Shane Warne – The glorious leg-spinner. What a way to bid adieu to the Kingdom. This is, in all probability, his last test match on the English soil. What a series he has had with both bat and ball. Yesterday, when England looked to take it away from Australia, he brought them right back into the game twice. First time when he broke the Strauss-Trescothick opening stand and second when he had Strauss – The Century Maker, out towards the end of the day. That wicket brought back Aussie hopes which were taken away by the Flintoff-Strauss Stand.

Andrew Flintoff : Finally we have a genuine all-rounder. What a fine entertainer! I simply love the way he goes about his mission quietly and smiles back at his opponents innocently. I also love the way he looks back at his opponents straight into the eye, it has unnerved them quite a bit.

Andrew Strauss: He got out to a delivery similar to the ball of the century, bowled by the legendary leg-spinner in the second test. He was almost close to being labeled as the spinner’s bunny just the way Daryill Cullinan was. It’s not easy to face the Aussie tongues in the middle and certainly not easy to break the shackles of one’s mind playing against Warne. Cricket as we know is played in the mind too. But he tried and he fought hard. Two centuries in the matches to follow. The second one helped to pull his team out of trouble along with his other namesake. Certainly had a point to prove. 7 centuries in 19 matches is no mean effort.

P.S: This scene was particularly disturbing: No slips when pacers were on. 301/7 scared you to go into a defensive mode? Aussie Captain giving way too much respect to Giles & Jones. What do I make of it?