I hope, and trust, that the England team and coaching staff won't think job done when (if?!!) this game is won, all the media seem to to be treating it as job done - but surely we don't just want to retain the Ashes, we want to win the series?

Having said that history suggests England might well rest on their laurels, hopefully this time it's different.

I would imagine that if/when we win this test and tie up the Ashes, then it will be highly likely that the Aussies will go into knee-jerk, panic mode for the Sydney test.

I'd expect the likes of Hughes, Smith and Hilfenhaus to be dumped, along with the injured Harris, and even Ponting may not escape the axe....His only saving grace is that there is no obvious man for the skipper's job, so he may just get to see out the series.

Unfortunately for the Aussies, they are desparately lacking in depth at the moment....We'd probably see Katich & Bollinger return and Khawaja and Beer given their chance.

Overall, it'd take an exceptionally complacent England to be beat by whatever they were to bring in.

Back at work after the christmas break tomorrow but will be staying up tonight till whenever the Ashes are back in the bag!

It's been a long time coming and hopefully we'll confirm a series win with another good win in Sydney. I honestly can't see us getting beat in Sydney after we had our usual series blip in Perth so a 3-1 series win is on the cards.

Happy days.

Harris isn't going to bat apparently

Stress fracture of the ankle....He'd have to be barmy to attempt to bat, considering the match situation.

I suppose theres no point really. If they'd have been going into tonights play with the scores around level then he'd obviously have had to go out and give it a go but unless he's been hiding an ability to score a double hundred he may aswell keep his feet up.

He'd only delay our victory for one ball anyway going off this series form

My plan is for us to get a wicket in the first over and wrap it all up in 20-30 mins so I can watch the celebrations and get to bed for a pre work kip.

Sensible not to bat, but it does make it look more like surrender

200-9 and out limps Harris.....It'd look like a lamb to the slaughter.....I'd prefer meek surrender in his shoes...

Can anyone else see the Aussies claiming we only got 19 wickets in this one should they win in Sydney.

Almost there

When Ricky Ponting met Ricky Gervais... twitpic.com/3knyek

When Ricky Ponting met Ricky Gervais... twitpic.com/3knyek

Well, that took a bit longer than expected, good to see Bresnan finish them off.

Congrats England. Ashes retained. Sweet.

I don't like the way the players are talking after that test. Saying the Ashes have been 'won' when in fact they haven't yet. 2-2 in the series would be a poor, poor outcome given the dominance they have enjoyed for large parts of the series.

I really hope they don't waste the opportunity to make it 3-1 and a comprehensive series win. 2-2 wouldn't be a fair reflection of things.