HAVING spent so much of the first Ashes Test staring at defeat, England’s dramatic draw against Australia must have seemed almost as good as a win.

Thanks largely to the heroics of Durham’s Paul Collingwood, England escaped getting off to an awful start in the series by the skin of their teeth.

But if we are to build on the great escape, and turn it into triumph, we must do it fairly, without giving Australia the ammunition to whinge.

England’s delaying tactics as James Anderson and Monty Panesar clung on for a draw on Sunday should, of course, be seen in the context of a long history of gamesmanship between England and the Aussies.

Even Australian skipper Ricky Ponting accepted that the result was unaffected by England sending on their 12th man and physio to waste time.

It was hardly a controversy of Bodyline proportions, but it was needless, made England look cheap, and took the shine off a job well done by Collingwood and the tail-enders.

And it may yet backfire with Australia more determined than ever to get one over on the old enemy.

Sad reminder

THIS is a time of year when the world of professional football is at its craziest, with obscene amounts of money being exchanged for the best players – £80m in the case of Ronaldo leaving Manchester United for Real Madrid.

The news that former Wales, Arsenal and Celtic striker John Hartson has testicular cancer, which has spread to the brain, is a timely reminder that good health is priceless.

We wish him well.