Australia have treated England like peas on a dinner plate. In the field they were pushed around, squeezed and skewered before Ricky Ponting eventually decided to end his batsmen's meal. Then it was Glenn McGrath who picked up the fork

Peter English with some behind-the-scenes action from the second day of the Brisbane Test

Ricky Ponting doesn't want anybody to look too deeply into the exuberant celebration for his 32nd Test century

Ricky Ponting doesn't want anybody to look too deeply into the exuberant celebration for his 32nd Test century

It may not have been as bad as it could have been but England can't afford too man more days like Flintoff and Co. experienced at Brisbane on Thursday

The local slogan for the Ashes is "It's definitely on!" Finally, after 15 months of build-up, it's definitely here

Michael Clarke has grown up and is ready to seize his chance, writes Peter English

The pressure of the Ashes is not showing on Adam Gilchrist. Two night from the toss Gilchrist laughed at his misfortune against England in 2005 and spoke of the unusual "new challenge" Australia face

Shaun Tait expects the next couple of days to count for little, Mitchell Johnson doesn't plan to lift his training intensity above the usual level and Stuart Clark is pretty happy to be in Brisbane after his thigh injury recovered ahead of schedule

Shane Watson has been ruled out of the Brisbane Test aand will be replaced in the Australian squad by Michael Clarke

Australia's selectors have unveiled their forceful plans to liberate the Ashes urn

Australia's three selectors will debate the first-Test squad in Melbourne over two days in one of the most difficult choices of their tenures

It was strange to watch Matthew Hayden become overwhelmed and a little teary at the launch of his second eponymous cookbook

At the Bradman Oration in Brisbane last Friday Bill Brown's 94-year-old charm again showcased him as Australian cricket's greatest living treasure

Many things make Australian teams such dominant outfits, but the knowledge they can win from virtually any position is one of the most devastating characteristics

Given New Zealand's desire to step up whenever Ricky Ponting's men arrive, it was a meek surrender of the top order in a showpiece match as Australia reached their first Champions Trophy final

Matthew Hayden is certain his recovery from a broken finger and a dog bite will not disrupt his preparations for the Ashes

Damien Martyn hardly ever looks ruffled. Not when arching his back leg to dissect two gullies or when sipping a freshly ordered coffee. Not even when answering his thousandth question about the 1993-94 SCG Test

Three of Australia's headaches eased as they dumped the hosts and moved into Wednesday's semi-final against New Zealand

Instead of Ricky Ponting and Glenn McGrath arm-wrestling with Andrew Flintoff, Kevin Pietersen and Steve Harmison for mythical points ahead of the Ashes, the main men were mostly overshadowed by youthful figures who played no part in the 2005 campaign