingly leaves the title tantalisingly open to all.

This is why sport comes to life at the weekends, Saturday's and Sunday's give people a freedom that makes football, rugby, formula one and most other sports what they are today. Anomalies or the shifting of confidence amongst sporting teams is a joy to behold, and with it, we continue to predict the unpredictable.

Ipswich Town, the first of many....

Now, Ipswich are a club that many would call a 'yo-yo' side, one that refuses to remain in one division or another. Having last flirted with the Premier League in 2001/02, isn't it about time that the Tractor Boys started living up to their reputation?

When Irish stalwart Roy Keane emerged as the clubs new manager 18 months ago, many Ipswich fans embraced a new era that looked rosy on all fronts. Yet, mid-table mediocrity is what fans have had to suffer with.

So when will the club's fortunes turn? Last season it took until the 15th game of the season for Ipswich to prove that they were the better team on the field. A scraped 1-0 win over Derby was greeted to rapturous applause from the fans, they were the last team in any professional league to achieve a win.

The Rams have just beaten Town on their own patch last Tuesday, sparking fresh resignation claims from the fans. It comes as no surprise as indifferent form has plagued the side in recent weeks, a run of three successive defeats followed by back-to-back wins states that this teams mentailty is not in the right place.

Yet it is not all doom and gloom, sitting just outside the play-offs with several teams around them struggling to string wins together is a position that many managers would enjoy. The signing of Jason Scotland combined with Tamas Priskin finding his poaching boots has given the Blues a strikeforce that they have not enjoyed since the likes of Darren Bent and Shefki Kuqi.

The promise of Connor Wickham has allowed many to believe that a future England star has been born, and with the likes of Tottenham and Arsenal sniffing around, who can blame them. Keane has slapped a £10 million price tag on him that should keep the poachers' at bay, but it may well come down to participation at the highest level, if Ipswich are not there, what would keep him?

So, with a Barnsley side that haven't won away in the league this year visiting on Saturday, Ipswich can hope to begin the rectification of the indifferent form.

Quotes from match between Doncaster and Sheffield Utd

Doncaster goal-scorers James Coppinger and Billy Sharp hailed their team’s performance as they saw off Sheffield United 2-0 with a dogged display.

Coppinger, 29, spoke of a renewed confidence amongst the team as a whole. “The gaffers done brilliantly, brought in the right players, third season in the championship now, we’re looking to climb that table and hopefully finish in the play-offs.

“We like to pass it, but we can mix it up like we did today. Make sure you don’t get caught in the wrong area in midfield, and I think we did that today and got the result,” he said.

The former Exeter player also stated that consistency was the key to the club’s success. “We just need to be more consistent and get a good run of results together, back-to-back wins and build on the confidence. We’re a bit inconsistent at the moment but it’s a good start and hopefully we can build on this.”

Former Blades player Sharp was elated with his goal against his former employers. “If I couldn’t score for the team that I’d supported since I was a boy then I wanted to score against them and luckily for me I managed to do that today. Apart from the injury, I’m buzzing because the lads have held on and we’ve won the game.”

A celebratory shirt sporting “Fat lad from Sheffield” was on show after scoring his teams second. “The gaffer was giving me a bit of stick in the week, bit of an in-house joke, and hopefully that made him smile.”

Defeated manager Gary Speed blamed his teams inability to begin games at a good pace. “Well first half, we weren’t at it at all, Doncaster were first to everything. They were better than us and deserved the 2-0 lead.

“But it was too late, you can’t go around giving teams like that 2-0 starts and they probably deserved it. We don’t start games as well as we should,” said the former Bolton player.

The 41-year-old also stated that he was not worried about the lack of quality in the final third. James Cresswell spurned the visitors best opportunity when he glanced a free header wide from six yards.

“We should’ve scored one, maybe two, but you can’t play well every week. When your not playing well you’ve got to make sure your right in other areas. And if we’d come away with a 0-0 draw I would’ve been happy because I know we weren’t playing as well as we could. We let Doncaster dictate and they wanted it more in the first half.

Match report between Doncaster Rovers and Sheffield United

Doncaster Rovers 2 – 0 Sheffield United

The fat lad from Sheffield is how Doncaster boss Sean O’Driscoll would describe him, and it was a mixed day for Rovers forward Billy Sharp as his side toppled a mediocre Sheffield United.

A superb one-two between James Coppinger and Sharp saw the former bury a low shot into the far corner of the net. Former Blades player Sharp then pounced on a rebound following Steve Simonson’s save from fellow striker James Hayter.

Having picked up only five points from their last possible 18, Rovers has slipped into the bottom half of the table. A series of injuries has not helped matters, with several first-team players in the treatment room.

Simon Gillett joined James O'Conner, George Friend, Wayne Thomas and James Chambers on the sidelines, while several players entered the game carrying minor knocks.

Having lost for the first time at home midweek to Derby, the formbook was not with the home side. With one victory in their last six league outings, victory was a necessity for a match that also contained significant bragging rights.

Gary Speed’s men have endured an indifferent start to the Welshman’s reign, one that has seen them causing few ruffles to the pace setters. A tight hamstring forced Stephen Jordan out of the Yorkshire derby, allowing Belgian Ritchie de Laet to step in.

The Keepmoat Stadium has been good hunting ground for the Blades, with their last defeat going back to a Third Division clash in 1983.

The home side began like the team in form as Coppinger stung the fingers of Steve Simonsen in the Sheffield goal early on. However, a series of strong moves was matched by a lack of finesse in the final third as neither side was able to take a grasp of the match.

A hot-and-cold game burst into life as a slick move from the home side resulted in Coppinger neatly slotting the ball past the onrushing Simonsen. The pressure from the home side was relentless in a passionate and vibrant atmosphere

Momentum was now firmly with O’Driscoll’s men, and the inevitable second goal came courtesy of a tidy build-up and a touch of luck. A strong run by John Oster teed up James Hayter, whose first time shot was parried to the 24-year-old Sharp.

However it wasn’t to be a fairytale ending for the former Scunthorpe forward, as a pulled hamstring brought his game to a premature end.

A burst of pace from Mustapha Dumbuya almost provided a third for O’Driscoll’s men, just shy of the hour mark. His run allowed Hayter to tee up skipper Brian Stock who blazed his first-time shot over the bar.

The visitors, who had struggled thus far, began to create opportunities as they sought to find a way back into a result that would see them drop to 18^th in the league. The influential Mark Yeates presented Richard Cresswell with a golden opportunity, but his free header was glanced wide when well placed.

Further lacklustre efforts from Yeates and Ward saw the result secured by Rovers, which sees them jump up to eleventh in the table.

Match facts:

Doncaster Rovers: (4-4-2) Sullivan; O’Connor, Martis (Lockwood 76) Mills, Dumbuya; Woods (Hird 79), Stock, Oster, Coppinger; Sharp (Shiels 45), Hayter

Unused Woods, Webster, Wilson

Sheffield United: (4-4-2) Simonsen; Nosworthy, Morgan, Calve, De Laet; Ertl (Lowton 58), Britton, Yeates, Quinn; Bogdanovic (Ward 51), Cresswell (Slew 84)

Unused Wright, Taylor, Bartley, James

Booked: Doncaster Rovers: Dumbuya

Sheffield United: Quinn

Possession: Doncaster Rovers 56%

Sheffield United 44%

Shots on target: Doncaster Rovers 3

Sheffield United 5

Referee: Keith Hill

Match rating: 6/10

A laughing matter, and overpaid prima-donnas

A local game of limited overs cricket was divided today, by a comical self-implosion of an overpaid England squad. Instead of the mandatory respective innings, a two-hour interval was held for the teams to watch the Three-Lions through a projection onto a bed sheet.

It was clear that only the keen football fans stayed to view the capitulation, as others, myself included, maintained the fact that a game of cricket was the aim of the day. It proved to be a fruitless waste of time as Fabio Capello's men produced a dire all round display.

After coming back from 2-0 down to draw level, sorry, trailing 2-1; another example of football's inability to move forward technologically was brought into light. Of course there will be all sorts of 'ifs' and 'buts', but at the end of the day, Frank Lampard's 'ghost-goal' will further heap the pressure on Sepp Blatter.

However, this does not excuse the fact that several thousands of England followers have come to South Africa to view three pathetic performances, a nervy victory, and a total of three goals scored, one from a striker. Then there is the remainder of the English public, who from what I have seen, have far more passion to pull on the shirt than several players do.

It is the same every time, "this'll be our year" is the standard quote from the average Englishman. Yet the realist recognises that overpaid players are going to have little remorse to getting knocked out of the sport's biggest stage.

You may feel this is an overreaction, yet take into account that most of the squad will be pocketing over £100,000-a-week through club earnings, plus payment through representing England. The Premier League, the wealthiest football league on the globe, is allowing players to pick up their pay-cheques and call it a day before the job is done.

Yes the team didn't perform on the day, but after being blown away by the old enemy, England's players' must look at themselves in the mirror before considering redeeming some lost pride, not only of their own, but of the nation aswell. After all, why should we follow a group of prima-donnas who undervalue an event that unifies an entire nation?

Football referrals

Now, this may seem a little far-fetched, but does it not seem that football should follow cricket and rugby's lead by introducing rules to refer any on-pitch decisions to a third referee? There are numerous decisions that take place in the top leagues all across Europe that baffle and confuse fans and viewers alike.

It seems that football is determined in itself to retain the original forms of decision making, in leaving the final word to the officials on the field of play. Yet these simple mistakes can lead to misleading results and ultimately a potential relegation for a club.

Cricket has introduced the 'third umpire' to negotiate the validity of dismissals that are unclear on the field of play. It only occurs in Test matches at the present, after being successfully tested on the Indian tour of Sri Lanka in 2008.

Each team is allowed three referrals per innings in which they can challenge any on-pitch decisions regarding dubious catches, stumpings, run-outs, and now LBWs (Leg-Before-Wicket). It has been widely criticised, but this will come down to the fact that these players have been learning different rules, and this change will have undoubtedly upset the rhythm for which they are used to.

Football has been under heavy fire in recent years regarding goal-line replays and referees' decision-making. Technology is now at a level where television viewers' can adjudge a decision made by the referee or linesman as wrong, and it is not always by the smallest of margins.

The second-tier in English football, the Championship, witnessed the most controversial refereeing decision at a game between Watford and Reading in 2008. Referee Stuart Atwell astonished fans and players alike by awarding a goal to the visitors despite the ball clearly going a few feet wide of the post.

Reading manager Steve Coppell said that the incident would strengthen calls for cameras and goal-line technology to help officials decide whether the ball had gone into the net and crossed the goalline. As a mainstream sport, football is one of very few which do not offer referrals where they are clearly needed.

A suggestion would be to follow crickets system in which a certain number of decisions can be contested by either team. It would allow for blatant mistakes to be cut from a game that carries so many followers around the globe.

Only a few days ago another mistake was spotted by television replays in the Premier League game between Wigan Athletic and Tottenham Hotspur. England striker Jermain Defoe had given the visitors the lead, despite the fact he had wandered almost two yards offside, which went unnoticed by the linesman.

These decisions will pile the pressure on footballing associations around the globe to make changes in order to preserve the sportsmanship of the game. Not only does it bring the game into a state of disrepute, it is also identifying how stubborn football is becoming in preserving the original choice of appointing the referee as the man with the final word.