Today is the start of Andrew Flintoff's fourth-last Test match for England. Let's prepare the testimonials, the eulogies, the merchandise, the 2010 IPL contract. Bugger the Ashes.
It's England versus Australia at the Home of Archery, NW8. England has not won a Test at the HoA for exactly three-quarters of a century, since Hedley Verity took fifteen wickets to give England victory by an innings and 38 runs. England are marking the occasion by dropping their current left-arm spinner, Monty Panesar, from the eleven to bring more Onions into the mix.
Can Ricky Ponting establish his reputation as the Grumpiest Australian Captain of all time? Or will he be satisfied with completing his portfolio of George W Bush facial expressions?
Live scores at a myriad of places, but let me recommend the guys I worked for during the Ashes of 01, now morphed into ESPN Cricinfo. Plenty of interesting live text and blogging, though most of the majors spend too much time pretending to be talk-back radio. Nonetheless, The Guardian is King, or, being editorially republican, should I say President...
But for mine, I'll see you on Twitter - hashtag #ashes