What a special day. Didn't think we'd take 10 wickets in the day when Warner and Khawaja looked so comfortable and certainly thought it was curtains when Stokes didn't hold the catch from Smith and then there was the rain delay. Thought Smith was guiding it home with 120 not out from there. Couldn't write the script any better than that. Broad hitting the final ball he faced for 6 and taking the winning wicket. Not sure how many others have taken a wicket with their final ball but he's certainly the only one with the 6 and wicket double.
2-2 feels fair. As I posted above, 3-1 would have felt really harsh. Such a shame we'll never know if that could have been a decider but it is what it is. Have to take your chances and we didn't when in good positions to win the early matches, certainly the first. A lot of the talk beforehand was which approach was better. Think we can say both are equally valid and neither really bettered the other. And we extend Australia's run of not winning a series in England out to at least 26 years by the time the next England Ashes comes around.
What a great series. Nothing beats an epic test series. Amazingly I've managed to watch the entirety which feels an achievement living in NZ. Generally watched the first sessions live (10pm-midnight) and got up a bit early before work to watch the 2nd session delayed and then the 3rd throughout the day. I tend to work from home on Thursdays and Fridays which has helped with watching the 2nd and 3rd sessions delayed in the morning whilst working. Might be the first time I've managed to watch the entirety of every match. Watched most of the last series in Aus but missed most of the 2nd test as it was happening over my brother's wedding weekend. 2019 I only saw the first test then missed the rest while on holiday in USA.
How awesome was Chris Woakes? A much criticised and underrated player who has been solid and dependable in all formats but looked like he might not play another test again having not been picked under Stokes/McCullum. He completely changed the series when he came in with big wickets and important runs. Hindsight is a great thing but he has an incredible record at Lords so probably should have played that test too. Man of the match and player of the series is thoroughly deserved for someone who always seems to get overshadowed. Even on what was possibly his finest day it was still understandably someone else's day! Also what a last couple of matches for Bairstow. Much criticised and with his place questioned, especially after a couple of rough games behind the stumps and without runs, and obviously the Lords dismissal. And what a fucking catch!
Hopefully I'll make it to an Ashes test one day which is my dream. Tried for the Lords ballot in 2009 the last time I was over there but didn't get anything. My brother is settled in Sydney now so maybe the next series in a couple of years might be an option to try and do something together.
