2009 Ashes / Frank Gregan / 24 August 2009 / Leave a comment

Part time England doubter, sometime Killers fan and full time cricket aficionado Frank Gregan applauds England's cricketers and asks what next for Strauss and co?

Andrew Strauss said: “When we were bad we were very bad and when we were good we managed to be good enough.”

Congratulations England. Many (and I am right at the top of the pile) gave them no chance in the Ashes series but they have somehow managed to pull off a very unlikely win.

The Australians must be waking up this morning with the worst ever case of "Big Time Charlie" syndrome. They had countless opportunities to put England to the sword but they showed the finishing ability of Devon Loch. They were about as ruthless, aggressive and intimidating as Four Poofs and a Piano!

Even yesterday afternoon there was a sense of disbelief that Andrew Strauss and his men would triumph. The Aussies had been set a target that they probably wouldn't have got in two innings but nobody wanted to tempt fate and call the Ashes a done deal. Both sides had been truly awful in phases during the series and the possibility of a world record breaking second innings total was haunting the English. It needn't have, the pitch was never going to allow it.

There was a great quote from Andrew Strauss when he said, "When we were bad we were very bad and when we were good we managed to be good enough." That summed up the series succinctly. Australia showed on occasions that they are a class above England but never made their superiority tell and lacked the tenacity needed to win the Ashes. Conversely, England put their bad spells behind them and took advantage of every good phase that they enjoyed, turning the screw relentlessly when they got the chance. Their good spells were few and far between but because they worked so hard during them and showed no mercy it proved to be enough.

England were indebted to a tremendous spell of bowling by Stuart Broad that turned the fifth test and consequently the entire series on its head. Having tipped him at the start of the series to be the top English bowler at a big price his little piece of magic helped reduce my red position on the test series market - but not by much! Broad was tremendous and let's hope that he keeps his feet on the ground and kicks on from here.

Special praise must also go to Andrew Strauss, I have never been a great fan of his, but his leadership during this series was exceptional. Such is sport, without that spell of bowling from Broad and Graham Swann he would probably be putting in his gum shield and pulling down his visor on his steel helmet before facing the press to explain why Australia had retained the Ashes.

That's the nature of the beast and whilst Andrew Strauss will be waving from the upper deck of the open top bus and checking out the rental prices of top hats and tails for his Palace visit, poor old Ricky Ponting will be headed home trying to explain how they managed to get mugged. Ponting will miss the beginning of the one day series and quite frankly who can blame him.

The timing of the one day stuff is a bit daft. We have just witnessed the greatest cricketing event seen in England for four years and follow it up with limited over stuff between the same two teams. It's like Manchester United and Chelsea facing each other in the Champions League final and then playing each other the following week in the Community Shield. It's like watching the Killers finish their set and a guy coming on and saying: "Hey, stay right where you are, we've got Brotherhood of Man coming on to do Save All Your Kisses For Me!"

The one day matches could well turn out to be the biggest anti-climax since Sir Clive Sinclair said, "Come and have a look at my new motor folks," but the fact that it is between these two old foes should ensure it stays competitive. Betfairians are again backing with their heads and not their hearts, a match has been attained at [4.1] on England to win the series, and [1.77] on the Aussies. Doubting Thomas is alive and well!

The Aussies are smarting, Michael Clarke said yesterday: "We have to get up for the one day series." So do England, you get the feeling that the players will be partying long and hard after their Ashes win and they might literally have to get up for the one dayers. Set those alarm clocks boys! They deserve their fun, they've delivered and put all the doubting Thomases (like me) firmly in their place.

Tags: Andrew Strauss, Ashes 2009 Betting, Australia cricket betting, Cricket Betting, England cricket betting, Frank Gregan, Michael Clarke, Ricky Ponting, Stuart Broad