Farewell

Time to say good-bye, I'm afraid.

The Big Ashes are finished, won by England as we thought they might be, even though the margin was not the 3-1 I too optimistically forecast.

The Baby Ashes are over too, won by Australia with extraordinary elan considering that they had just been knocked off their perch at the top of the world rankings as well as losing the Ashes.

Those Aussies have no worries, as I am sure they have said to themselves. Any side that can rise from defeat with a smile and a straight bat, forgetting their captain for the first four matches while he was back home to win as convincingly as they did in the one-day series can do anything.

Did you hear any complaints about tiredness? Did they, by word or deed, suggest that a seven-match one-day tournament just before the Champions Trophy was a step too far? Did they ever complain about anything?

I bet they did but it was always in the privacy of their own team room. By the end I was a convert.

Now it is England who have to put things right. I suspect they need a new coach, a new captain; a cure for Kevin Pietersen's knee and support for his spectacular batting from someone like Jonathon Trott; a new wicket-keeper, although I admire the work Matthew Prior has done to improve his glove work; another spinner to help Graeme Swann; a new Andrew Flintoff.

Freddie is still not properly appreciated. Two writers in particular are vying to do him down, to imply motives he never had, to suggest money is his only motive. And what if it is?

He has stretched body and soul to breaking point for England and decided that now it is time for a little me time. Why not?

I suspect there is an element of snobbishness in this damnation of Freddie from men whose only danger is choking on their silver birth spoon. I know who I would rather have in my team; the man with the courage to buck the conservative trend.

Good luck, Freddie, for you have chosen a difficult and dangerous path. I hope it is a success for you and for those many who will follow.

A win with spin

Chester-le-Street. Seventh one-day international

Preview

So it has come to this: in the north of Durham an England side takes on the Aussies with the determination "we must not allow the scoreline to read 7-0" in front of a few thousand spectators while 15,000 runners compete, just a few miles away, in the Great North Run.

Someone should hang their heads in shame; the Ashes winners are a better side than this. But, the declaration by the selectors that they will only change the squad within certain norrow limits, the tiredness of the players, the thought of the ICC tournament in South Africa lookng next week and the effort required to win the Ashes have all taken their toll.

You might ask why the Aussies are not in the same state at the end of a long tour which began with the T20 four months ago. If we knew the answer to that question we would know how to put right the wrongs that afflict the whole of English cricket.

Australian innings

When Graeme Swann found a place in the England side a man who has watched him develop told me that "he is now the complete bowler, sure of himself and able to vary his method according to the conditions.

Swann proved all those words of praise at the Riverside by collecting five wickets for his best one-day figures and being mainly instrumental in their failure to complete their 50 overs.

This extrovert off-spinner even contrived to celebrate Brett Lee's wicket with a couple of heel clicks in the Lee manner.

I suspect that Ricky Ponting saw what was coming and he was Swann's outstanding victim for yet another one-day fifty. Ponting, Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey were the only batsmen to make worthwhile contributions to the 176.

When England bat we will see if Australia's bowlers can reproduce the movement off the pitch in cool north Durham that brought about England's chance to achieve the glory that goes with a 6-1 defeat.

England innings

Well, they achieved their victory but only after they had stumbled, stuttered, limped and hobbled through ten overs as they lost six wickets after Andrew Strauss and Joe Denly's century stand.

The outcome was victory by four wickets with ten overs to spare but it was a success which mocked the claim by the great Tiger Wood that "a win is a win." This win was a credit only to Swann but he needs a captain with more imagination and a greater conviction that spin can bring results.

Frankly, it would have been better if they had lost. Now there will always be a suspicion that Australia took their foot off the gas.

Waiting game

The cafe: this morning. Me and the old timer.

"I went tha knows," he said. His accent gets stronger when he's annoyed.

"Went where?"

"Trent Bridge. My lad posted me his ticket. He's got mumps or gout or measles or sommat. 50 quid. Well, it was nice of him. I got the train, bought a pint when I got there, had a couple of sandwiches in the supper break when I - daft of course but I am getting on a bit - thought we'd win. That's another £27 to get there and eat and drink. Still, I thought I've got this free ticket and it were nice of our kid to send it through. I felt guilty tha knows. Thought I ought to send him t'cost of t'postage or somethin'."

"And you enjoyed the match?"

"I kept lookin' round for someone to say something to. Like why is Straussy? but he sets too many questions that lad. In the end you have to say he doesn't understand the game and how it can be played. Like we played it 40 years ago. I know I were not much cop when you compare me with the likes of May and Cowdrey and Dexter and Mike Smith but we knew what was going on. If the ball was up in the air there was no need to shout 'Catch it!' What the bloody hell else were you going to do? Kick it into touch?"

"You didn't enjoy the match then?"

"Liked the Aussies. Nice straight bats. One sweep in 50 overs. Never were a business stroke. 'Look at me' sort of a shot. Particularly reverse sweep. Festival stuff. England played dozens. Oh, and Sven Goran Eriksson was there. Tiny, neat, dapper, bit of a baby face. Perhaps he'd have sorted them."

"Like he sorted those ladies?" I giggled. "But what are you saying. Aussies the better side and lost the Ashes?" I wanted to get a reaction.

"I know what you're thinking. No, never. Doesn't make sense. Toss away a winning bonus? There's no sense in that. But cricket knowledge, understanding of the game and tactics; only one side on the field."

"What's the answer then?"

"Too many 'lets wait' merchants in charge. Nobody takin' an initiative. 'We'll have a committee meeting and then decide. Oh, next over then? No the over after that. Things might get better.' You can wait too long. But you know that."

"After watching the last two matches I'm not sure I know anything," I said. "Two coffees, please," I said, "and give this gentleman a strong one. He's just praised the Aussies. I think he can't be feeling well."

Oh, the Paine

Trent Bridge. Sixth one-day international

Preview

Three hours before the start of this match, under heavy cloud that will never produce rain, it is difficult to see what England can gain. They are 5-0 down, Luke Wright who could use international appearances to boost his street cred, is out of the series, and the spirit of the whole side is clear down rather than up.

In the short term they will be lucky to qualify for the second stage of the Champions Trophy, in the medium term they lack Kevin Pietersen and in the long term it is unlikely that Andrew Flintoff, rapidly becoming a remote figure because he wants to freelance, will ever play for England again.

It is a lonely life being a freelance Freddie. Believe me, I know.

Australian innings

After winning the toss for the first time in the series, Australia celebrated by reminding us that when they return in four years some of their young players will be stars. Tim Paine, stand-in wicket-keeper and opening batsman, hit 111 off 148 balls - with a quiet time in the 90s - his first one-day hundred full of attractive shots through the offside and the basis for the score of 296-8. Michael Hussey added 65 just in case we had written him off after a moderate tour but he will be 38 by the time the Aussies are here again.

England innings

From the moment Andrew Strauss was given out caught behind off the second ball - wrongly - his batsmen sought out new ways to be pathetic. Five passed 20 yet only Tim Bresnan reached 30 as they were all out 185 to lose by their nightmare number 111 and fail to bat out their overs. Ricky Ponting, a batting flop for the first time since his mini holiday, produced two dead-eye strikes to run out Matt Prior and Ravi Bopara which settles his future. With that sort of hand-eye co-ordination he could be a top class professional darts player when his cricket days come to an end. Meanwhile he will want to make the series score 7-0 at Chester-le-Street on Sunday; no world side has ever lost 7-0 and England deserve to be the first.

ITYS

We are seeing the biggest revolution. No, not since Packer, not since Bodyline, not since the lawn mower meant pitches fit to bat on. The biggest revolution in the game's history.

Since I suggested that Andrew Flintoff was ready to go freelance - my own status for the last 20 years so I sympathise and understand - he has confirmed that he has turned down the ECB contract and will choose his own paymasters in future.

Today the Professional Cricketers Association have said Freddie will just be one of many. The pace quickens, a new world awaits the bold players willing to tread the same path as Freddie with Kevin Pietersen the most likely to follow in his footsteps.

I know KP has said he wants to continue to play in Tests. If I were his manager I would hope to negotiate with the ECB to make that possible.

In the meantime I am busy leaning out of the window and shouting "I Told You So." If you doubt my word read Monday's blog.

Read my Tuesday blog if you want to find the reason. Cricket in England is in a state of confusion on the field and in the boardroom.

The wrong players are being chosen, based on Buggins Turn rather than need and merit.

England will continue to play 50-50 cricket at international level but we no longer have a domestic tournament to use as a training ground.

One captain resigns in frustration; a second is sacked for suggesting that the players don't like the coach; the third is what you might expect of a third choice leader.

Is it too much to expect action from ECB? That will come all right. Any day now they will set up a working party, a sub committee, an inquiry. ECB have done it before and just look where we are right now.

Perfect Ponting

Trent Bridge Fifth one-day international

Preview

After the Lord Mayor's Show, there is at least a chance of a whitewash. Australia, who won the first three games entirely on the back of England's inadequate performances, have strengthened the side by the inclusion of Ricky Ponting; England have made no attempt to bolster their wretched batting by, for instance, calling up Jonathon Trott.

An injury to Luke Wright has forced the selectors to add Demitri Mascharanas but their determination to work strictly on the basis of who is next in line - as if they were setting tables for a dinner involving the Royals - means there is no room for Trott

There is no place for lateral thinking in a panel consisting of Geoff Miller, Ashley Giles and James Whittaker.Nice guys all but what would we give for the brain power of one of the Sky commentary team. I hear they are consulted from time to time but their words fall on deaf ears.

England innings

Only a cruel critic could find fault with the England 299, put together in a way which suited those who believe cricket is a team game. Eoin Morgan was the only batsman to pass fifty yet only the two tailenders Tim Bresnan and Ryan Sidebottom had enough time to make double figures. For once Andrew Strauss, who won the toss for the fifth match in a row, was not top scorer. Morgan produced a couple of his magic shots and we heard a very strange sound. The England support cheering. It has been a while since that happened.

Australian innings

I can only assume that when Ponting went home for a week he told the team: "Let me go to see the family and I promise you won't have to worry about batting when I return."! Tonight he made 126, hit two of the biggest sixes Trent Bridge has ever seen and ensured Australia won by four wickets with 11 balls left. It was one of his finest innings - among 27 one-day international hundreds - and it must have laid the ghost of that Gary Pratt run-out in the Test defeat in 2005. Four years on England's fielding was wretched and my guess is that when Strauss returned to the dressing room the fury in his face translated to strong language.

Tomorrow's world

Chubby Chandler, Andrew Flintoff's manager, says Freddie is considering whether to accept the offer of an ECB one-day contract or go freelance. First he needs to see how his limbs shape up after his most recent operation.

I will add two points to what Mr. Chandler says. I doubt if Freddie will play for England again and if he does turn into a gun-for-hire professional there will be any number of guys ready to join him.

I have thought for a couple of years - since IPL and the other T20 leagues hit the headlines - that this is the way forward for a talented professional cricketer.

The new career structure reads something like this: join a county, state or province in the your teens, progress to your Test side, play for a few years at international level and then, probably in your mid-20s, offer your services to the highest bidder.

Stuart Broad is an obvious candidate for such a path but before long AB De Villiers, almost every young New Zealand and Zimbabwean cricketer, Adil Rashid, and most of the players in the Indian sub-continent, will want to try their luck in the new bish-bash.

Good luck to them. It is no use crying over spilt Ashes; five days devoted to a single match is so very not 21st century.

Lead the way, Freddie and watch ECB and the rest complain about the end of loyalty, the breakdown in traditional values and the end of life as our grandparents used to know it.

It will be yet another case of me saying I Told You So But No-one Listened. So what else is new. T20 played by freelance cricketers in 25 matches a year, funded by happy TV companies and even happier sponsors and watched by millions.

Knock-out Lee

Lord's. Fourth one-day international

Preview

So the team bosses have given Paul Collingwood and James Anderson a couple of days off. Not before time but not for long enough. If the pair had been told to go home until the end of the season, never even think about cricket, it would have been a much bigger, better gesture. Colly once told me off for suggesting rain would cancel a match and give them all a rest. By the haggard look on his face I would not get the same reply today; Anderson looks as if a year in solitary confinement would do him the world of good. They deserve more consideration but then cricketers don't think the way the rest of us do.

By the way, the story on the street is that Kevin Pietersen may not be fit for the tour of South Africa. Such rumours are not always true but it will be serious if he is missing. I just hope the selectors don't send him hoping he will get fit. He is far too valuable for that sort of thinking. (See first paragraph for a clue about selection tactics.)

England innings

Instead of Four Weddings and a Funeral we had Four Yorkers and a Slip Catch - all engineered by Brett Lee at his grinning, heel-clicking, finger-wagging best. He even threw in a wicket-maiden when he began England's descent from 96-1 to 220 all out with 21 balls unused. The slip catch removed Joe Denly but Matt Prior, Luke Wright, Stuart Broad and Adil Rashid all fell to 90-miles-an-hour yorkers after Nathan Hauritz had bowled ten overs for 23 runs. The first blow was struck by the Ricky Ponting who gave Lee the last over with the scruffy ball - 33 overs old - to get rid of Prior. England were, in the main, dreadful again. I almost forgot to mention Andrew Strauss won the toss and made yet another fifty. How long before he needs a bit of time off?

Australian innings

I had hoped that the kindly Australians might be merciful and finish the match in 35 overs or so but they needed almost 44 before Michael Clarke and Callum Ferguson scampered the single that brought victory - and the series, of course - by seven wickets. England never came close to victory, not once. Ponting led the way but to be truthful his side did not need heroics; England's bowling was only a fraction more impressive than their frightened, fearful, feckless batting. They go to the Champions Trophy, four days after this tournament ends in the cool of Durham, without a prayer.

Down time

Imagine how the England cricketers feel this morning. They are the winners of the Ashes, which they have known since childhood was the greatest pinnacle an England cricketer can achieve, gone home told the kids, their mates and, eventually, the missus just what heroes they are.

Four days later they are back on the treadmill - a warm-up one-day match in Ireland, T20 games and then seven one-day matches - and all against Australia who are all a-buzz at the thought of a bit of revenge.

One-day games have never been all that popular with the England professionals; "who remembers the results by the next morning" they used to chant in unison. Now, 40 years on, fewer people care. These odis are either a money spinner or worthless. But the money is useful. Just remember how cross Kerry Packer was when Rod Marsh placed such matches at the bottom of his hit list.

It is not just the seven one-day games by mid-September, from Southampton to Durham. Afterwards there is the Champions Trophy, the tour of South Africa, the lucrative but mind-blowingly tiring T20 stuff (all played in heat touching heights that make Englishmen shiver) and a new level of expectation simply because they are the Ashes holders.

Last time England won back the Ashes in 2005, they celebrated so hard that the good was soon undone. Now all the good is being undermined by hard work.

My bet is that the players feel let down. They wanted to listen to the standing ovations, absorb their hero status slowly.

I bet they resent these seven hellish 50-overs of torture and the idea of putting their bodies, the minds and their spirit on the line four more times is just too difficult to contemplate.

So don't be surprised if the scoreline on SEptember 20 reads Australia 7 England 0 - give or take the odd rain break - or if Ricky Ponting decides that his men are going so well he can take a longer holiday.

Who would blame him? Certainly not the England boys who would love to dangle their own toes in the hotel swimming pool for a day or two.

Weary England

The Rose Bowl. Third one-day international

Preview

Paul Collingwood says he is tired, James Anderson looks worn out and there is a batsman - no names but he gets run out a lot - who is clearly too exhausted to think straight. Freddie has gone to Dubai to recuperate (nice work if you can afford it), KP doesn't know when he will be fit and the selectors are so worried about Adil Rashid's stamina they daren't play him two games in a row. Australia are fit and desperate to avenge the Ashes defeat and full of bull as usual. What's to preview? The Aussies again, of course. 3-0.

England innings

Not just tired but lacking initiative, dynamism and drive, England staggered to 228-9 which might have been 200 but for a display of hard-nosed Yorkshire commonsense by Tim Bresnan and Ryan Sidebottom in the last six overs. Hampshire's money man Ron Brandsgrove said before the match he hoped the pitch had improved. I hear uplifting stories about the man's willingness to part with his cash but he will have to spend more to get batsmen to enjoy this sluggish strip. Andrew Strauss again batted superbly but who was calling the shots, urging more strokes, ordering the power plays? No-one, it seemed.

Australian innings

At about the same time England's footballers were beating Croatia to ensure they went to South Africa for the finals of the World Cup, Strauss's Ashes heroes - yes it is just 16 days ago - were dragging themselves off the field, beaten by six wickets with nine balls remaining. Their star batsmen had performed badly, now their best bowlers were nudged around by an out-of-form Michael Clarke, who still managed 52 and smashed around by an out-of-position Cameron White who hit 105. It gives Australia the chance to complete a whitewash. To see the downbeat expressions on the faces of the England players you would certainly not bet against 7-0.

Heart and soul

A long way from nowhere the Rose Bowl
Trying so hard to find a soul
Bunting and tenting and banners
Cash to spend and generous manners

Give it time and the moment will come
Some brave deeds and a bottle of rum
Hampshire need heroes to fill their new ground
Oh, I wish Greenidge was still around

Soul defines cricket fields,
More than run yields
Elite men too; imagine Bristol without Grace
Or Hammond to set the pace

My own favourite is a shocker
You can say I'm off my rocker
Grace Road on its day
Once Illy taught 'em to play

It's a rough sort of ground
Not lovely but sound
Mundane and routine red brick
Just like Illy, not missing a trick

He assembled a team to suit the place
Hard nuts, bravehearts, never an ace
Scrappers and scrapers, triers galore
You could hear the purists call it "Illy's bore"

His tried and trusted dozen
Soon got buzzin'
Won a title or three
Not artists but busy as a bee

Each time I go, I see those work-d-day pros
Many a thistle, few like a rose
Sweatin' 'n' cussin' and scratchin' their arse
Well, that's how it was; hard cricket no farce

No, you don't need artistry as you win
Lots of skill and a little sin,
By the end of the season, you've carried coal
Won yourself a title and got a soul

Right selection

The cafe. Kate, on her own. Me in a corner reading The Times. The veteran arrives, looking harrassed.

"Get us two nice strong coffees, Kate, please and" (in a whisper) "when the time comes it's his turn to pay. You all right, then, old son?" I say.

He grunts. "England. Bad team selection. Left out young Rashid when it was time to show you knew how well he played. Frightened team, you can see the tension. Tell me, summat. Who won the bloody Ashes, anyway? Us? Them? United States second eleven? Uncle Tom Whatsit and his mob? I thought we did."

"We are a better side than them," I go. "We put 'em in, get most of 'em out for a reasonable score and then bat like frightened rabbits. What's up?"

"I've just seen the telly but every time I get a glimpse of the boss class - Miller, Flower, Gibson, Morgan - they look frit as well. That's why I'm asking. The Aussies throw the Ashes away with bad everything; but it's us as looks underdogs and them that keep grinning. Lee, Clarke the captain, that Mitchell Whatsit; all laughing. He's the worst, that other left-armer. Chatting, laughing, giggling; what have they got to be so happy about. Sight of us batting, I suppose." He's is in a right state, the old lad.

"Is that lad coming?" It's Kate, behind the counter, a cup of his tea latte favourite in hand.

"No," says the old lad. "He won't be here for a while. He was 88 not out and going some when I slipped across the road. Could be his first proper hundred."

"It's my mate," says Kate. "She got a trick or two to sort out young sportsmen. Look at that footballer she went out with; England player now. What's that tennis player called - you know, tall, Irish and pretty eyes. A couple of days with her and he was twice the player."

The door flies open and it's the kid. "Where is she?" he wants to know.

"Doing a shift at the other shop," says Kate, quick, rather too quick. "Why, what's up?"

"She's supposed to be at the ground. I know I'm going to make at least 150 today and I say 'Come and watch' but no sign of her. I'll have to get back," he says, "we've declared. I got 111," he says and rushes out.

"Nice lad," says Kate.

"Where's she then?" I ask.

"Don't know," says Kate, looking sly. "There is a marathon runner around. Another nice lad. She can pick 'em."

"England can't," we say. "They know nothing about the game."

Defeat again

Lord's Second one-day international

Preview

Come on, England. What happened on Friday at the Oval is simply not good enough. The efforts of the tail put the top six to shame. They look so feeble without KP you wonder if they are possibly be a Champions Trophy success. Just tell them that Andrew Strauss; it really is time for the big stick and not even the smell of a carrot It will be most instructive to see how the team get on without Stuart Broad who is injured. He has inherited the Spirit of Flintoff - that is, he is worth more than the sum of his batting, bowling and fielding - and there seems to be no-one else with that life force.

Australia innings

Having put Australia in - as they did at the Oval - it looked for a long time as if England had produced another above par performance - as they did at the Oval. But just as Mitchell Johnson arrived at the crease the stats-happy noted that the average score at Lord's in the last ten odi first innings was 218. Johnson, whose odi average is an incredibly low eight, proceeded to hit 43 off 25 so that Australia finished on 249-8, setting a total that was a couple of inches too far away.

England innings

As England collapsed to lose by 39 runs you might have thought there could not possibly be any more bad news. But right on cue it came. Andrew Flintoff has developed a deep vein thrombosis - with the potential for all sorts of damage - in the leg on which he had his recent operation. Ironicaly, the idea of the op was that he would concentrate on one-day cricket in future. Once again the England top order failed to consolidate a decent start made by Andrew Strauss and Ravi Bopara, once again the middle order looked feeble and I suppose they missed Flintoff. Oh, and just in case you feel that things cannot get any worse, Ricky Ponting will be back for the fourth match in the series on Saturday.

Easy pickings

Don't worry about the poor, defeated Poms. They don't like winning. It is the secret of their failure. Fred Trueman told me that in the middle of a row with Colin Cowdrey in Australia, Cowdrey barked at him: "The trouble with you Yorkshiremen is that you think cricket is about winning. Well, it's not." The trouble with the conversation is that neither understood the other. Last night you could see the old Tyke Ryan Sidebottom and the new Tyke Adil Rashid wanted to win desperately; but I was not sure anyone else did, except maybe for Graeme Swann, a misplaced Yorkshireman if ever I saw one.

I came to the conclusion somewhere in the wee, small hours that Nasser Hussain was right and that this Australian side are ready for the picking. It could still be 6-1 although there is September rain and cold to consider. By the way, if anyone sees Greg tell him his money (£10 at 5-1 England to win) is safe.

Hero Rashid

The Oval. First one-day international

Preview

Nasser Hussain wrote this week that Australia's team may be their worst one-day side of all time. Interesting comment, Nass.

Australian innings

It was, in my memory, one of England's finest performances. Their fielding was slick, starting with Paul Collingwood's snappy throw to get rid of the wicket-keeper-opener Tim Paine, by way of Graeme Swann's quick throw to run out the all-rounder Cameron White and their brisk fielding generally. They kept Australia to 260 on a typical Oval batting pitch, bowled to a plan and backed up their best bowler Adil Rashid who must have won a place on the South African tour with an unbroken, testing spell. You might be right, Nass.

England innings

Rashid also played the hero at the end of the innings but England still lost by four runs. The chase was too difficult when Rashid, Luke Wright and Graeme Swann got to the wicket after indecisive batting from the middle order. Even though it was Mission Impossible by the time the lower middle order got in Michael Clarke, captain for the day, was still behaving like a demented soul as he tried to block off the runs. You may be right, Nass.

Fun time

Two T20 internationals - the People's Games - ruined by rain. Someone is missing the point.

T20 is a piece of nonsense, a bit of fun, three hours of giggle. Bring 20,000 people together, charge them £40 a head, open the bars, maintain family areas and let them all enjoy themselves.

At the same time we don't want star players to be hurt as they might have been if the second game at Old Trafford had been played.

The trouble is that the authorities, the player and the match officials have to take it seriously.

So lets cut out that aspect of the matches. Ask ICC to stop pretending there is a global league table for T20 and have a competitive aspect only when the T20 World Cup is staged.

Encourage the nations to pick teams of promising starlets, guys at the end of their careers, even a few prominent league players and, dare I mention it, a couple of the women Test players.

Tell them they must play unless it is raining balls and stumps. If the quick bowlers cannot find a foothold - bowl a bit slower. Find a side of the pitch they can bowl from. Take the must-win, death or glory, we need to points to get to the top of the world rankings element away.

The kids will love it, the parents will be glad that one day their lad might get a chance to take part in any sort of cricket, and the TV audiences will grow.

For heaven's sake, lets stop being so serious about a bit of a laugh!