The Australian press is revelling in the team's Ashes dominance and plenty of space is being devoted to Shane Warne, who signed off his final MCG Test with a man-of-the-match award for his seven wickets. In The Age Greg Baum writes about how he exploited a demoralised England team allowing himself and Glenn McGrath and fine send-off.
On what became his final day at the MCG, Warne made more runs than any of England's XI, which was bowled out for 161. It is doubtful that it would have fared better even if Australia had published its bowling plans in advance, with diagrams and explanatory notes. Few teams in history can have raised expectations and disappointed them on the scale of England this summer.
Meanwhile, Peter Roebuck says the reasons behind England's thumping can be traced back to the huge celebrations that followed the 2005 victory while Australia quickly went back to the drawing board.
In truth, the seeds of England's defeat were planted amid the celebrations that followed victory. Gongs were dished out to every player, a gesture resented by their opponents, books were written, players were wrapped in paeans of praise and an entire nation went into a state of rapture.
And he also saved a few words for Warne…
In 1992-93, Richie Richardson had fallen foul of the delivery. Now a lesser soul, Sajid Mahmood, was equally baffled. Warne had struck again with his flipper. It was not a bad way to say goodbye.
Over in the Indian paper, Mid Day, Terry Jenner gets a lump in his throat as he talks about the retirement of his star pupil and witnessing his 700th Test wicket.
“It (quitting) is sad because we’ve been together for 16 years. Everyday when you wake up, the guy is in your mind for one reason or the other. Today for example, I woke up thinking how he is going to bat.” Wicket No 700 was witnessed by Jenner behind the bowler’s arm at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
