Summer break

The Steel Daffodil is taking a summer break for a few weeks, but rest assured, all of the usual interests will still be being followed via all modern gadgets!

England v Australia, Day 5, Cardiff

Well what a fantastic finish to a wonderful 5 days!

Firstly, many congratulations to everyone @ Glamorgan who made it such a special occasion. You are a credit to Glamorgan, Cardiff and Wales, reflected in the glowing praise showered upon the club by the international media.

Secondly, the cricket or the 'Great Escape'. A losing draw as club cricketers would call it, but a draw nonetheless and 0-0 in the series.

Thirdly, let's not hide the fact that Australia were a team of better cricketers who played better cricket. England will have to play a lot better to even draw this series, let alone win it, and that starts with certain batsmen.

Finally, it was a week in Cardiff I'll never forget, and one which I never thought I'd see. To be a part of thousands of people strolling through Bute Park towards a Test Match was an absolute priviledge. Fantastic.

England v Australia, Day 4, Cardiff

Another good day of Test Cricket saw Australia pile on the agony for England - a 200 stand for the 6th wicket between Brad Hadin and Marcus North preceded two early wickets in England's innings.

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Start of the day and teams coming out here

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Marcus North passess 100 here

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Brad Haddin's ton here

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Pics

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Brad Haddin drives

Another full house @ Cardiff

Flintoff to Haddin

Panesar to North

Graeme Swann and Ravi Bopara in the field

Swann

Haddin: out for 121

North not out 125

Mitchell Johnson


Johnson to Cook
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Johnson to Strauss
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Hilfenhaus to Strauss
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Test Cricket under floodlights in the UK: another first for Cardiff

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Bopara lbw b Hilfenhaus 1

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England v Australia, Day 3, Cardiff

An Australian batting masterclass on day 3 of the Cardiff test, most notably from captain Ricky Ponting.

Pics

Ricky Ponting and Simon Katich prepare to continue England's punishment

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Panesar to Ponting

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Cardiff: looking magnificent as a Test Match venue

Katich: out at last for 122

The Ponting show goes on...

...up to 150...

...and then out.

The Australian captain taking the applause of the Cardiff pavilion here.

England v Australia, Day 2, Cardiff

England's tail wagged effectively on the 2nd morning, making 435, but the Aussies fought back strongly with some proper Test Match batting.

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Pics

Stuart Broad to Simon Katich

James Anderson to Simon Katich

England's 12th men: Tom Maynard and Nick James of Glamorgan

Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff

Flintoff to Katich

Broad to Ricky Ponting

The England slips

Graeme Swann

Monty Panesar in front of the Grandstand

Ricky Ponting (passing 11,000 Test runs in this innings)

There's some You Tube clips of Broad bowling to Hughes, Swann bowling to Hughes and Katich and Flintoff bowling to Hughes and Katich.

England v Australia, Day 1, Cardiff

So a piece of sporting history was made - Cardiff became the 100th Test Match venue. And what a magnificent occasion it was.

The captain toss the coin amongst the media scrum.

Katherine Jenkins belts out the National Anthem (of Wales)

Australia take the field

Over #1: Mitchell Johnson to Andrew Strauss

Peter Siddle to Ravi Bopara

Mitchell Johnson

Jack Russell

Ben Hilfenhaus

Peter Siddle to Kevin Pietersen

Peter Siddle to Stuart Broad

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And there's an over on you tube here.