And the dawn came up like thunder, out of China, 'cross the bay.

[Charger Salmons]

Are the English cads ? Are all Australians uncouth ?
These are questions for the ages and no amount of answers will please everyone.
But on the Ashes here's my take.

From an armchair in England with a pint of strong cider and a decent three-skinner on the go I look back on the Ashes with approval.
Two good teams,both with a backstory.
A series played mainly in good spirits and so much better than the snarling slugfests of old.
Ah slugfests.
Bazball is going to have a profound effect on test cricket. It's not new. The Australians used to be the best practitioners of it. But T20, which has been slowly leaching into test cricket, has suddenly arrived with a bang. From this summer onwards the run rates of all international test teams will go up.Noticeably.
For six weeks we've had brilliant, audacious, laughable, angry, gladitorial contest and it ended honours even.
With Australia retaining the Ashes.
They deserve to.
Thanks for a great series and looking forward to supping some of your weak over-priced beer in a couple of years time.

Sir Charger Salmons, OBE, STD, Private in the Barmy Army.

Marvellous.

 

[Adders]

From an armchair in England with a pint of strong cider and a decent three-skinner on the go I look back on the Ashes with approval.

This amused me.

 

[Charger Salmons]

Crimson King by Tricky Cider in Somerset.
5litre bag in a box.
Gazillion per cent.

You know what really galls though. An Ashes summer ending before the start of August. Just to accommodate the poxy Crisp League. No wonder the Australians were shagged out - they'd already played an extra test. And Nathan Lyons actually did his calf in chasing some skirt in a late night kebab shop. You heard it here first.

Sir Charger Salmons, OBE, STD, Private in the Barmy Army.

Marvellous.