What the series defeat means for England

Switch Hit: Will injuries affect their chances on the subcontinent? Plus, we discuss whether heavy scheduling could kill the Ashes

Why Australian batsmen need to go back to the basics

Peter Roebuck: They are struggling because they are caught up in the nonsensical notions of Twenty20 technique

Michael's misery

Ian Chappell: Clarke needs a long innings in the first-class format but captaincy worries and the World Cup prevent him from concentrating on his batting

Switch Hit

England's post-Ashes hangover continues

Switch Hit: More questions than answers for Strauss: is it time for a change in personnel? Plus Dale Steyn on South Africa's World Cup chances

Why Aussie fans are cheering for England

Ian Chappell: It's because the olde enemy could help their side make it to the World Test Championship

Can Australia bounce back?

Switch Hit: After being thrashed a third time, will the Aussies do any better in the shorter form? Plus, we await the verdict on the trio of alleged spot-fixers

You've been triple-whammied

Cricinfo XI: Teams who inflicted three innings losses on their opponents in one series. No prizes for guessing who features most on the list. By Steven Lynch

The hardest yards

Review: The Toughest Tour contains entertaining accounts of post-war Ashes series in Australia written from an unabashed English viewpoint

'The World Cup will decide Ponting's future'

Bowl at Boycs: The highs and lows of 2010, the players to watch out for in 2011 and England's capability in the shorter formats

'He tried to win from the first ball'

Chappell's Ashes Captains: Mark Taylor inherited a successful, talented side from Allan Border and made it better

Ponting's captaincy is over, Australia's turmoil isn't

Ian Chappell: He was often a good captain, sometimes one who tried too hard. He can still play on as a batsman, though

What now for Australia in Sydney?

Switch Hit: England retain the Ashes, and Pup takes over from Punter, but for how long? Plus, India take it down to the wire against the Proteas

'A good captain, a brave captain'

Chappell's Ashes Captains: Mike Gatting made sure everyone knew he was in charge of the England team

'Johnson has the X factor'

Geoffrey Boycott on why the next two Ashes matches will be a test of England's character, the role of TV replays, Sachin's 50th and more

Handbags at Christmas

Rob Steen: Who'll win the Ashes? Join our merry Christmas-time show, featuring two notable personages from the past, to find out

All hail juicy pitches

Peter Roebuck: Australian wickets have been denatured and characterless for far too long. Let's hope Melbourne produces a track like the one in Perth

'Border decided he didn't want to be pushed around'

Chappell's Ashes Captains: Allan Border started out as a reluctant captain but was very successful towards the end

Where'd he come from?

Cricinfo XI: Michael Beer might not have made his Test debut in Perth after all, but there is still a rich history of unexpected selections

Shane Warne

The personification of legspin

Shane Warne, arguably the greatest slow bowler of all time, in Legends of Cricket | Haigh on Warne | Stats analysis

Ponting's captaincy is hurting Australia

Ian Chappell: He's trying too hard to prove he's worthy. When he quits, Haddin might be Australia's best option as a stop-gap leader

'People don't realise how hard winning in Australia is'

Ray Illingworth looks back on leading England to an Ashes win in 1970-71, and dealing with Aussie crowds and umpires

Aussies tip the scales

ESPNcricinfo's Readers' Ashes XI is dominated by Australians but the only current player they put their faith in was Ricky Ponting. By Andrew Miller

Swann owes much to his wilderness years

Swann's time on the sidelines has played a huge role in his transformation and England's recent success story

'Greg's best captaincy came after a bad trot'

Ian Chappell's Ashes captains: Only after struggling with the bat did Greg Chappell realise failing didn't always mean you hadn't tried your best

Are England the new Australia?

Switch Hit: England are riding high with confidence - does pride come before a fall? Plus, is SA v India the real marquee series?

Warnie, your team needs you

Peter English: Not for your legspinning or Poms-aggravating skills but for your headline-grabbing ones. Take the heat off your mates, will ya

The run machines

The List: England are on a hat-trick of 500-plus totals in Tests, India have scored more than 300 in their previous 24 matches. Can both teams continue their consistent form?

The decline and fall of Test cricket

Rahul Bhattacharya: As spectators we are going numb watching dull, futile matches and revelling in the tiny bits of quality on display

Not quite in Warne's footsteps

Cricinfo XI: Eleven Australian spinners who struggled to stand in the shadow of the Great One. By Steven Lynch

From Lord's to Brisbane ... by bike!

Englishman Oli Broom sets out on a cricket adventure, from Lord's to the Gabba on his bicycle

The thirty-year feud

Rewind: In a week where Ian Botham and Ian Chappell had to be prised apart in a car park, Martin Williamson looks back at the 33-year feud between the pair

England, Australia, and the No. 6 slot

The Numbers Game: England's No. 6 has been most prolific in the last two years, but Australia's has struggled. By S Rajesh

The might of the melting pot

Peter Roebuck: England's revival is a result of intelligent use of its natural resources, whether variety within the immigrant community or brains of former captains

Is there any way back for Australia?

Switch Hit: It was a perfect Test for England, they outplayed Australia to banish the demons of 2006 and heap pressure on a beleaguered Ricky Ponting

'Australia have had it'

Bowl at Boycs: Geoff Boycott on Michael Hussey's resurgence, Australia's problems, the India-South Africa Test series and how to play the short ball

'He hated bowlers who gave away easy runs'

Chappell's Ashes Captains: Bill Lawry was very astute when it came to field placings, but he was reluctant to use spinners and he tried not to lose before trying to win

North's form has gone south

Ian Chappell: As has Clarke's. But there's still hope for Australia, thanks to Haddin, Hussey and Watson. If only their bowling attack had a leader