The new year's test at Sydney has become the place to be in Australia in early January, when old friends from around the country meet to watch their omnipotent cricket team whilst quenching their thirst with a few cold ones. Or, to be more accurate, an enormous amount of Victoria Bitter, commonly known as 'VB'. Which can be tough when you're the Englishman meeting your old cricket team for the first time in years and your national team is copping a pasting.
Thus my 2nd of January was spent dodging the frequent Sydney rain showers whilst being force-fed lager from a bunch of jokingly abusive Australians who really knew how to make the phrase 'How are you you bloody pom?' sound almost endearing. Thankfully, England's performance on the field was competitive, and that above all else is what cricket fans of both sides want to see in this last test - a real, hard fought match.
Freddie's decision to bat first after winning the toss could have backfired again, as low cloud and damp conditions made life difficult for the England openers. Despite their relatively low personal scores, Strauss and Cook did at least establish a solid platform which was further built upon by Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen. Bell's 71 was his fourth 50 of the series and although he hasn't as yet got the game to hurt the Australians, he has demonstrated a sound technique and willingness to apply himself which augurs well for his test career.
KP was in a rather more carefree mood, and caused much mirth in the crowd by his frequent decisions to walk down the wicket at the fast-medium of Stuart Clark and Glenn McGrath, who, in his last test match before retiring after a superb career, took great exception to this show of disrespect from the new England No.4. It proved his undoing when he flap hooked a bouncer from the veteran paceman to be caught at midwicket, to McGrath's obvious delight.
Some composed batting from Paul Collingwood and Flintoff took England to 233 for 4 when bad light stopped play and the England captain at last looked in real Freddie form, playing the good deliveries solidly, leaving the unthreatening stuff and clonking the occasional bad ball for 4 or 6. Australians in the crowd thought England batted too slowly and that if Flintoff is out early next morning, Austalia will roll England for 300. Having endured such a tough tour so far, all England fans are hoping that Freddie will enjoy whatever good fortune is on offer and go on to make his first substantial score of the series.
Wello
