Roger Aubrey

Ashes to Ashes

Today has been a big day for Cardiff. It was the first occasion ever that a home Ashes cricket test match has been played outside England. And Cardiff was the choice. And I was there. And I will be there again tomorrow (a test match can last up to five days).

Many don't understand the allure of cricket. For those of us who love the game it's just fantastic.

So, my cricket activities will keep me away from the blog until after the weekend. If you don't get cricket, no need to feel sorry for me. I love it.

The greatest of all time

This weekend is the semi finals of the Rugby World Cup. England have somehow limped along and now face France; South Africa will play Argentina. Wales? They were robbed as usual. Here's a clip of what is regarded as the greatest try of all time. It's scored by the one and only Gareth Edwards - the greatest player of all time - and it came in the 1973 game between the Barbarians and the All Blacks. I remember it well. What a game!

I believe in miracles

Saw an amazing miracle on TV last night during the Italy-Ghana match at the World Cup. Vincenzo Iaquinta, the Italian striker, was carried off in absolute agony after a tackle.  I thought he would never play again. But incredibly, seconds later he was back on the pitch running through unhindered to score Italy's second goal. Then he ran like a cheetah for another thirty yards until his team mates clambered on top of him. These footballers - either they move in amazing faith when mortally wounded or are Oscar-worthy actors. Me cynical? How could you ever think that of me!

At the cricket

Spent the afternoon at the cricket - Glamorgan v Hampshire - with James. Our reason for going? Shane Warne! He bowled all afternoon; took four wickets; snapped up a sharp catch in the slips (quite harmless for you non-cricketers); and James got some good shots of him. Beautfiful weather; a chance to be with my son. Perfect afternoon.

England Win the Ashes

Well, they finally did it. After a sixteen year wait, and the greatest Test series in the history of cricket, England regained the Ashes from the fabulous Aussies early this evening. It has been the most amazing summer of cricket that fans, commentators and reporters have ever known. Five pulsating matches between two highly competitive but incredibly sporting teams; four of the five went down to the wire. Great stuff. It was Richie Benaud's last test match commentary in England. And it was the last appearance here of two of the all time greats - Shane Warne and Glen McGrath. Wonderful stuff.

England Ahead

You need a strong heart to follow the Ashes series. The fourth test finished this evening in another amazingly tight finish - England scraped home by three wickets to take a 2-1 lead in the 5 match series. If you have no idea what I'm on about, sorry, but cricket is just a fantastic game.

Awesome All Blacks

Well, the Lions showed more guts in the second Test today, but they failed to get glory, losing 48-18 to an awesome All Blacks team. I have to say it was one of the best performances I have seen from a rugby side in recent years; and Daniel Carter (pictured) had one of the best all round games by an outside half in a long time.

Clive Woodward's tactics and planning - 45 member squad, in which too few players got enough games together; reliance on reputation instead of form; trying to play a smothering game - all have backfired on him. He faces leaving New Zealand with a blackwash of Test defeats. New Zealand gave a lesson in how rugby should be played. It was beautiful to watch.

Lions Mauled

I was just three points out in my calculation: the Lions lost by 18 points - 21:3 to the All Blacks.

What can we say? They were simply not good enough. Now with their captain, Brian O'Driscoll out of the rest of the tour through a dislocated shoulder and low morale creeping through the sqaud, the next week will be a long one.

Here's Jonny

As was widely predicted, Jonny Wilkinson gets the number 12 shirt for the first test against the mighty All Blacks on Saturday. Clive Woodward has pretty much gone with his old England team - eight in the starting lineup, with just four Welshmen and three Irishmen. Wilkinson will play out of position: his 50 caps have all come at outside half. And with Josh Lewsey and Jason Robinson switching positions, the team has an odd look to it.

You can bet your life the New Zealanders will go at Wilkinson; he has been pretty much injured for the past eighteen months. Nothing against him - he's a great player and a nice guy - but one more major injury and his career is over.

My prediction for the game? The All Blacks to win by 15 fifteen points.

Henson proves a point

Once again the Lions struggled today on their New Zealand tour, just about getting the better of Southlands 26-16. The major talking point of course was the performance of Gavin Henson: sensationally overlooked for the forthcoming first test on Saturday, he scored two tries today and was rightly named man of the match.

Who will play number 12 on Saturday? Henson is the best the Lions have - and is world class. It will be interesting to see what's going on in Clive Woodward's brain when he names the man to play in what most pundits thought was Henson's assumed spot. Better get it right Clive.