last years ashes a distant battered memory

Australia's savage batting made a mockery of England's mediocre first innings in Perth.
And by losing Andrew Strauss, albeit debatably, the tourists need a cricketing miracle from 19-1, chasing 557 to win the match.
Back in the real world, it's more about trying to hold out for two full days to keep the series alive.
PLAYER OF THE DAY
Three centuries were scored as Australia rattled up 408 runs in only 76 overs.
All were very different with Mike Hussey's a workmanlike affair, Michael Clarke's unbeaten 135 full of youthful enthusiasm and some wonderful strokes and Adam Gilchrist's onslaught a cruel attack on England's bowlers who were wilting at the end of a broiling day in the field.
Clarke's was the best innings of the three, but Gilchrist's attack brightened an afternoon that was reeking of inevitability.
He had one ball from which to score three runs to beat Viv Richards' record century from 56 deliveries, but Matthew Hoggard pushed it wide of the off-stump, and Gilchrist has to make do with only the second fastest century in Test history.
KEY MOMENT
With the day taking such a predictable course, these are thin on the ground.
England needed early wickets, and Matthew Hayden was lucky to survive an lbw appeal from Steve Harmison when he was on 65, and Mike Hussey should have been given out caught at silly-point off Monty Panesar shortly before lunch.
But in the grand scheme of things, these are trifling - England had already blown it in the first innings.
TALKING POINT
Australia's declaration seemed to be a bold move - but it appears to have come about by mistake!
Before they launched their assault, Gilchrist and Clarke tried to get word from the dressing room about the tactics.
They asked, by sign language, whether Ricky Ponting wanted to declare before the close, and the reply was
supposed to be: 'no!' This was misinterpreted to 'yes', and Gilchrist ran amok, presumably to Ponting's
great surprise.
But it was the right thing to do, and an exhausted Andrew Strauss was given out lbw to the
fourth ball of England’s reply.
PROSPECTS FOR DAY FOUR
Weather forecast: fine. Therefore: going, going, gone. Last year's victory is now a distant and battered
memory.

edgbaston was the greatest test ive eva seen neva been so happy after a cricket match(possibly happier after the oval test because we regained the ashes) it had everything tension drama and most of all england won n this test at perth is the complete opposite its heading to be a crushing defeat

ana the edgebaston test waz an absolute legend, on me dvd a watch tht 1 the most

ana watchin it live was quality i wish i was at edgbaston to see it would ov been gr8

aye ana n watch jason gillespies lovley batting stance lol