Next stop Perth

Perth is quite simply one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and holds a special place in my heart as it was my home for 12 years. During that time, albeit my later years at high school and university I was always subjected to the ridicule of being a pom, and our poor sporting heritage.

Australia are a dominant force in any sport and should not be taken lightly, and when we first won the ashes back after an 18-year wait it was every wish come true. The return down under just over a year and a half later could not have been worse. A 5-0 whitewash, an even being safely back in the UK I was still peppered with emails and texts as my Aussie comrades basked in the glory.

This time its turning into a different story, but I am not going to get ahead of myself just yet. The innings and 71 run win in Adelaide was sweet, oh boy was it sweet. I turned off my bedside light the night before hoping to wake to a remarkable win, and it would have been too given what the weather was saying. I stirred in the night enough to put the earphones and radio on to hear the final delivery and impending Siddle wicket!

It almost felt like Christmas come early as I ran downstairs to check the bowling result and impressive statistics, and what a momentous occasion it was. But I refrained from sending a barrage of abuse 12,000 miles away, choosing to sit on that win and wait until the deal has been done.

The Perth test will go one of two ways, either Australia will turn up a different side ready to square the series or England will just once again be too good leaving the old enemy with no answer.

My prediction will be for the later, England are not going to be complacent. A few beers might have been sank after the 2nd test but in no way would they have been celebrating. The job is not yet done and Strauss and co know this. With Broad missing it gives a chance for another top end bowler to make a name for himself, one of Ajmal Shahzad, Chris Tremlett and Tim Bresnan and one hopes that they can fill the void.

Australia have been quite rightly ripped apart by the media sharks who are probably more used to singing the praises of the green and gold army, but not this time. The selectors will no doubt be making wholesale changes… again, in the hope that someone will be able to undo England.

Calls for the legend that is Shane Warne to come back is simply just clutching at the hope it would be the same Warney who bowled that mesmerizing delivery to Gatting all those years ago. I mean why don’t they go the whole hog and bring back Gilchrist, McGrath and Langer.

Either way England will be unfazed by these changes, if anything it will give them a surge of confidence that they have Australia rattled and against the ropes. But you should never under estimate them, they have an exceptional bunch of players and their form could turn at any stage.

An England win would retain the Ashes with two tests to spare, quite a feat on Australian soil. Mervyn Hughes was quoted in a blog as saying that after the draw in the first test Australia deserved to win on points (quite how he worked that one out I don’t know) and that it would be 4-0.

I think his predication might come true, but it won’t be the one he’s hoping for!