Ashes Quotes: What A Difference A Win Makes (3 January 1999)

3 January 1999

Ashes Quotes: What A Difference A Win Makes

Electronic Telegraph

For this entire Ashes tour the beleaguered England team had been made a laughing stock by the Australian journalists, who are never known to mince their words

'England faced the stinging reality that it no longer deserves a five-Test Ashes series' - Robert Craddock (Adelaide Advertiser)

'No jibe could be too cruel on the various England bowlers who have filled non-specialist batting spots' - Ron Reed (Melbourne Sun Herald)

'The constant failure of the England Test team is not funny anymore. Something serious most be done or soccer will squeeze it into a curious but largely irrelevant sideshow' - Malcolm Conn (The Australian)

But by Tuesday the local media were having to eat a large portion of humble pie:

'England climbed from the canvas to secure a famous victory....Certainly the momentum has turned...Taylor is under pressure for the first time' - Martin Blake under the headline 'The Choke is On Us' (Melbourne Age)

'It was a magnificent victory...The Englishmen hurled themselves at their opponents and did not stop until the day was won' - Peter Roebuck (Sydney Morning Herald)

'The remaining Test in Sydney has been transformed from a lifeless squib to a razor-edged battle. The bulldog bites at last' - Ron Reed (Melbourne Sun Herald)

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)