h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Yay yay yay yay yay yay yay #

Congratulations from an aussie, your team deserved to win.

So, who's coming to Australia next time to see can you do it twice in a row?

P2

Morning all, thinking of changing my handle to MoaningGoldfish. Now what was I going to say.

Yeeerrssss we don it, congratulations to the boys, what a result, what a series and best of all not only did we regain the Ashes but the spirit the series was played in was magnificent. Well done everybody in both camps

Everybody has commented on the fact that the English team spirit and individual performances were the secrets of success. I think that team extended to people like Atherton and Boycott.

On Saturday Boycott was saying he thought Pietersen had to start playing like a superstar and not just acting like one. He also said it to him, as KP had given Boycott a lift to their hotel. Seems the boy took some good advice from the old boy.

Pinniped asked about Geraint Jones' shot at Trent Bridge.

It wasn't necessarily a negative. It was an attempt by the senior batsman left at the crease to take responsibility for for forcing the win. For attempting to take that initiative he deserves credit.

His shot selection was admittedly p*ss poor on that occasion. As Boycott pointed out Jones is far from perfect but he is probably the best bet until such time as the number 4 spot is sorted out, either by Ian Bell proving he's not a one series wonder or the place being filled by someone else.

Jones makes a brilliant foil to Freddie and until England can afford to let a 'non-batting' wicket keeper into the side Jones is our man. And like Pietersen, his catching can only get better.

After all, Rod Marsh began his career with the nick name 'Iron Gloves'. He went on to become one of the best 'keepers the world has ever seen.

I agree entirely, that shot that he attempted at Trent Bridge - to try and take the initiative away from Warne - was exactly the right sort of attitude, an attitude typical of the team in recent memory, since Hussain took over as captain and started turning the team around.

I'd have to disagree with most of you regarding Ian Bell - his technique is quite possibly the best of any of the English batsmen, it's just that he's had a terrible run of form over the last two tests. At Old Trafford, lest anyone forget, he scored a half-century in each innings and would possibly have got more under different circumstances in the second innings had they not started trying to up the scoring rate at that particular moment.

I repeat, this has been the best Test series I've ever seen. Who would have thought Warne would take 40 wickets and end up on the losing side?!?

Well DONe ENGURLAND

Whoa even crazyhorse is being nice to us.

Brilliant win, brilliant series. Shows how fantastic sport can be.

Regarding Bell, me. I don't deny he may have an excellent technique, I just think he hasn't got it mentally like Hick and Ramprakash in recent years. Test cricket is at least 60-70% mental I think. I may have got the percentage a bit wrong, but it's a hell of a lot of it. Anyway this is no day to dwell on failure.

i got to admit i enjoyed seeing flintoff out for 2 though,,was a shame about the weather but england needed this and allthough im sure we'll never hear the end of it just like the 66 world cup i am happy for the southerners....roll on 20012 olympics

Remember this anyone?

Gah what a summer that was!

now yer diggin badger

I'm still ranting over the TCCB decison to welch out of the deal to keep test cricket on terrestial TV and take Murdock's shilling. Seeing as I refuse to have Sky I really miss the excellent Channel 4 coverage.

Yeah... it sucks....

Being a football fan I long ago sold my soul to Murdoch. And it pains me every time I send him a direct debit.

On the other hand if you are a bachelor who uses sport fanaticism as a surrogate girlfriend like med then you don't have a great deal of choice.

Unfortunately I've a creeping suspicion that Sky might be the best option for going digital. Maybe I'll just buy a hut on a hill and live with my dogs and Hootoo and Radio 4 and malt whisky.

theres allways the world service

Well much as though I slag of Sky, if you like sports it really is the only option.

And whilst I love listening to TMS, I have got to say that Bumble is the single most entertaining cricket commentator around and you only get him on sky....