Shouting from the Hop

It's now or never for Steve Harmison (left) and England if they are to hang on to the Ashes they so brilliantly won eighteen months ago in England. Going into the third test in Perth, they are two down, with three to play. Lose this one, and the Ashes are gone. Win, and the dream will flicker on to Christmas and Melbourne.

Harmy will be one of skipper Flintoff's prime weapons, if he survives the chop from the selectors. He really hasn't fired in this series, as he didn't four years ago, and he has struggled since "that" first ball in Brisbane.

But Perth should be his most beneficial pitch. Apparently the strip has slowed down a bit, and gives less bounce, but is this Australian gamesmanship? All I remember is England getting beaten in three days (and a bit on some occasions) every time I've been to watch.

Four years ago, it was also the losing Ashes match for the tourists - stuffed by an innings. It was the last test for Alex Tudor too; his second tour down under ending in a bloody mess, as Brett Lee tore a bouncer through his visor and onto his eyebrow. It was the scream that I always remember - never have I heard such like on a cricket pitch before or since. He looked more like a boxer after a fight over the next couple of days back at the Sheraton; eye glued together with sticking plaster plus concussion and all.

Lee's next ball, to last man Harmison (Silverwood was also injured and didn't bother batting), was also a bouncer, and that didn't endear him to anyone. Nasser Hussein backed him after he got a huge amount of stick, but it just wasn't "cricket". It took Lee five balls to get one straight on the stumps, and Harmy duly missed it, was bowled, and waved goodbye to the Urn again.

So will this years test be any different? England just have to play Monty Panesar. Whether he plays instead of Anderson (my choice) or Giles, he is a dangerous bowler. Of course, Australia will probably win the toss on a benign flat track and Monty will take 1-156 or something, but, and it is a big but, if they can bat as well as they did in the first innings at Adelaide, post a big score, then Monty could really be an attacking option with men round the bat on the last couple of days.

I cannot see Engalnd making too many other changes - unless Panesar plays for Giles, then Mahmoud may come in for Anderson. The batting has been OK on occasion, with the openers un-droppable (due to lack of options), and Bell, Pieterson, and Collingwood have all done well. Freddie is due, as is Jones the Glove, where the bounce may be to his liking. Some say Read may take the gloves, but I cannot see that as it would be an admission of failure by the selectors who brought back Jones for the first test.

For Australia, Glenn McGrath (left) and Clarke (S) will trundle all day long, and Lee will bowl as fast as he can. Warney will come on at one end and hope it turns and bounces. With Martyn now retired (rather than be dropped if truth be known), a chink in the Aussie armour may be Voges. I expect him to bat six with Hussey and Clarke (M) moving up the order.

I alway predict defeat for England at the WACA, having seen no other result; whether Flintoff wins the toss and bats, or Ponting bats, I doubt if England can score enough to make much of a game of it. I think the urn has returned sadly.

It's last chance saloon for Freddie's team; the support will be huge once more, and the trumpeter may even be allowed to play. All we can hope is that it isn't the Last Post for England he is sounding when this game comes to a conclusion.