Heady times indeed, as England win the 2009 Ashes with a fine victory at the Oval yesterday.I thought that the admirably stubborn and brilliant Aussies would hold out again, or perhaps generate some feat of leviathan effort to overhaul the 546 run target. I wouldn't put it past them, they have a willpower and focus that sometimes makes our English players look a victory-shy and squeamish bunch but yesterday, England took the wickets required to reclaim that tiny urn for another two years.
WELL DONE ENGLAND!
It made me cast my mind back to the Summer of 2005, when England last won the Ashes, a victory that meant more due to the voluminous gap since they last conquered the Australians and the terrible beatings the Aussies had inflicted on us in the preceding 16 years.
Back in 2005 I was living not far from the Oval (where the last Ashes test is always traditionally played), in Camberwell and was moving out that day to begin my life in Loughton, Essex and I could hear the cheers from my home as every run was scored and as I loaded up the van with my worldly possessions I kept one eye on the TV to keep abreast of what was happening.
It was a funny time, having just finished my MA in Acting at the Central School of Speech and Drama and was about to embark on a full-time acting career again after some time out learning. How things have progressed in those 4 years, my life is hardly recognisable (in a good way) and I sit typing this in my own home that I own, in a wonderful, loving relationship and actually making a living as an actor with some amazing adventures past and some great opportunities in the future.
And to add to the good sporting news, I read today that the UK is allegedly coming out of recession.
A brilliant excuse I think to put up a picture of the Australian captain Ricky "Punter" Ponting looking sad (he doesn't have cold sores by the way, he got hit in the face with a ball)...
And of the England team looking very happy indeed (they also don't have cold sores, they are just drunk)...
