Geez, three weeks can fly by quickly can't it.
Well here we are, Australia is still number 1, (or is that number one again?) and yet, Australia has lost another dead rubber. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Well in terms of Australian Test Cricket, we turn our attention to England - and the Ashes. The return to English shores after the giddy heights of 2005. Hasn't that time flown.
Since then. England have won pretty much nothing, but Australia have been beaten twice more (India and South Africa). The up coming Ashes promises plenty, but the last one promised little and look what happened.
England are still struggling it's fair to say, being bowled out for 51 by the West Indies surely the low point, but of course the Aussies aren't getting things their own way all the time these days either.
We'll watch with interest how Mike Hussey attempts to fight his way back to the incredibly high benchmarks he has set, whether Mitchell Johnson can continue to emulate Freddy Flintoff, whether Freddy Flintoff can find away to emulate Freddy Flintoff (circa 2005 that is) and whether there will be anymore MBE's for English players. Will Bryce McGain get a chance at atonement after his disasterous and belated Test debut in South Africa? (Please let it be yes!)
Between now and then, the Aussies will play zero days of real cricket which is a concern, reminicent of the beginning of the '05 tour.
Meanwhile in other Test news, New Zealand made a decent fight in the second against India but couldn't turn a huge first innings, into a win - bugger! They're about to start their third Test now - Dan Vetori clearly needs to do more as captain, making 90 odd, then 118, then 54 and bowling a thousand overs is obviously not enough!!
