by Arthur Crabtree » Sat Sep 12, 2015 5:58 pm
As I'm sure as everyone is aware, England won the Ashes back at the Oval today. And the series ended, not with a whimper, but with a bang. Before the sky was illuminated by a cascade of fireworks, Kevin Pietersen filled the heavens with huge lofted sixes to draw the game in a new kind of style. England regained the Ashes. It feels as unlikely, astonishing and disorientating as waking up on a Friday morning and finding your garden bin has been emptied.
But first we suffered. Australia started with Warne and McGrath. Michael Vaughan came out with his poker face, presenting no emotion to the onlooker, and betrayed his anxiety by not showing any. He drove Warne around the ground sublimely, very nearly to the point our nerves were quieted, when he edged McG behind to Gilly. Bell fell the next ball, and the hat trick delivery missed KP's gloves by a millimetre, before flying off his shoulder to Warne at slip. I was sure he'd hit it. When Warne got Trescothick and Flintoff, England were 126-5 and Colly and Pietersen were in charge of a lead 132, and the day not yet at lunch.
Colly batted for 72 minutes, pretty calmly, earning his place on the commemorative tea towel. At the other end, was pandemonium. Pietersen was dropped at slip off Warne by Hayden. He nearly ran himself out, and then, in what felt like the pivotal moment of the day, was dropped at slip by Shane Warne. The man who had been most of Australia's resistance since Lord's, spilled a regulation grab. Between times, KP scored runs all around the ground. Once he passed fifty, his innings was unstoppable. Seven sixes. Many of the fifteen fours were lofted into the long grass. Sure, early on, he had astonishing luck. But at the last, he made sure the Ashes ended up where they had promised to since, oh, day five at Old Trafford. When he was hooking a ridiculously pumped up Brett Lee off his brow and into the stands, it was KP who briefly looked like this series' Botham, rather than Freddie.
It was never going to be easy because Australia are a great team and their muscle memory compels them not to give up, and to win. Lee pinned Pietersen's bat against his throat during an intense passage of play, exposing in an instant their compelling threat. But the ball arced over the slips and they ran two. On another day, Australia would have run down 180 to win and taken the Ashes home. Just not on this day.
When Ashley Giles joined Kevin Pietersen, England were 205 ahead, with tea nearly an hour away, and the win still within Australia's reach. Shaun Tait had bowled Geraint, his off stump spinning towards the boundary boards. And then, after all this, after all the events of this series, came my favourite period of the summer. As Gilo and KP batted England to the draw. It felt like a buddy movie. Ashley, the rather buttoned up, but pretty tough old professional. And Kevin, the effervescent, slightly irritating, instinctive, mercurial, metrosexual kid. With the stupid hair. I was embarrassingly moved by watching these two bat together, forming an experience they will never forget, and will think of every time they meet each other for the rest of their lives. Giles batted for two and a half hours, digging in, then hitting Warne for runs. On passing fifty, he appeared overwhelmed. Pietersen was out for 158 to a magic ball from McG. He batted for nearly five hours. He left behind a lead of 314 and the Ashes were safe even to the most pessimistic of fans. His last hundred runs was an exhibition of his unusual talent.
KP walked off saying 'sorry about that' to his partner. Warne ran after Kevin to shake his hand, and for the first time in the summer it felt like KP wasn't being identified as someone under the patronage of the great Warne, but as an immense player with stature of his own. He's a winner, and a player for the big occasion.
And then Richie Benaud retired.
Things weren't so cockeyed that Warne didn't get Gilo in the end. But there was redemption for Giles after a career of bad press. Crucially, one of the players without a great reputation emerged to influence the series. And that matters, just as it does the great stars performing.
England were all out for 335 (sadly no cameo from Harmi). Warne took 6-124. Australia batted for an over as the final light of the series ebbed away. And the umpires tipped off the bails, as they must.
I always say that everybody's right.