Burnt wood

How can a genuine cricket lover not be deeply saddened by South Africa's most unfortunate and untimely win against England in Cape Town? After the mighty English were cruelly denied victory in the previous Test at Durban, it was just unthinkable that once again the Gods would conspire such ...

After all, England have been the most improved team in the last year ... think Steve Harmison, say Freddie Flintoff. And, for once, instead of cringing in their flannels, they have been shouting from the rooftops to anyone who may listen, "Bring on the Ashes!"

If only they went into the Ashes, still six months away, with an unblemished, untarnished record, roaring past every team but Australia ... if only they could claim they were the second best team in the world when the first ball of the 2005 Ashes were sent down in England ...

... then the fall would have been so much harder, so much more spectacular.

At least two Australians have said they never want to be part of an Australian team that presided over a series loss to England. One is Shane Warne. The other Adam Gilchrist. And people still think England will win the Ashes?