This was the 13th time the "old enemies" have met in combat - the scores have been decidedly Australia's way in recent years, but the hope was that the Poms would make this year a real challenge. Unfortunately the weather started out miserably, fairly bucketing down in Parker in the morning - and the turnout was certainly affected by this. After much deliberation and a sudden improvement in the weather, two "teams" were assembed and the match began in earnest at around 11:45 - about an hour later than planned.

The Aussies won the toss and sent the Poms into bat. Matt Richards immediately proceeded to demonstrate his mastery of the art of fast bowling (superbly supported by Simon Morwood at the other end) and the Poms quickly lost 4 wickets for 12 runs. Dave Molineux (the Pommie captain) heroically tried to steady the ship with a classy 23 runs, but the end of the innings arrived with a mere 85 runs on the board. Of those, the top scorer was a strange over-weight eunuch named Sundries (wides and no balls - get it?) who accounted for 24 runs. Bowling figures are a little hazy, but best guess is that Matt Richards took 3 wickets, Steve Smith took 1 (off his first full-toss), Simon Morwood got 2, Steve Spry also got 2, Charles Richards took the obligatory "captain's wicket" and Theo Agelopoulos got the other one - although I wish he hadn't, as then I wouldn't have had to type his name. Apologies for any errors or omissions, but some serious thirst-quenching all round may have blurred reality somewhat. And I don't have the scorebook either.... :-)

After skarfing down some perfectly cooked hot dogs (a la "KB", BBQ chef to the stars), the Aussie team geared up to attack the total - with a wary eye on the darkening skies and approaching storms. John Cuddihy opened the batting and assembled 34 runs before being dubiously adjudged LBW - quite an interesting feat when you're halfway down the pitch. Anyway, that didn't dent the Aussies much at all - who only lost 2 wickets before Simon Morwood put paid to the Poms with some aggressive stroke-play in the 13th over. Just as well, as Steve Smith had been sent in to help and got away with only facing a single ball from the Mahesh Express, and was happy to "run" the last 9 needed for victory. Regardless, an 8-wicket win to the blokes in gold - yet another sterling display of patriotic fervor coupled with superior skill (jeez, what journalism school did this wally go to?).

After a suitably moving presentation ceremony and photo-op, the lads settled in for a quick slurp or two, then the skies opened up and lots of mad rushing around ensued. In other words, a normal day in the Ashes.