Just to add Cook has been Englands player of the series imo in a great squad effort and Bell and prior look to be a completely different players.

Cook is in great nick, looked very confident all series. Just been on sky news he has scored the most runs by a England batter in one series since 1925 second all time. And is the English man who has spent the most time in the crease

Just seen it now it was blatant

Agree, Hughes "catch" was dreadful, just shows how desparate they are to get him out.
Bell got away with one too which didn't amuse the Aussies.
I'm really pleased he scored a ton against them at last since he's currently the English batsman that I most like to watch.
Cook has been truly great & Prior comes in late on to rub salt into their wounds.
Brlliant!!
Come on England finish the job over the next two days.

from beeb

"In Paul Collingwood's last Test match, England are on the verge of a unique feat in Test cricket. Each of the top six have scored in excess of 10,000 first class runs and, as I write, Matt Prior is just 9 runs short (58 n.o 9,994 runs). A Test top seven with 10,000 f-c runs under their belt - how special is that!?"

They just go on beating records, 1st time that any test team has had 100 partnerships for 6th,7th & 8th wickets& they've just equalled (@636) the highest England score ever in Australia - from 1928.
Great ton by Prior, I really hoped that the ball that got him out was a no ball but it wasn't by the slimmest possible margin.

Another outstanding day by our lads just a pity they could't finish them off in the extra half hour.
PMSL at Bumble though "The Aussie supporters will turn up tomorrow dressed as seats".

Yeah real shame the lads couldn't finish them off today, but tomorrow's play is going to be free of charge to all supporters so I expect to see the SCG packed with English Supporters!

Cook for me is my man of the series, he's batted superb!

The one major change I have noticed this Ashes series is the players fitness. Every single England player has looked on top form fitness wise.
Fielding has been outstanding throughout as well!

Just a note on Collingwood deciding to call it a day with his test career, the right choice for me. Let someone else (Eion Morgan) come in and see how he get's on.
Colly has been a terrifc test player, will he be missed?

well yes and no, we are ready to move on, but he has been instrumental in england re emergence as a decent test team, i think he has through his own discipline and mentality in making the best of limited talent has helped instill habits that have helped improve things.

Obviously a hugely respected and liked senior pro within the squad - but there are some talented looking youngsters coming through who may well add something - his ability to turn his arm over is very useful too, was delighted for him getting the big wicket of 'Mr Cricket'

I think the writing has been on the wall for Colly from a batting P.O.V and imo Morgan is ready to step up.
He's still the best fielder we've had for yrs and hopefully someone can step up into his slip position but he'll be fondley remembered.

Wow another great day (night?). From a selfish POV I'm pleased they couldn't quite finish them off last night since I had to call it quits at tea time & I want to experience the victory live, or more accurately, when it happens.
Thanks Colly for the memories, a great guy who made the absolute best of his talents, a fantastic role model. I hope that he'll find a role in the back room staff to mentor future test stars.
How good it is to see the Aussies absolutely on their knees.

It's quality mate and to be on course for 3rd victory by more than an innings on their own turf is dream land and Beefy is loving it aswell.

Good old Bumble his final summary this morning was "The Aussie fans will turn up tomorrow dressed as seats".

I have just done a full on LOL at the Bumble comments. Stuck in Istanbul with work and no sky sports in the hotel to watch it on grrr. Will have to settle for TMS updates, better than nothing I suppose, and certainly better than being an Aussie.....

All together now "Barmy Army, Barmy Army....."

Inching closer. Nice one Swanny lad, let's have another.

That singing bloke is quality

How longs this thread been here?



Anyway what a series that was. Between this and the NFL I havent had a sleeping pattern for a few months now

. Cook was brilliant in almost every inning and Jimmy was brilliant with the ball. Is there a better swing bowler in the world? Shame its over but it was great to watch. I love test Cricket.

Absolutely brilliant England!!!
Outplayed Australia in every department.
it just doesn't get better than that.

Only since November, you stopped looking up when you got the NFL thread.

An outstanding effort by everyone involved and great news about Saker signing a new 3yr deal with the Aussies sniffing now Cooley is leaving.
What a moment in Test Cricket history and i've thoroughly enjoyed this series we really have a quality squad with depth and confidence at last.

hearing the players on TMS last night was really humbling, there was no "me" it was all "we" and there interaction with the Barmy Army last night sounded bonkers!

Sad to see Colly go though from tests, a great player

I normally just go through "view your posts" so havent looked at the board much this off season.

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