Fifth Test, Day 5. Sydney Cricket Ground. "all 4-1 and 1-4 all"

 A fascinating days cricket today, but in the end we just didn't have enough runs. Another hundred and we might have snuck it as the pitch started to break up and get some turn. Jacks got Steve Smith with a beauty, probably the best ball he's ever bowled! I was privileged to be able to watch today's play from the member's enclosure in the pavilion.

All 4-1 and 1-4 all

For me this was the match where Jacob Bethell proved beyond doubt that he can bat at #3 in spite of doubts earlier expressed by most people. His was a superb display of Test cricket amongst some of the usual snafus, such as dropped catches daft shots and wayward bowling

JG Bethell c Carey b Starc 154


I grabbed a curiosity a snap of Jake Weatherald and Joe Root in the same frame who both wear the same shirt number

Weatherald and Root both have the number 66

When all is said and done, the teams show respect for each other by saying their farewells until next time..
Thanks for the memories


There will be a reckoning when everyone gets home. Brendan McCullum was spotted trying to get ahead of the agenda by detonating Bazball by remote control.
Brendan McCullum with his finger on the trigger
I managed to get a snap of me with the statue of Steve Waugh, which I had also dne on a previous tour in 2019.

The author with the Steve Waugh statue: 2026 (L) and 2019 (R)

Result of the caption competition

The entries to the caption competition were judged by a panel of independent experts, The winning entry came from Graham Brewster.

Brook to Stokes: " I know we're 3-1 down but can we still win the Ashes?"

Finally 

this is the last post on this blog regarding the tour. I would like to thank Elite Sports Travel for organising the tour, and to my many fellow tourers who kept their eye out for me. It has been a long trip. I am staying in Sydney a little longer to spend time with my daughter, but I won't be blogging about that. It just remains for me to wish all my loyal readers in Australia safe travel home, and to my loyal UK reader - see you soon!
I will issue one final post tomorrow with some Blog Stats.
Thanks again
Tim

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