Birmingham Mail - Cricket - Ashes

Cricket: Warwickshire's Woakes hits winning runs as England beat Australia

Birmingham Mail — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 09:09:00 GMT

Debutant Chris Woakes was the match-winner as England claimed a record eighth consecutive Twenty20 victory with a last-ball win over Australia in Adelaide.

The Ashes - the records that fell and the milestones passed

Birmingham Mail — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 08:58:00 GMT

With England celebrating a first Ashes series victory in Australia for 24 years, these were some of the records and landmark achievements of the tourists.

How England won The Ashes in Australia

Birmingham Mail — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 08:24:00 GMT

How England won their first Ashes series in Australia for 24 years, with all the key moments from each of the five Test matches.

Andrew Strauss reflects on England's amazing Ashes win in Australia

Birmingham Mail — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 08:18:00 GMT

Andrew Strauss can at last allow himself and his fellow 2010/11 Ashes winners to celebrate their historic achievement.

The Ashes - Fifth Test, day 5: England wrap up historic 3-1 series win

Birmingham Mail — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 06:59:00 GMT

England completed their first Ashes win Down Under in 24 years after taking the last three Australia wickets on the final morning of the Fifth Test at the SCG.

The Ashes - Fifth Test, day 4: England on brink of series victory

Birmingham Mail — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 07:00:00 GMT

England were on the cusp of securing their first outright Ashes series win in Australia in 24 years after manoeuvring the hosts into a hopeless position on day four of the final Test.

The Ashes - Fifth Test, day 3: Bell and Cook pile on agony for Australia

Birmingham Mail — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 06:10:00 GMT

Hundreds from Alastair Cook and Ian Bell put England on course to win the Ashes outright in Australia for the first time in 24 years.

The Ashes - Fifth Test, Day 2: Cook gives England the edge

Birmingham Mail — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 06:19:00 GMT

England finished day two of the Fifth Test in a strong position despite the late wicket of Kevin Pietersen.

Ashes 2010: Fifth test, day one: Tim Bresnan helps England edge day one

Birmingham Mail — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 09:50:00 GMT

Tim Bresnan could afford a wide smile in the Sydney rain as he continued to make the most of his new home from home down under.

The Ashes - Fifth Test, Day 1: Australia make slow progress between rain breaks

Birmingham Mail — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 06:24:00 GMT

England eked out four Australia wickets between breaks for rain and bad light on day one of the fifth Test at the SCG.

Ashes: Fans delirious as England retain Ashes

Birmingham Mail — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 08:50:00 GMT

Jubilant England cricket fans were celebrating today after Andrew Strauss's men retained the Ashes for the first time in more than 20 years.

The Ashes - Fourth Test, Day 4: England wrap up victory in Melbourne to retain Ashes

Birmingham Mail — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 06:03:00 GMT

England completed the formalities of wrapping up a first successful Ashes tour of Australia in 24 years before lunch on the Fourth day of the fourth Test in Melbourne, winning by an innings and 157 runs to take a 2-1 lead in the series.

The Ashes - Fourth Test, day 3: Bresnan blast puts England on brink of retaining Ashes

Birmingham Mail — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 08:08:00 GMT

England stand on the cusp of retaining the Ashes after Tim Bresnan ripped through the top order after tea at the MCG.

Ashes 2010: Jonathan Trott hits out at Ricky Pontings bad behaviour

Birmingham Mail — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 10:04:00 GMT

Jonathan Trott does not believe Ricky Ponting had a good case for questioning the not out verdict against Kevin Pietersen which led to an unseemly incident between the home captain and umpire Aleem Dar.

Ashes 2010: Fourth test, day two: Trott hits a century as England reign supreme

Birmingham Mail — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 10:03:00 GMT

Centurion Jonathan Trott continued England's domination of Australia in the fourth Ashes Test - much to the frustration of Ricky Ponting on a bad-tempered second day at the MCG.

The Ashes - Fourth Test, Day 2: England press on as Ponting loses his cool

Birmingham Mail — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 09:40:00 GMT

Centurion Jonathan Trott continued England's domination of Australia in the Fourth Ashes Test - much to the frustration of Ricky Ponting on a bad-tempered second day at the MCG.

Ashes 2010: Fourth Test, day one: England in control as Aussies tumble

Birmingham Mail — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 10:07:00 GMT

England were firmly in control as they search for the victory that will see them retain the Ashes after they ended a superb first day 59 runs ahead of Australia with all their wickets intact in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

The Ashes - Fourth Test, Day 1: Awesome England bowl Australia out for 98

Birmingham Mail — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 08:37:00 GMT

The Ashes - Third Test - Day Three: England collapse as Aussies hit back

Birmingham Mail — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 10:44:00 GMT

England's decision to select Chris Tremlett for the third Test has been vindicated - but precious little else has gone right for the tourists at the WACA.Andrew Strauss' team finished day three needing a highly improbable rearguard to escape Australia's west coast with their 1-0 Ashes lead intact.Michael Hussey's second hundred of the series helped the hosts to 309 all out, setting England 391 to win in almost seven sessions on a still feasible if pacy pitch.But if it was an acceptable effort for Tremlett - with his maiden five-wicket innings haul in Tests - and others to limit Australia after Hussey (116) and Shane Watson (95) had both batted well, England's realistic hopes of a famous chase foundered.Optimism was already draining away before two late wickets in successive overs, with the score stuck on 81, left the tourists five down.Strauss (15), Alastair Cook (13), Jonathan Trott (31), Kevin Pietersen (3) and Paul Collingwood (11), caught at third slip with the last ball of the day, all departed leaving just night-watchman James Anderson unbeaten without scoring.Tremlett finished with match figures of eight for 150, and England could be satisfied they had picked the right man.There was nothing especially cunning, of course, about calling up the 6ft 8in Surrey seamer to replace the injured Stuart Broad at a venue renowned for its extra pace and bounce.Even so, Tremlett's inclusion was an oasis of qualified success in a match which has hardly gone to plan for England.Tremlett's quizzical demeanour spoke volumes as he reflected on his career-best performance, in the full knowledge that it would almost certainly come to nought for his team."On a personal level I'm delighted to get five wickets, but it's about winning a team game - so it takes a bit of the shine off," he said. "It's pretty obvious the guys are disappointed to get out, because they've put in some pretty impressive performances in the other games."The 29-year-old nonetheless allowed himself a moment of celebration at his successful return to Test cricket, after more than three years out of the reckoning."It's one of the greatest days of my life, getting five wickets," he said."It's been a long time - even in first-class cricket. I had seven or eight 'four-fors' for Surrey last season."Tremlett was one of five English bowlers unable to shift Hussey, though, until the final ball of Australia's innings - after the prolific left-hander had pulled, and also driven through the off-side, expertly to take his series tally to 517 runs.Tremlett had profited in the first innings from bowling what appeared an ideal length. But under orders, there were a lot more short balls second time round - with mixed results. "At times we went with that tactic. We set the field accordingly, and the plans at times didn't work," he conceded."But when we come up with a plan we try to stick to it."I was given a plan with Straussy. We discussed it; we went with it. When you go with a plan, you go with it 100%."We went with that plan to (Steven) Smith and we got him out; we tried it with Hussey, and it didn't work with him so well."Australia's Peter Siddle has been used relatively sparingly, in a four-man pace attack. But there was plenty of satisfaction in his voice as he spoke of his team's collective output."It was a big point in the game for us to get five wickets, a massive moment for us," he said.England's champion off-spinner Graeme Swann finished with match figures of two for 103 from 25 overs, and did not have the impact he might have hoped for.Australia decided on an all pace attack - sound judgment, according to Siddle."It probably eases the pressure," he said."You don't have to bowl those big, long spells. We can have short, sharp cracks at it - and it gives us more chance to stay at top pace."He also believes Australia were rewarded for bowling a fuller length than England."As you've seen tonight, when we've pitched the ball up we've had success ... getting the edges and making th

Ashes 2010: Third test scorecard

Birmingham Mail — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 13:50:00 GMT

The battle for the Ashes intensified on a day of vicious swing, and even more hot air, at the WACA.