Geez, BIG difference between 2-0 and 1-1. We were 3 runs from basically retaining the Ashes. At 2-0 down, England would have had to win the last 3. Now we're under real pressure.

I don't know about your theory, RN. I reckon the poms would have taken a LOT out of this!!!

Old Trafford is supposed to be a spinning pitch. Normally, they would bring McGill in and only have McGrath and Lee as pace bowlers, but with no McGrath, would they take a risk? Perhaps, Gillespie might get dropped. Or Kasper??? The big difference is we still can't find a genuine all-rounder. If we had someone even remotely like Flintoff, we would be unbeatable. With only 4 bowlers in our team, there's too much pressure on them to get it right.

I reckon the batsmen are the real problem though. If Warne, Lee & Kasprowicz can do so well, what happened to the earlier batsmen? Batting like millionaires and throwing wickets away. Personally, I think Mike Hussey should be in the team for English tests, but he's not even in the squad.