Over the last five weeks we have watched five episodes of fluctuating fortune, five Tests full of debacles, despair and destruction, with the odd personal triumph and victory thrown in to cheer us up and keep us interested.

To most British fans, the long Test series is as part of cricket as Test cricket itself. It gives the narrative space to unfold, pressure the chance to exert itself, class the time to come good and character the opportunity to out. Ricky Ponting’s explosion on being run out at Trent Bridge in 2005 is a perfect example, a reaction that would not have taken place in a shorter series.

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Up came Ricky Ponting to not-collect the Ashes, and once again we saw the affectionate smile that has had us in danger of liking him all summer. The Oval responded with equal affection. Then Ricky made a reasonable passing remark about the statistics of the series not adding up to the end result. A tremor of boos rippled through the crowd, the last of the series. But when the interview was over it rose to give their pantomime villain a rousing Oval ovation. Ricky was their friend. It was a revealing end to an issue that has left established critics calling the crowd’s treatment of Australia’s captain “nasty”. Was it really ever so?

The Australian squad that came to these shores this year was full of names unknown to much of the British public. Yes, there was Katich, there was Clarke, both of whom were here in 2005. But Ricky was the only personality imprinted on the minds of everyone who was taken by 2005. He was the name with which the public could tap into this unfamiliar group of Aussies.

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Those Ashes Celebrations In Full

ANDREW STRAUSS: Busy night for the young dad skipper: doing up shoelaces, wiping noses, checking everyone had been for a wee. Surely it’s now time that other batsmen took some responsibility with their preparations for a night out?

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