It was intoxicating to be in the crowd, and that was as someone who hated being there more than anything else. The English crowd were confused whether to cheer for Freddie (One run out, one catch) or England winning the Ashes, so they cheered harder to cover both, writes Jarrod Kimber from a pub near The Oval.
August, 2009
Breakfast Media Wrap: Curbing drunken violence makes the front page
The pick of this morning’s media
How England won the Ashes with Hawk-Eye
Every decision, of course, is critical, and it’s easy to be wise after the event, but you can see if the umpires got it right with our graphics, statistics and analysis.
This is not the end of Ponting’s captaincy
In another dispensation Ponting’s sacking would be inevitable. But he knows that Australian cricket is more likely to back him. It is hard for foreigners to understand the prestige attached to the position, writes Peter Roebuck.
Strauss’s finest hour
He took over with England in turmoil, but in eight months has forged a team that has regained the Ashes. For Andrew Strauss there can be no praise high enough.
The Guardian’s readers’ Ashes 2009 memories
People’s thoughts on England’s victory and how they think it compares to 2005.
An interview with Ricky Ponting
Australia captain Ricky Ponting told the BBC’s Jonathan Agnew he is more determined than ever to regain the Ashes next year after his side lost to England by 197 runs in the fifth and deciding Test at The Oval.
An interview with Andrew Flintoff
Andrew Flintoff admits it “hasn’t sunk in” that England have regained the Ashes, and says he intends to “take the missus out” to celebrate the victory in his last Test Match.
Why Australia lost the 2009 Ashes
I think it’s possible to offer a dispassionate and logical analysis on where blame lies in our 2009 Ashes loss.
Where to now for Australia?
There are some harsh truths that must be dealt with ahead of the Australian summer, writes Greg Matthews.
Essential reading for depressed Australians
Remember when you last won the Ashes. This is what it felt like for English supporters there. You may now identify with it.
Editor ditches Newsweek for Daily Beast
WWD reports that Newsweek deputy editor Tom Watson has ditched the respected newsweekly for news aggregating site The Daily Beast. A big vote of confidence in online media — and a kick in the pants for the print stalwart.
When doves cry: Murdoch takes a pay cut
Get out your tiny violins: Rupert Murdoch received only $18 million in compensation last year — down 40% from the previous year’s $30.1 million. The recession now truly has a human face.
Super Friends? News Corp. push for paid news power team
News Corp. have rallied together the New York Times Co., Washington Post Co., Hearst Corp. and Tribune Co. in an attempt to persuade the group of power publishers to charge for online news. The pitch? If every outlet does it, consumers won’t rebel, everyone profits.
How long do you have to work to buy a Big Mac?
Your pay is only as good as your purchasing power. The Economist compares how long it takes a worker on the average wage in 73 cities to earn the price of a Big Mac at their local McDonald’s. Over two hours in Mexico! Save your pesos for something better, Mexicans.
CIA staged “mock executions” in interrogations
A soon-to-be-released report reveals that the CIA used “mock executions” to interrogate terror suspects, brandishing guns and firing shots in order to convince them they were about to be shot and force the suspects to talk.
Meet the new Pakistani Taliban chief
With Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud said to have been killed recently by the US military, the organisation has named his successor: “ruthless and rash” 20-something Hakimullah Mehsud.
Afghan elections: a bloody mess
Despite claims by the UN and foreign leaders that the Afghanistan elections were successful, it was in reality a deeply disappointing day for the country, with low voter turnout, allegations of fraud, violence, bloodshed and widespread intimidation.
Tell the world about our fake election
The change Afghanis had hoped for in their election did not come, says Afghanistan-based journalist Alex Strick van Linschoten, who describes an overwhelming mood of disappointment and disillusionment at the widespread voter fraud.
Blood, bombs and ballots
Afghanistan’s polls were soaked in blood, says The Sunday Times, with the Taliban successfully using violence to keep many Afghanis from voting — or having any hope for the future of their country.
Taliban cut off voters’ fingers
The Taliban has made good in its threat the cut off the in-stained fingers of voters in the Afghanistan elections, with two voters in the Kandahar region reportedly having their fingers chopped off by insurgents.
Australia need just 466 more runs to win the Ashes. Jeebus
If Australia somehow pull this off it would be the single greatest come from behind victory in test cricket, writes Jarrod Kimber from The Oval.
Ponting bloodied and nearly beaten
For most of Ricky Ponting’s life a tour of England was the highlight for an Australian player. The experience has not been as enjoyable under his leadership.
Haigh: Trott’s a master with the bat and the cliche
Jonathan Trott today became the eighteenth batsman for England – it is still a little difficult to call him an ‘Englishman’ – to score a hundred on Test debut.
The Oval’s groundsman deserves a knighthood
England will owe a serious debt to the man who made the Test pitch resemble part of the Gobi desert if they win the Ashes.
