Gideon Haigh is often praised not for his ability to write about cricket, but for his ability to write about cricket while referencing symbols from other fields. However, over the length of a book, the constant mentions of The Simpsons or Blackadder soon pall, and describing the England team as being 'as united as the Three Musketeers' seems contrived and awkward.
That is not to say that Haigh isn't as wonderful as everyone says - it's just that he's wonderful for different reasons. For example, the conclusion of Ashes 2005 is concise and beautifully accurate - 'England seemed to want this victory more...they were more dogged, more desperate, more diligent...they did not talk in riddles; their goal was compellingly simple, and individual egos were entirely subordinate to it.'
Ashes 2005 is particularly good on individual players. Despite continually calling him 'Andy' Flintoff, Haigh's portrait of England's talisman is just about perfect - 'some cricketers capabilities fill you with awe; Flintoff makes it look as though you could have a bit of a go at this Test cricket lark yourself'.
But it is Shane Warne, 'Australia's best, last and sometimes only hope', who takes pride of place. Like the rest of us, Haigh is bewitched by the man's abilities. He may be 'a limited man, with limited interests', but 'time and time again he redeemed Australia's cause on his own.' Despite Andy's best efforts, that is the real story of Ashes 2005.
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