Aussie losing streak is overrrr...

Vaughan's groin injury was a bit of a reprieve for us though, no doubt...



Australia has its swagger back thanks to an awesome performance with the ball and in the field in tonight's 57-run win over England in the tri-series cricket match at the Riverside Ground.

Brett Lee made a brilliant return from injury and Glenn McGrath bowled beautifully as Australia won its first match of the tri-series to overtake Bangladesh on the table and put its Ashes tour back on track after four straight losses.

Chasing 267 to win, England finished on 9-209.

Allrounder Andrew Symonds also got back into his teammates' good books after serving a two-match suspension for drinking into the early hours before last Saturday's loss to Bangladesh.

Man-of-the-match Symonds top scored with 73 from 81 balls in Australia's total of 5-266, and with Damien Martyn (68 not out) put on 142 for the fourth wicket.

Lee and McGrath ensured England was never a chance of reaching the target by restricting the home side to 3-17 after 10 overs with lethal spells of accurate fast bowling.

Lee, who missed last weekend's losses because of shoulder soreness, conceded one run off the bat in his first four overs and claimed England's first wicket, bowling Andrew Strauss for three.

When McGrath dismissed acting England captain Marcus Trescothick and Paul Collingwood for ducks, the home side had lost 3-2 in six balls and the run-chase became a mountain.

Andrew Flintoff (44) and Vikram Solanki (34) steadied with a 79-run stand, but they too departed to catches within three overs and England's chances were finally gone when Kevin Pietersen (19) holed out off Symonds' bowling.

Lee finished with 2-27, McGrath took 2-31 and left-arm wrist spinner Brad Hogg claimed 2-19.

Trescothick led England in place of Michael Vaughan, who had a groin strain.

No.10 Darren Gough top scored for the home team with a career-best 46 not out.

Lee and McGrath bowled very well, no doubt. God alone knows why Trescothick chose to bowl first.

So, the Ozzies lose to Bangladesh, we completely muller Bangladesh, and then the Ozzies pull of a convincing win against England. I suppose it shows this tri-nations thing is more of a contest than you might have expected.

I'm still happy with England's performance to date though.

Gah! We won... doubt I will turn on the ashes and just wait for the nightly update.

May England win at least the first couple of tests. Have the ashes in fact, just make it a competition worth watching, bit of banter and give it a bit of sportsmen like drama.

(No bodyline / underarm bowling etc)