The perfect end
Joe Drabble reflects on a magical day after England powered to a 3-1 series victory at the SCG
By Joe Drabble Last updated: 7th January 2011
As the clock approached noon on day five at the famous Sydney Cricket Ground, England ended 24 years of waiting and hurting by sealing an emphatic series victory.
I never thought the scenes in Melbourne last week could be eclipsed, they were today.
With half of the ground filled with English supporters, it was yet another 'I was there' day as Australia suffered a record third innings defeat in one series!
"We've had our pants pulled down," not quite Michael Clarke's words after the match, but near enough. It's not even been close.
Our third Test defeat at the WACA seems a mere aberration upon reflection, England could have quite easily won this series 5-0 had it not been for two inspired spells of pace bowling from Peter Siddle in Brisbane and Mitchell Johnson in Perth.
Of course there will be the obligatory 'ifs' 'buts' and 'what might have beens' when the series is analysed in pubs and clubs across England and Australia, but the bottom line is this - the best team won.
Watching the presentation up in my pew in the press box, I was overwhelmed with pride and joy, not only for the players, but for the thousands of English fans who have paid their hard-earned money to come out here.
I have been flittering between the press box and the stands all series, seeing the same faces in their England replica jerseys from city to city. It's not cheap out here, but the players have certainly given their supporters more than their money's worth.
As for me, I'm not quite sure how I'm going to cope without Jimmy Saville and Co for the next few weeks. It's been quite a journey!
Thanks for your company throughout the tour, you can fire all your Ashes views my way via skysports.com's live webchat from 9.30am on Friday.
Let the celebrations begin!
Our Experts
Punter and the hunted
England must go in for the kill and finish off Australia in Ricky Ponting's absence, says Nasser Hussain.
Will Mitch pitch in?
Mitchell Johnson and the drop-in strip are the only real concerns for England at the MCG, says Mike Atherton.
Pushed to the limit
Bumble says a heavy schedule is damaging one-day cricket and calls for a limited-overs league.
Slumber party
England's post-Ashes dip is down to tired minds and problems with the batting order, says Bob Willis.
The magnificent men
The Ashes Panel pay tribute to sky-high England and back the Ashes winners to fly further up the rankings.
- They're worlds apart (64)
- Tweet with respect (36)
- Calling the shots (24)
- Let's go to the Bop (22)
- Persist with Ponting (22)
- All Guns blazing (20)
- Give them a battering (19)
- Delivering the Ashes (16)
- Adapt a tough stance (15)
- Challenging times (15)
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