"Who says cricket is boring? Aussies win in a thriller!"

Thanks for watching and welcome to Part 6 from my self-published book in August 2023, "The Spirit of Cricket".

Please see the link below for the paperback version of this, my fourth self-published book, and three ways in which you could support me and poke the traditional publishers who refused to even read my manuscript!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CF4FRKSH

https://www.patreon.com/TheBlackfordBookClub
https://www.paypal.me/TheBlackfordBookClub
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/steveblackford

Here's an extract from the chapter read in this video, and chapter 12 of a total of 41 from a book I'm immensely proud of:

"After waxing lyrical in yesterday’s diary entry on the majestic bowling skills of Australian captain Pat Cummins I had a hunch he’d feature heavily today, but not to match winning excess and an unbeaten 55 run partnership with his off spin bowler Nathan Lyon. Thrust together at 227–8 as this Test Match took yet another turn as the balance of probable victor swung back in favour of the hosts England, Cummins had a cricketing “life” when on just 7 with Joe Root dropping an incredibly difficult “caught and bowled” chance and straight after the final break for drinks in the entire match, set about a quick chasing down of the remaining 51 runs for victory.

Boundary 6’s and 4’s kicked Joe Root from England’s threadbare bowling attack and suddenly 51 to win became 37 in the blink of an eye. With Lyon chipping in with an invaluable 16 not out, his captain continued to whittle down the required runs to win to 30, to 20 and then into single figures and remarkably, after near on five days and two elongated breaks for adverse weather, all four cricketing results were still possible.

Cummins’ guided “dab” to the boundary was scrambled and fumbled over the rope for the match winning 4 runs needed, and the Australian wheeled away in delight at his team’s achievement, ripping away his batting helmet and throwing his bat into the air before grabbing his loyal off spinning mate and hoisting him high to an Edgbaston sky.

Perceived wisdom has it that England had largely dominated this Test Match and adjudged to be in a winning position throughout the prior four days here, but that’s as incorrect as continually harping on about the wisdom of declaring their 1st innings. These very same people were excitedly saying throughout yesterday that England captain Ben Stokes could, should or might declare his team’s 2nd innings too, but thus is the fickle fate of having an opinion, and such opinions are often shaped by the tension and emotion of the moment. This incredible Test Match has shifted constantly with the sands of time and every time a team has seeming control of the destiny of the match, their opposition has retorted with a gutsy innings (see Usman Khawaja yet again today and especially his captain Pat Cummins) or the never say die spirit in the bowling exploits of Stuart Broad or his captain Ben Stokes.

I’ve had Australia slightly in front of the game since the end of Day 2 and even in spite of their overnight position last evening and still needing 174 runs to win with only 7 wickets remaining. In line with the match as a whole, I still had the Aussies as favourites at the Tea Break even after the loss of the priceless wicket of Travis Head and still needing 98 runs to win with now only 5 wickets remaining. Then came the twist in favour of England as Stokes finally dismissed Usman Khawaja (who’s batted every day) before Joe Root brilliantly snaffled a bullet of a return catch from Alex Carey.

With 54 runs still needed and only Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood to assist him, the Aussie skipper wrestled back control of the match straight after the drinks break and the countdown to ultimate victory had begun, and a victory that could prove incredibly vital come 6 weeks time and the end of an Ashes series that is already bubbling with astounding sporting drama".

Thanks for watching!