THURSDAY 6th JANUARY
Alan failed to rouse himself in the morning following Rob's departure, so I descended from the sleeping quarters and after a shower and the morning ablutions got some breakfast ready and made some roles for the game. We left early as Alan wanted to buy some postcards. I gave him directions for the newsagent and went off to buy the train tickets, and told him to meet me at the station. I kept an eye out for him and he eventually appeared but turned left into Hillview heading back home. I raced (well that's a bit of an exageration) and called after him. By this time our train was but minutes away. I mimed running and then proceeded to run towards the station myself. We just caught the train. It turns out Alan bought cards to send to everyone back home including myself! You really can't leave his side!
Again we got to the ground good and early and found our seats in row D of Bay 6. We saw Len and Pat arrive some 10 minutes after the start of play, with their seats being in row B and about 5 seats to our right. They were late because Patrick was trying to sort out return flights to England having been informed that the flights they had been booked on were cancelled. He needs to be back at the Treasury next Friday but the alternative options they were being offered didn't get in until the weekend. As of yet the matter is unresolved.
Unfortunately a sizeable Sunderland supporter wearing a Gyan no 3 shirt eventually sat next to me with his feet splayed wide apart. He really needed about three seats to himself, sitting with his feet splayed wide apart. Indeed the whole of bay 6 seemed fully occuppied and there looked to be a sizeable crowd in. It turned out to be 35,000 which following the 43,000 plus on the first day and the 40,000 plus crowds on the second and third days, which just shows how well followed this match has been. Before the start of play it was announced that Collingwood had decided to retire from Test cricket, which pre-empted the official announcement.
I was hoping for an England total of around 550 but again my expectation were exceeded. England were all out for 644 with Prior scoring his first century against Australia (the third centurian in the innings), with Bresnan giving him good support. This was the highest score by England in Australia in an Ashes series. Swann came in and smashed a quick fire 30 odd. This included a couple of overs from Mitch Johnson in which he conceded 13 and 20 runs (17 of them in that over to Swann). At the end of each over Johnson came down to field in front of us and was given an ironic standing ovation by the English supporters who made up the vast majority of the crowd in this area. The second time round he made a slogging motion as he walked towards us and then turned around with the applause still ringing in his ears. Even Tremlett the last batsman got into double figures.
I predicted two wickets by teatime and six by the close of play. Things got off to a scorching start with Watson smashing the ball all over the place and Hughes defending stoutly. Then came the hilarious (from an English point of view) run out of Watson, and things started rapidly going downhill for Australia. I was correct in my prediction of two wickets by teatime. After tea wickets continued to fall. When Tremlett was brought back late in the day he had Haddin caught by Prior and the next ball clean bowled the hapless Johnson. The Barmy Army had really laid into Johnson during this game and it was almost predictable that he would get a duck - that it was a golden duck was just the icing on the cake.
Seven wickets were down, which meant that an additional 8 overs were added to the days play. However Smith and Siddle managed to survive until the end. Tomorrow is to be free entry, with play starting ay 10.03.
After the game we made our way to Epping. Rob was playing football, and he came straight from the game with Nick to pick us up. Apparently he scored the only goal in an 8-1 defeat, and it was a cracker with Rob beating three players in the process. We then went down to Jane's where Rob, Alan and I all lost at football to Nick - I stubbed my toe which was very painful and drew blood, but Jane won the final! It was then back to the Eastwood for a couple of glasses of Chardonnay and an evening meal.
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