The Ashes Blog: Today is for celebration (From Lancashire Telegraph)

The Ashes Blog: Today is for celebration

9:12am Friday 7th January 2011 in Ashes blog By Matt Donlan, Sports reporter

RIGHT, hands up, I admit it...I was wrong.

Back at the start of the Ashes series I thought that the Aussies would prove too strong for our gallant boys and probably run out series victors.

But can I now just say on this landmark morning on January 7, 2011 two words - Get In.

A miserable and gloomy morning feels like a bright sunny summer’s day given the feelings of English cricket fans as Andrew Strauss and company put their names firmly in the history books.

It is a special day at the end of a special series during which we have dominated apart from one Test and the occasional session in a couple of others.

We are way too strong for the Aussies in every department and they must face up to their own failings.

They could start by taking a look at the ridiculous number of one day matches they play.

Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey aside - and they are two confirmed dislikers of the short forms - the Aussies are not fit for purpose.

Maybe that is because of the amount of one day cricket. In the main, take note Phil Hughes this means you (and Kevin Pietersen for that matter) batsmen are too kean to give their wicket away.

They can’t resist going for the champagne shot when they would be better off sipping brown ale.

It is a trait throughout cricket now. The longer form, the true test, hence the name, is often given lower status than the one-dayers.

And a once great sporting nation appears to be suffering more than most.

But then again, unlucky Australia but your problems are not ours.

And for that we can celebrate on a day when I don’t mind being wrong.