Peter English

Shane Warne feels like he's had "50 Vodka and Red Bulls" whenever he's walked on to the field during the series, but it won't stop him from waving goodbye at the next Test at Sydney

During the tea break the on-ground entertainment has featured an obstacle race between England and Australian supporters. It has been run each day throughout the series and been more competitive than the Tests

Matthew Hayden equalled Allan Border's 27 centuries on day two at the MCG but he was much happier with the first Test hundred of his old mate Andrew Symonds

Matthew Hayden and Andrew Symonds circled like alpha males when they first met in the Queensland squad. Today they hugged so hard that two animals further down the food chain would have collapsed in the crush

Almost everything Shane Warne touched at the MCG turned to farewell gold, but he didn't quite fulfil his plan to dismiss Andrew Strauss for his 700th wicket. Glenn McGrath asked Warne early in his spell how he was going to dismiss Strauss and the bowler's

Winning the toss and batting on a pitch offering many bowling benefits required far more courage than England have shown on this tour

Peter English on Shane Warne's 700th wicket

The biggest game of the Australian cricket year just got a whole lot bigger

So much for all the talk of carefully planned generational change

A day after refusing to confirm his retirement, Glenn McGrath has decided to walk away after the World Cup

A day after refusing to confirm his retirement, Glenn McGrath is expected to announce his departure date at the MCG

Peter English reviews Australian cricket in 2006

Shane Warne seemed destined to play forever. He was as unlikely to give up Test cricket as he was to rub out his other vices

Shane Warne has announced he will retire after the final match of the Ashes series in Sydney

Shane Warne is expected to announce today he will retire after the final match of the Ashes series in Sydney

Michael Vaughan will not play in the final two Tests of the Ashes series and a decision on whether he will lead England's one-day campaign will be made this week

Duncan Fletcher claims to have the confidence of the England players and will continue to review his position on a six-monthly basis despite the crushing Ashes loss in Perth

Ricky Ponting had just completed the most significant Test victory of his 33-match reign and still he could not escape from his lowest moment as leader

Shane Warne has usually registered his major wicket-taking achievements on overseas tours, but on Boxing Day he will have the chance to raise his 700th Test victim on his home ground in Melbourne

It's Ricky Ponting's birthday on Tuesday and he was planning to stay up till midnight while toasting his Ashes-winning present. "Actually, it's 3 o'clock now so I might not make it," he said. His on-field staying powers are obviously better than his off-f