Ashes 3rd Test

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

Fair go there fellas - all sides sledge, and Australia would be a distant third to South Africa and Pakistan in my book. Anyway, your Mr.Pietersen is far and away the biggest sledger of this series - he taunted both batsmen whilst bowling on day one, and he wasn't just commenting on the quality of their hair cuts either. At one stage Mathew Hayden seemed genuinely rattled by the Skunk's taunts ... and that's precisely why they do it. Like it or not, it's part of the game, and everyone does it - England not least of all.

Anyway, the series is all done and dusted now, with all interest gone. Your guys did really, really well ... until it really, really counted, then they crumpled

You need Simon Jones, you need Vaughn and you need Read... and with Geraint Jones making a pair, that last selection may have just made itself.

You can console yourself with the knowledge that the current Australian team is an absolute rip-snorter, with two truly great bowlers, a left-handed Bradman (almost) in Hussey, the Herculian Ponting and the best ever wicket-keeper batsman in Gilchrist... not an easy team to beat.

Unfortunately, you also know that you can beat them, but did not. But there you go, it's all way too late now. Maybe you can win the one-day series ... not that anyone ever remembers who wins those things anyhow, but you must take consolation where you can.

Well ta-ra then. I'm off to gloat somewhere else now