Australia & Ashes 2017 - 2018 - Day 67 - 28th January

Day 67

Having made the decision not to go to the Sydney Sevens today I settled into a quiet day at home. I started off by getting up to watch Newport County play Tottenham Hotspurs in the FA Cup which was being shown live on TV over here at 4.30am.

What a performance, County drew 1-1 but were unfortunate not to win, with Spurs equalising with only 7 minutes to go. County's reward will be a trip to Wembley for the return match. A great day for Newport.

Padraig Amond heading Newport in front in the first half

Harry Kane equalising for Spurs late in the second half

After breakfast, Amy took the kids to swimming lessons and I stayed home.

While they were away I prepared lunch and today we were having steak with salad and mash. One of my summer favourites.

After lunch I settled down in front of the TV to see the final ODI between Australia and England and boy was I glad I had made the right decision today.  

Having looked out of it for 80% of the match England came good to pull off a magnificent victory and a final series victory total of 4 – 1.

Rashid

Tom Curran

Tom Curran was man of the match bowling Australia out with a five-wicket haul. Great stuff.

While Owen Morgan, the England captain went up to collect the winners trophy, the senior Australian pair of Steve Smith and David Warner did not look to as if they wanted to be there.

Australia & Ashes 2017 - 2018 - Day 36 - 28th December

Day 28

Richard and I were on the road again today, going down to Bowra to visit the Don Bradman Museum and Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.  But not before breakfast in the On Shore restaurant in Dee Why with Alfie, Amy and the kids.

Great food once again and Dylan stole most of my Turkish toast.  After a walk along the front back to the car Richard and I set of on the one and a half hour journey to Mittagong.  

At Mittagong we checked into the Best Western Lodge Hotel before driving the short distance to Bowra.

Best Western Lodge, Mittagong

Our rooms were both spacious and comfortable

When we arrived at the Don Bradman Museum I was prepared for what we would see, having visited before but Richard was not.  He was transfixed by what was on display some of it going back centuries and then coming right up to date.  

Once again my favourite part of it was the Bodyline display and film show.  This particular Ashes series has always fascinated me.

Bodyline, also known as fast leg theory bowling, was a cricketing tactic devised by the English cricket team for their 1932–33 Ashes tour of Australia, specifically to combat the extraordinary batting skill of Australia's Don Bradman. England's use of a tactic perceived by some as overly aggressive or even unfair ultimately threatened diplomatic relations between the two countries before the situation was calmed.

A bodyline delivery was one where the cricket ball was bowled at the body of the batsman, in the hope that when he defended himself with his bat, a resulting deflection could be caught by one of several fielders standing close by. This was considered by critics to be intimidatory and physically threatening, to the point of being unfair in a game that was supposed to uphold gentlemanly traditions.

Although no serious injuries arose from any short-pitched deliveries while a leg theory field was actually set, the tactic still led to considerable ill feeling between the two teams, particularly when Australian batsmen suffered actual injuries in separate incidents, which inflamed the watching crowds. The controversy eventually spilled into the diplomatic arena.

Short-pitched bowling continues to be permitted in cricket, even when aimed at the batsman. However, over time, several of the Laws of Cricket were changed to render the bodyline tactic less effective.

I managed to get hold of a DVD of a television series devoted to Bodyline which was first aired about 30 years ago.  Only trouble is it won't play on UK equipment so I will have to invest in a multi region DVD player when I get home.

After a couple of hours inside the Museum we went outside to the actual Oval that Don Bradman played on.  There was work going on on the actual square but we were allowed access Everywhere else.

I recognise that lone supporter

Then back to Mittagong for a shower before going out for something to eat.  We ate at an Indian restaurant that had been recommended to us, the Shiva, just a short walk from our hotel.

These suburb towns remind me of my impression of the wild west. Mittagong was no exception.

We both enjoyed the meal here before heading back to the hotel for a night's rest before heading off to Kangaroo Valley next morning.

Australia & Ashes 2017 - 2018 - Day 66 - 27th January

Day 66

Having tickets for the Sydney 7's rugby tournament at the Allianz Stadium, for today and tomorrow. I got ready after breakfast while Amy took Cerys to Dance. I looked after Dylan while they were there and after their return I drove into the city.

I had pre-booked parking at the Entertainment Centre in Fox Studios, quite close to the ground. 

After parking up I did the short walk to the ground and found my seat. I was really surprised at the lack of people present because the Women's 7s were well underway. It just goes to show where support for Rugby union lies in the pecking order after Australian Rules Football, Rugby League, Cricket and Soccer.

It was fancy dress day and gradually began to fill up as the day wore on. Quite frankly I would think that 80% of the people present were not interested in the rugby and in my opinion spoilt it for those who went to watch the rugby.

The Fijians were well supported, as they should be being Olympic Champions and their team looked in particularly good form again.  

The home union teams played very poorly, especially Wales who lost two out of two today to add to the loss suffered the previous evening.

All in all I did not enjoy the experience and will not be returning tomorrow to see the finals. I will stay home to watch the cricket.

Australia & Ashes 2017 - 2018 - Day 65 - 26th January

Day 65

I was due to take Alfie to the airport today as he was returning to the UK for a week to attend his Grandmother's funeral. She recently died, shortly after her 100th birthday.

He and Amy took the kids to the Aquatic centre first for the morning before returning home to get ready to leave. When he had finished packing and said his goodbyes to Amy and Cerys, we left for the airport with Dylan in tow for the ride.

After dropping him at the airport I headed home hoping not to have missed much of the 4th ODI being played in Adelaide. 

I listened to commentary on the radio on the way home and could not believe that in my 30 minute journey from the airport we had lost three wickets. At home between locking the car and getting into the house, Joe Root was out. We were 4 wickets down for 8 and unbelievably, shortly after, Butler was out and we were 5 for 8.

The match was all but lost now but Morgan, Ali, Woakes and Curran gave it some respectability and the innings closed just short of 200.

Tom Curran

Moeen Ali

Australia duly completed their first ODI win against us although we made them fight all the way with some good captaincy from Owen Morgan and a terrific all round performance from Chris Woakes. 

Eoin Morgan

Chris Woakes

But the damage was done early in the match with that magnificent new ball spell by the Australian bowlers Hazelwood and Cummins.

Josh Hazelwood being congratulated by team mates

Damian Cumminswas 

We may have already won the series but it still hurt losing like this.  Roll on the final match of the series in Perth on Sunday.