The Ashes - 5th Test - Match Drawn - England win 2013 Ashes 3-0

Australia - 1st Innings - 492/9d (128.5 overs)
England - 1st Innings - 377 (144.4 overs)
Australia - 2nd Innings - 111/6 (23 overs)
England - 2nd Innings - 206/5 (40 overs)

MATCH DRAWN - ENGLAND WIN THE ASHES SERIES 3-0

Although the final test of the 2013 Ashes Series didn't have as much meaning as the others, it certainly did not stop both teams from putting on a vastly entertaining display on the final day of the last test at the Oval.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Australia lost their first wicket early on. David Warner edging the ball into Prior's hands for a routine catch, but Chris Rogers shut up shop and Watson come in and bat. Rogers did eventually get dismissed for 23 when Trott took a good low catch but that didn't affect Watson who continued to bat with confidence and got his century with over one every two balls.

Michael Clarke was dismissed cheaply, which meant Steve Smith came in, batting slightly further up the batting order than normal. However Smith took advantage of this and formed a brilliant pairing with Watson who combined put on a 100+ partnership and put Australia in a healthy position. Smith's fantastic innings was reinforced by the fact he didn't get out, as the lower batting order chipped away a few runs, including 33 for Ryan Harris. It was no doubt though that Watson's innings combined with Smith's fine batting was the reason behind Australia's strong first innings.

Australia declared at 492/9 with an impressive 3.81 per over, James Anderson was again the highlight of England's bowling, taking for wickets for overall figures of 4/95. England started strongly with the bat, Alastair Cook was the first to fall for 25 runs, Joe Root put on a good 68 to take England to 118/2 and Trott and Pietersen continued a slow and steady innings from England to put them on 247/4 at the end of day three.

There was to be no play throughout day four, although that didn't stop both teams putting on an exhilarating final day display at the oval, which ended with drama and set a new record for test match cricket.

Realising that a draw was the likely outcome, Ian Bell's dismissal inspired England's lower batsmen to hit out and attempt to up the run rate and beat the follow on. Graeme Swann put on 34 off 24 as England were bowled out for 377 to give Australia the only option to go back in to bat.

At this point the draw was surely the only outcome but what the fans at the Oval were about to see was pure entertainment that even ODI cricket would be proud of. Australia, instead of batting out the day, decided to attempt the impossible of putting on a few runs in short duration and then try to bowl England out.

Unsurprisingly, Australia's batsmen fell for low figures, with impressive bowling from Broad who took four of the 6 wickets but Clark's unbeaten 28 along with Watson 26 runs helped Australia along to 111/6 in which they decided to declare giving England a target of 227.

In theory this outcome would never have occurred had there been higher stakes to this game but the fans got a final day to almost remember as England got agonisingly close to pulling off a remarkable win.

Joe Root was first to be dismissed for 11 off 17 but Jonathan Trott and Cook put on a good partnership and got the ball rolling in the final innings of the Ashes. England were nearing the 100 mark when Cook was dismissed by lbw from James Faulkner. In came Kevin Pietersen, with the stage practically set for him, this was his ideal situation, runs needed in a short time to get a unbelievable final day win. Himself and Trott combined brilliantly and started to make Australia regret their decision to declare. Both players reached their half centuries. Pietersen batting at a rate of over one a ball and England were nearing their target.

However Pietersen fell after attempting the big shot but the ball falling short to long on, Trott was dismissed shortly after as Faulkner got another lbw to set up a tense finish at the Oval.

England needed 57 runs, with light starting to fade but they were determined to fight on and beat the time, the fans were urging England on, ball by ball to help them across the line, Ian Bell managed 17 off 17 before some fine bowling by Mitchell Starc. Chris Woakes continued to collect the runs as England came within 25 runs of their target.

But with a maximum of five overs left bad light stopped play at the Oval causing a rupture of boos all around the stadium, England couldn't believe it, Clarke was doing everything he could previously to stop play, but even though the laws of the ICC state that when the light meter hits a certain number there can be no more play, common sense could have prevailed and England could have been allowed to perhaps finish the day off in style but it wasn't to be. The 447 scored on day five was a record score for test cricket.

England, despite the drama of the last day, won the 2013 Ashes Series 3-0 and will be brimming with confidence when the go to Australia later in the year.

Gillingham vs Brentford - Priestfield Stadium

On Saturday I went to see Brentford play at Gillingham as a friend of mine supports The Bees and I was invited to go along with him and a few other friends. Although an hour and a half trip, it was well worth the journey as Brentford managed to grab a late equaliser after Adebayo Akinfenwa opened the scoring for Gills.

I must say, it was an interesting away stand, three quarters of the stadium were new and attractive yet our stand in all truthfulness wasn't the best, it didn't help when it rained either as it was an open stand. Yet the weather wasn't going to the ruin the occasion and Brentford started the strongest in what was a close match from start to finish.

However, Akinfenwa opened the scoring for Gills, giving them their first goal of the season when he cleverly put away a half-volley inside the box following a good header back from Danny Kedwell, the ball beating David Button to roll into the bottom left corner.

Although never looking their best, Brentford did hit the woodwork twice in the second half, firstly Adam Foreshaw from just outside the area hitting the post with a fierce strike, then five minutes from time Clayton Donaldson hit the same woodwork after some good attacking play from Shaleum Logan down the left wing.

It seemed as though Gills were going to hang on to all three points and get their first win of the season. It wasn't to be though as five minutes into injury time, Adam Foreshaw's free-kick was brilliantly headed across goal by Harlee Dean and El Alagui managed to squeeze his half-volley into the top left hand corner sending myself, my friends and the rest of the traveling fans crazy.

Final Score - Gillingham 1-1 Brentford

The Ashes - 4th Test - England win by 74 runs

England - 1st Innings - 238 (92 overs)
Australia - 1st Innings - 270 (89.3 overs)
England - 2nd Innings - 330 (95.1 overs)
Australia - 2nd Innings - 224 (68.3 overs)

ENGLAND WIN BY 74 RUNS

England continued their dominance of the 2013 Ashes Series as they beat Australia by 74 runs to make it three wins in four for the hosts.

England won the toss and chose to bat, it is worth noting that neither team after winning the toss has decided to bowl so far throughout the series. The hosts got off to a slow start and Root couldn't find his form from the second test, he went for 16 off 52 balls when Michael Clarke decided to review the initial not out call from Watson's ball that claimed to clip Root and caught behind by Haddin. It turned out a good review, at last for Australia.

Alastair Cook didn't seem affected by the dismissal though as he continued to slowly make his way past the 50 mark. Trott also came very close to his half century but fell one short after the ball clipped his pad and fell to short leg.

Nathan Lyon, who was dropped hours before the first test at Trent Bridge, managed to put together some of his best cricket as he demolished the middle batsmen to take overall figures of 4/42. After Cook's dismissal, England failed to reach a score of over 20 runs with any individual, Matt Prior coming the closest with 17 off 58.

Australia managed to bowl England out for a standard 238, not fantastic but not catastrophic for England but it would have to take someone like Lyon did for Australia to give England the advantage.

Yet it couldn't be any other man than the one that has been involved in the most controversy over the three previous tests, Stuart Broad took figures of 5/71 to dismiss Australia for 270, giving them a 32 run lead.

Chris Rogers was the star of the show amongst the Australian batters as he managed 110 off 250 balls, Shane Watson, who was pushed down the order responded brilliantly with 68, just over one every two balls to give Australia a slight lead with bad light ending day two early.

England's second innings didn't start much better than the first as they found themselves 49/3, Ryan Harris taking the first three wickets, his one on Root was in spectacular fashion. Pietersen adding 44 to the total but once again, potentially the player of the tournament, Ian Bell put on another brilliant century with 113 off 210 before Harris got another wicket. I dont know what was better, Bell's batting or Harris' bowling, he finished with figures of 7/117, a one man show in effect.

Tim Bresnan and Broad also managed to put on some runs to give Australia a target of 299, realistic but tough. They started in superb fashion, Rogers and David Warner putting on a 100 partnership, it looked as though Australia were cruising towards their first win of the series.

England did eventually get their breakthrough as Graeme Swann dismissed Rogers, one away from his half century as he looked to continue his fine batting from the first innings. Khawaja put on 21 to put Australia on 147/2, almost halfway there with plenty of time left and 8 wickets to spare. David Warner did finally go when Prior's catch off Bresnan ended Warner's innings at 71 off 113 balls. Michael Clarke also put on an identical score to Khawaja before he himself was dismissed by Broad.

Then came the demolishing. Stuart Broad playing some of his best cricket at test level, Australia were batting well up to this point, they were comfortable, but Broad took five out of the last six wickets as Australia's batting fell apart completely. They managed just 7 runs between four batsmen and only 57 runs from when they were three wickets down to the last wicket.

On a day that looked like Australia may have got their first test victory of the series, none other than Stuart Broad, surrounded by controversy in the first test, disheveled Australia's batsmen to give England a 3-0 lead going into the final test.

The Ashes - 3rd Test - Match drawn as England retain the Ashes

England - 1st Innings - 368 (139.3 overs)
Australia - 1st Innings - 527/7d (146 overs)
England - 2nd Innings - 37/3 (20.3 overs)
Australia - 2nd Innings - 172/7d (36 overs)

PLAY ABANDONED - MATCH DRAWN

ENGLAND RETAIN THE ASHES

The third Ashes test at Old Trafford may have been a rainy occasion but it was not going to spoil England's mood as they held out for a draw thanks to the rain to retain the Ashes series.

For the first time in the 2013 series Australia won the toss and decided to bat, Australia, with a heavy weight on their shoulders knowing that if they did not win this test England would retain the Ashes, seemed relaxed and confident with the bat. England failed to break them down and the 50 partnership between Watson and Rogers reinforced this early dominance. Although playing slow, Watson was happy to pluck away a single every now and then but he fell to Cook at slip after Tim Bresnan's good length delivery teased Watson and gave England their first wicket.

It was unsurprising that England with the momentum of the Watson wicket, went on to take another when Khawaja fell for just six runs and Rogers good innings came to an end after a big lbw appeal was given out from a full length delivery from Swann. Once again Swann was showing why he is one of the best spinners in the world. But then came that hero that Australia needed in the previous two tests, although his form so far in the series has been questionable, Michael Clarke put on a superb 187, spending just over 7 hours at the crease. He was kindly helped along by Steven Smith who put on a classy 89 to put Australia on the front foot.


After declaring for 527, Australia needed early wickets but were becoming frustrated at being unable to break down England. But after a slight nick from Root that found Haddin, Australia too found that momentum and dismissed Trott and also the night watchmen Bresnan shortly after. However there couldn't be a series where Kevin Pietersen wasn't in the spotlight, after two disappointing tests by his standards, Pietersen had a point to prove, and after getting lucky early on we started to witness the true Kevin Pietersen. He reached 113 before being dismissed, Ian Bell also continued his brilliant form by adding another 60 to the total.

England were eventually bowled out for 368 but the rain spoiled the last two days of play in Manchester and in turn spoiled any chance of Australia pulling off a glorious comeback. They declared for 172 to try and beat the rain and bowl England out and it seemed like a small possibility when Cook was dismissed for a duck, with a poor review to follow. Trott then went cheaply and Pietersen followed but it wasn't enough for Australia who left it too little too late as the match ended a draw and England went on to retain the Ashes.