I'm not really sure how to describe the rollercoaster of emotions that I have embraced over the past couple of weeks but words such as jubilation, fear, anxiety, sadness, courage, strength, spirit, belief and triumph probably describe the various states of mind that I have experienced in this short space of time.
It has been some fortnight. We held on in Cardiff thanks to a fantastic rearguard performance by Paul Collingwood and some stoic batting by Jimmy Anderson and Monty Panesar on the final day. Australia will have felt aggrieved that they did not leave Cardiff 1-0 up in the Ashes but we showed some of that British Bulldog tenacity, fought like gladiators and dug in for a draw that felt like a victory to us and must have been hugely demoralising for our visitors from down-under. Anyone who had any doubt about how much the Ashes means to the players and fans simply had to watch the final session as we all sat on the edge of our seats willing Jimmy and Monty to pull us through. Every dot ball was met with a huge cheer from the packed ground and we were all complete emotional wrecks and less a few fingernails by the end of the game.
We would like to have performed better and to have put the Aussies under a bit more pressure but in the end we did not make enough runs in the first innings on a good batting strip and they did not make the same mistake. To be fair, trying to get any movement out of the pitch was like trying to draw water out of a stone and I was shattered having bowled close on 35 overs on an unresponsive pitch. The toll of all the bowling and fielding left me with some serious aches and pains and a bit of swelling and despite the ice baths and rub downs that followed I was still in some pain on Monday.
With the second Test Match at Lord's following so closely we had to monitor how my knee reacted in the next couple of days and following a scan and a few injections I knew that I would be ready for the next Ashes Test Match at the home of cricket. What I also knew was that I could not possibly keep putting my body through the same brutal workloads that Test Match cricket requires of an all rounder and with this in mind I knew that The Ashes would be my farewell to International Test Match Cricket and that I would do everything possible and exert my last drop of energy to make sure that I retired with the Ashes back in their rightful home! The retirement was not something that I simply decided overnight, I spoke to those closest to me and we all agreed that if I wanted to prolong my playing career then this was the most sensible route. Unless you have actually been through the grind of rehab and recovery you could not possibly know the strain it puts on you and those around you. I have obviously had the Ashes as a focal point through my rehab but I have spent so much time in operating theatres, gyms, with physiotherapists and doctors over the past few years that I knew this was the right time for me, my family and my friends and team mates to hang up my boots and what better stage to do it then a massive Test Series against the old Foe.
Once I had announced my retirement I was at complete ease with myself and could focus 100% on the task at hand - beating the Aussies at Lord's for the first time since 1934! There is always huge excitement and build up around a Lord's Test and an Ashes one takes the buzz to a totally different level. Do you know that there were MCC members standing in line outside the grace gate from 3.30am on Thurs morning. They do this so that they can get their favourite seat for the day and once the Grace gates open at 9.00am you better watch out - it is like the great migration with herds of members on the charge to mark out their territory for the forthcoming battle!
The Test Match itself was like a fairy tale - win the toss and bat! First job done. Now it was up to us to perform, and perform we did. From the moment that Straussy and Cook walked through the pavilion to a cacophony of noise and started to attack the Australians in a way not seen since Beefy Botham stamped his authority on the game at Headingley in '81 we knew that this could be something fairly special. Strauss held the innings together with a magnificent hundred (he loves batting at Lord's) and we batted around him. We were disappointed not to finish the day a few less wickets down but the conditions got a little overcast late in the afternoon and the ball started to swing which we knew was going to suit our bowlers when they came to bat. The next morning Jimmy Anderson, who is undoubtedly pushing for a move up the order with his Goweresque cover drives, and Graham Onions pushed us past 400 and we knew we had a decent total.
Straussy gave me the new cherry and roared on by another patriotic full house I set about bowling quick and aggressively at the Aussies. I wanted to make Lord's feel anything but the home of cricket and I charged in bowling upwards of 90mph. At the other end Jimmy was swinging it at good pace and we soon had the Aussies in trouble at 10 for 2 with both Hughes and Ponting back in the hut! Katich and Hussey then put up some good resistance before Broady took a magnificent catch to get rid of Katich and I bowled Hussey with an absolute beauty that hit the top of off stump. What followed was a Aussie collapse and a huge first innings lead! We decided not to enforce the follow on as conditions had improved and there was a lot of time left in the match. We again batted aggressively in the second innings, Matt Prior's knock was a little gem, and declared with a lead of over 500.
Again we tore into the Australian top order and soon had them 128-5. However, this is Australia and they do not go down without a fight, what followed was a fantastic partnership between Clarke and Haddin which left them 313-6 overnight still needing over 200 runs for an improbable victory. There was some nervousness amongst our spectators but the team were all delighted with the days play - if you had given us 5 wickets we would have taken it. The next morning I charged and got Haddin with my fourth ball of the day - it was then that I told Straussy that he would not be getting the ball out of my hand until we had taken the final Australian wicket. I ended up with what us bowlers call a 'Michelle' (Pheiffer) and my name for the first time on the Lord's honours bowling board for taking 5 wickets. We celebrated as a team and now we look forward to another tight match when we travel to Edgbaston next week, the ground on which we won by only 2 runs in one of the tightest test matches I have ever played in. I love Edgbaston and the fans really get into the game - I can't wait to commence battle again.
Unfortunately you will have no doubt heard that KP is out of the rest of the Ashes series with an Achilles injury that has been tormenting him for some time now. My heart goes out to him as I know how much the Ashes means to him and I have been through my fair share of injuries. He will be hugely missed but whomever comes into the team will be coming into a close knit unit and will be ready to fire come Birmingham.
Away from the cricket we had a huge event at the Hurlingham Club in London on Tuesday night for the launch of the AF Foundation which has been set up by me and my wife, Rachael to raise funds to build, develop and improve child rehabilitation and physiotherapy units throughout the UK. A special mention must go to Rachael who has worked tirelessly to make the event happen and I am also extremely grateful to everyone that supported the event and special thanks should go to Andrew Strauss, Graeme Swann, Shane Warne, Steve Harmison, Ravi Bopara, Jimmy Anderson, Alan Lamb, Lee Westwood, Rory Bremner, Piers Morgan, Razorlight and Tom Chaplin from Keane who all made a huge contribution on the evening. Through the incredible generosity of all in attendance we were able to raise over £250,000
We are now off to Birmingham to start preparing for the 3rd Ashes Test but I will write again when I get a moment.
Bye for now.
Fred
