Martin Blake Pakenham UpperToomuc stalwart and a keen supporter of the ‘old country’.By Ian Ferguson
MARTIN Blake, the hardworking secretary of PUT, well remembers revelling in England’s victory at the 2005 Ashes series.
He returned to the land of his birth in that northern summer when the Australians were narrowly defeated in an exciting Test series that brought large crowds flocking back to the game.
Martin said being at a Test ground that summer was like attending a big soccer game.
“It had all the excitement of a divisionone English football game, but none of the nastiness. It convinced me and many others that Test match cricket has no equal,” he said.
Martin well remembers when the pendulum swung towards England in the last series.
“When Glenn McGrath trod on a ball at a practice session just before the second Test started at Edgbaston it was a massive blow to Australia as he had destroyed our batting lineup in the first,” he said.
“England definitely benefited after he struggled with that ankle injury.”
Overall he believes that selfbelief and the brilliant form of Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen were key factors in England’s triumph.
However Martin is less than optimistic that Australia’s old foe will retain the Ashes this summer.
“It’s entirely different conditions out here and England seems to have more injury problems this time,” he said.
He names Shane Warne as representing the greatest threat to England’s chances and rates England’s new captain Flintoff as being the visiting team’s key player.
Martin believes that the Ashes Tests that begin this Thursday in Brisbane, will once more be a fascinating series and he is already planning to be in England again for the 2009 AngloAustralian series.
“Being at Lords for the first time in 2005 was a great thrill and I’d love to return to the home of cricket when the old foes clash again,” he said.
He may persuade a few Yabbies to nip over with him, but in that tour group only Martin Blake will be waving the Union Jack if England triumphs once more.
