1st Ashes test, day 5

Australia (107-1 and 481), drew with England (260 and 517-1).

"Our bowlers have been taken apart by an opponent that usually departs from Brisbane in a state of shock. Records were broken and the score rattled along till the head was spinning, a trait that eluded the local tweakers.

With the terrible logic of sporting supermacy, 300 became 400 and then 500 and still no sign of a wicket."

>>Sydney Morning Herald.

I have to confess to not seeing a great deal of the final days play. Four days of late nights and early mornings took their toll, and after seeing the first hour safely negotiated I retired safe in the knowledge that no spectacular collapse was forthcoming.

As well as Alistair Cook (235*) and Jonathan Trott (135*) (and before that Andrew Strauss) batted in their unbroken stand of 329, I didn't expect England to not lose a further wicket though, and in racking up 517-1 they broke several records along the way in overcoming the Gabbatoir.

Strauss did declare, setting an unrealistic total, but in the hope that a couple of blows could be landed along the way. Australia only lost one wicket however, but after a stunning day and a half at the crease the momentum heading to Adelaide is surely with England, with Australia facing plenty of questions over their bowling attack in particular.