Must be painful having to hold the little urn and force a smile knowing that photo is the closest they will get to it.
It's almost as if he is thinking "Fuck... well the English tabloids won't be blaming Swann, Trott, KP, Prior, or Morgan for this miserable summer, guess it's my turn again". You can almost see Mitchell Johnson in his eyes.
Banter aside, I reckon this series will actually end up far more respectable than the last Ashes and the CWC. In contrast to my thoughts prior to their tour down under, I can't see us winning 5 (we have won our last 8 international matches in a row), nor can I see them losing 5 in favourable conditions.
Factor in English weather and we're likely to see a draw or two.
My prediction
- Australia win the 1st test in Cardiff by plenty, tabloids start writing off England and players get blasted as the 'worst in English history'. Smith and Voges score centuries.
- Out of nowhere England ambush us in the 2nd test at Lord's and look an entirely different team and take the win in a thriller on day 5. Joe Root scores a ton and is MOTM despite a big century for capt. Clarke.
- 3rd test at Edgbaston we dominate play but the weather is on their side and two days of rain ruins any chance of a result. Rogers shows his class and experience with a ton.
- 4th test at Trent Bridge is equally as one-sided as Edgbaston and we win it in 4 days giving the lads a free day to check out Nottingham. Hazlewood earns MOTM honours, Johnson also back to his best.
- 5th and final test at Kennington is a dead rubber to us because we've already retained the Ashes but England are a shattered team and we dominate yet again after Warner get us off to a flyer with a big first innings ton. Haddin, Rogers, Harris, and possibly Clarke, are sent off with a 3-1 series victory and the return of the urn after Johnson rips through the English in both innings.
Man of the series goes to Hazlewood or Voges and Lehmann is nominated for Australian of the Year *.
*absolutely should have happened already.