However distanced he might be, if he watches cricket, he can’t forget the Ashes series of 2005. Even though, it didn’t involve India, that series remains one of the big highlights of my entire cricket viewing career. It was a cricketing emancipator for England, built on the heroic metaphors of sporting gild. Actually, it wasn’t just for England, but for the whole cricket watching world.
Such had been the domination of Australia that it was pure pity to watch teams being flayed by them. Sorry for the Aussies, but if the word ‘schadenfreude’ was ever invented with something/someone in mind, it might have been for them only. Everyone’s second team thus becomes the opponent playing them.
It wasn’t the only reason why that series was so monumental; it was also because of the sheer quality of cricket. Following Mcgrath’s demolition of Poms at Lord’s, nobody could have guessed what was to follow. A badly taken step by the bowler, and things turned topsy-turvy at Edgbaston. England’s first-day total of 407 of only 80 overs was a grand statement, even if they won just by 2 runs, that too arguably by quirk of fate. Ponting’s heroics on the last day in Old Trafford saved the Aussies for later fight. But it was in Trent Bridge that things culminated for me. I was watching England chase just 129 in the fourth innings. But the master spinner, Warne, had gone straight into them. Lee too was generating some much needed speed (Flintoff’s wicket was a gem). But things somehow trudged on for England. When Giles clipped the ball for a couple to secure the victory, we all were jumping in joy at the college TV room. It was a fantastic carnival of sports. Though I couldn’t watch Pieterson’s heroics on the last day in the next Test match at the Oval, I knew it was destiny of triumph which was always written for the Englishmen.
It is so exciting to rewind those moments here. But alas, we get those types of fairytale series only once in a script. If only, that script is extended for this series too. It would be just awesome. Sorry Oz, even if they are much weakened now, England would again be the team to cheer for me and most of us, neutrals. I suspect England just might scrape through, on account of their better bowling attack. If Lee and Johnson don’t fire (ominously Lee has got some of his lethal speed and reverse-swing back), they can’t take 20 wickets soon enough even on a good wicket. But you never know the Poms too. Someone has to just scream, Adelaide, Adelaide, Adelaide. I hope they switch off their ears for this word for the next two months. Go England go, we are all English for the time being.
PS:-
1> Congrats India for winning the one-day series in West Indies, even if they were way off-colour. But leeway must be given to those fatigued souls. Go and have a rest, and blast the Champions Trophy.
2> Much excitement in Pak-SL series too. Mohammad Yousuf’s century was as smooth as the man himself. Low first-innings score, and you have a real interesting match on hand. Kudos to the pitch creator too, after those ultra-nonsensical pitches in Pak earlier this year. My guess: SL victors, again just by a whisker, on account of their better bowling attack.
3> WI- Bangladesh series have a serious threat of being washed away by both other high-profile cricket series and the unfriendly weather deities. Hope Bangladesh put up a good fight, but I expect Gayle-backed WI to outclass them.
