Contents
Introduction
Part I—Before the Game
Don’t Panic
Interesting Times
Business as Usual
Farewell the Strong Man
The Shock of the New
New Kids on the Blockhole
Come Again?
Carpe Diem
Best of Breed
Excess Baggage
The Team that Plays Together
BC/AD
A New Angle
Battle Renewed
Part II—First Test
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
True Believer
Day 4
Day 5
Sophia’s Choice
Drawn and Quartered
Australia’s Overachievers
Part III—Second Test
Going, Going …
Day 1
Blow-out
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Three and a Half Men
The Eleventh Hour
The Spirit Made Flesh
We Need to Talk About Kevin
Part IV—Third Test
Pitch 4U
Short Change
Birmingham Fault
Day 1
Unnatural Selection
Day 2
Losing It
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Atlas Shrugs
Best of Five
Short Rations
Part V—Fourth Test
Too Many to Mention
Terrace Housing
Day 1
The Disciplinarian
Day 2
Kiss Ass
Day 3
We’re All Doomed
The Past Is Not Another Country
A Room with a View
Part VI—Fifth Test
The Comeback Kid?
Meet the New Boss
Losing the Thread
A House Divided
The Fix Isn’t In—Yet
A Delicate Balance
Day 1
Day 2
Marathon Men
Day 3
Pitched Battle
Over It, Moonwise
Day 4
The Disappointed
The Light on the Hill
TINA
Consistent Inconsistency
The Daily Moan
Going Down
Scorecards
Ashes 2009 Averages
Length and distance conversions