Hi Nick,

I've certainly been looking forward to this Ashes series ever since your lads were last out here. I was in Melbourne a couple of years ago for the test in which Mark Taylor decided to ask for the extra half hour on the fourth evening (which had already stretched well into the dusk), when Gough bowled that sensational spell to skittle the Aussies and snatch the proverbial.

Listening to the beeb, it seemed that the England team (appart from Athers) didn't come out onto the ground for the presentation, but I've not heard any more about that here. Was there anything said in your press about it? Is there talk of bad blood between the teams - that would certainly be a great pity. I'd hoped that sort of thing had been put behind us after Jardine and Larwood did their thing.

Anyway, we do need to buy some form for our top three, and as Graham Gooch said on the radio last night, at least England are creating chances - it's only a matter of time before they start taking them. I'm just hoping that it will take them at least one more test so we can send the tiny urn home on the next Qantas jumbo <g>.

Cheers,

Andrew

>Andrew
>
>come on a technical thread and sudden below the belt assault.
>
>I think the UK press certainly overplayed Englands prospects in the current series causing a lot of people to be suprised by whats happened.
>
>I think our problem is that we are trying to play the Aussies at their own game, flinty eyed professionalism commitment to winning and 100% effort. We should go back to our strengths, being shambolic amatuerish and playings more important than winning. This really winds the Australian team up and they self destruct.
>
>Many years ago I had the pleasure of seeing Lillee bowl at Lords. What a great player.
>
>
>Nick Mason