At least the end was mercifully quick. As McGrath removed Pietersen in the first over of the day there was never any faint hope of a lead over 150 and a potential banana skin run chase. A few edges and the odd slog from Harmison and the target was only 46 for Australia to chase to win the series 5-0 and repeat the 1920-21 scoreline. McGrath took the last wicket with what would be his last ball in Test cricket.
Harmison and Anderson did their best and Langer wore a Hamison short ball on the chest but the inevitable happened soon after midday. Hayden smacked Mahmood over long on for 6 to level the scores and hit an easy single next ball to win the game. This seemed rather selfish on his part as Langer had apparently never hit the winning runs in a test. It would have taken only one dot to give Langer the strike and let him score the winning runs. But I suppose that's the Aussie way - never give in to emotion, just win the game. Perhaps England should follow the example.

So we now have 3 spare days to kill before our return. Moz has booked up some tours - the Blue Mountains for one. I plan to go to Manly on the ferry one day, and into the blue Mountains by train to the Zig Zag railway tomorrow. It's a preserved steam railway travelling through some spectacular countryside so I should get some good photos. A bit of shopping on our last day on Monday and that's it! Back to damp, cold, dark evenings etc etc. All good things come to an end......................