Until Duncan Fletcher came along in 1999, the England team had some powerful traditions

The first Test took England supporters back to the dark days of the 1990s

Australia had two glaring weaknesses in the last Ashes series: their third seamers and middle-order batsmen

England didn’t deserve to escape from the Gabba with a draw, and when Kevin Pietersen departed in the first over, the last faint hope went with him

Today, for the first time, these two teams looked well-matched

We have been here before

Australia have played the first two days superbly

There are not many conclusions you can draw from one day of a Test series, and the feeling of doom and gloom that has spread over England like one of our clouds is premature

England have just had the first hour from hell

This is it

It's time to pick the old composite team

Many books have been written on the history of the Ashes, but none quite like Stiff Upper Lips and Baggy Green Caps by Simon Briggs

The Australian selectors have decided on their strategy for winning back the Ashes: being more like England

Yesterday England lost their most experienced batsman

Marcus Trescothick has flown home again

England’s winter began, in India, with two bad days followed by a good one

Interest in the Ashes is running so high that England’s opening tour match was shown on television back home

On the field, things are going swimmingly for Australia