Australia v England

A chess match, not a bullfight

Nov 30, 2010: Both sides essentially approached the Brisbane Test defensively, and sound as the reasoning was, it didn't help set pulses racing

Australia v England, 1st Test, Brisbane, 5th day

Strauss lauds Cook's 'special innings'

Nov 29, 2010: Andrew Strauss praised Alastair Cook's double-century as one of the greatest innings in Ashes history, as England closed out the first Test with a monumental batting performance on the final day at the Gabba

Australia v England, 1st Test, Brisbane, 5th day

Ponting unimpressed with technology

Nov 29, 2010: Ricky Ponting called the technology used to rule on disputed low catches "a blight on the game" after his take of Alastair Cook was turned down

Australia v England, 1st Test, Brisbane, 5th day

'The Gabbatoir' no more

Nov 29, 2010: England fear nothing about the challenge that awaits them on this tour. The only way they'll be beaten is on the field, not in the head

Australia v England, 1st Test, Brisbane, 5th day

Records galore

Nov 29, 2010: Stats highlights from a batsman-dominated Test at the Gabba

Australia v England, 1st Test, Brisbane, 5th day

Cooking the books

Nov 29, 2010: ESPNcricinfo presents the Plays of the Day from the fifth day between Australia and England at the Gabba

Australia v England, 1st Test, Brisbane, 5th day

Cheer up Australia, there's always the North star

Nov 29, 2010: With no consideration of reality, Marcus North has already been tipped as a future captain this summer, and this fantasy paints him as Australia's bowling saviour

Protecting poor Mitchell

Nov 29, 2010: Watto and Katto come up with a cunning plan

Australia v England, 1st Test, Brisbane, 5th day

England break records in high-scoring draw

Nov 29, 2010: It was a day for burning up the record books at the Gabba as Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott produced a herculean unbroken stand of 329 to secure a comfortable draw for England

Australia v England, 1st Test, Brisbane, 4th day

'It was very satisfying' - Cook

Nov 28, 2010: If Andrew Strauss's century was an innings that Australia had anticipated on the strength of his performances in England in 2009, then Alastair Cook's personal epic crept up on them via the blind-side

Australia v England, 1st Test, Brisbane, 4th day

Strauss rises to the challenge

Nov 28, 2010: If ever there was a performance that laid bare a visiting team's intentions, it was the one that Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook produced on the most one-sided day of the series so far

Australia v England, first Test, Brisbane, 4th day

Don't forget Adelaide 2006

Nov 28, 2010: There's still hope left for Australia in this Test. If only they had the passion of a beach-ball hating senior citizen

Australia v England, 1st Test, Brisbane, 4th day

Watson bemoans collective failure

Nov 28, 2010: Shane Watson says all of the Australian bowlers should be blamed for the side's lack of penetration on the fourth day as England stormed back into the opening Test.

Australia v England, 1st Test, Brisbane, 4th day

Struggles continue for demoralised Johnson

Nov 28, 2010: Great teams have bowlers who can wrench a handful of breakthroughs on extremely tough days, but "Johnson's attack" is not at that level

Australia v England, 1st Test, Brisbane, 4th day

Hobbs and Sutcliffe? No, it's Strauss and Cook

Nov 28, 2010: ESPNcricinfo presents the Plays of the Day from the fourth day between Australia and England at the Gabba

Australia v England, 1st Test, Brisbane, 4th day

Strauss and Cook reignite contest

Nov 28, 2010: If Australia needed any convincing about England's resilience they were given a day-long example as Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook hit magnificent centuries

Australia v England, 1st Test, Brisbane, 3rd day

We're prepared for a dogfight, insists Finn

Nov 27, 2010: Steven Finn marked his first Ashes Test by claiming a career-best 6 for 125, which - as a 21-year-old with just eight months of international experience to his name - is no mean feat whatsoever

Australia v England, 1st Test, Brisbane, 3rd day

England take the hard knocks

Nov 27, 2010: Despite a traumatic third day in the field, England showed that they've got what it takes to fight back, if not right now, then without question as the series wears on

Australia v England, first Test, Brisbane, 3rd day

Capes are back in fashion

Nov 27, 2010: And Tamara's Army is the flavour of the season. Oh and the Ashes are on!

Australia v England, 1st Test, Brisbane, 3rd day

Haddin's best

Nov 27, 2010: If Brad Haddin had settled with a half-century in this innings his contribution still would have glowed. By stretching it so far he delivered the greatest performance of his life