“People have gone down different routes in life but as soon as you see each other again there’s just that smile, that’s all you have to do,” says Simon Jones, the former England fast bowler. “You know what it was like. You were part of a special team which did something extraordinary. And it will be with you until the day you die.”
Sitting back in his seat in a booth at a hotel in Cardiff, Jones is speaking about the Ashes of 2005 and his memories of a series which defined him in more ways than one. It is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest ever, in which fortunes ebbed and flowed, where the drama and tension were unceasing and individual heroics abounded. England came from behind to secure a scarcely conceivable 2-1 series win against what was recognised as one of the great Australia teams.
It was a highly charged period between July and September which had the country fixated. The series dominated the front and back pages of newspapers and radio and television bulletins. Besides the heroics of the likes of Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen, Jones’s vital contribution is sometimes overlooked.
For Jones, who thought that Australia initially lacked respect for and underestimated England, it was a bittersweet experience. Proving a master of reverse swing bowling, Jones took 18 wickets – including a series best 6-53 at Old Trafford - before injury floored him during the fourth Test. That proved to be his final England appearance.
With the latest iteration of international cricket’s deepest rivalry starting on Friday at Edgbaston, an intimidating arena for any visiting team as Jones remembers, his sense of anticipation is evident.
“The series in 2005 has a special place for me. As a sports person you want to test yourself against the best to see how good you are. I felt that I had missed out on a massive opportunity in 2002 when I tore my cruciate. When the opportunity came round again I was so excited.
“We were in a good place because we had beaten New Zealand, West Indies South Africa and Bangladesh. The team was balanced, it was a special environment, almost like a family.”
He was part of a four-pronged pace attack alongside Flintoff, Mathew Hoggard and Steve Harmison. Ashley Giles provided the spin option. Ranged against them were the likes of Glenn McGrath, who to his eventual chagrin had predicted a 5-0 Aussie whitewash, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz and Shane Warne.
“The good thing about our attack was that we could all contribute at different times. We all had different capabilities, could all bowl at different times of the day. Vaughany [Michael Vaughan, the captain], was licking his lips knowing he had a bowler for every eventuality. It was a great attack to be part of.”
When Australia comfortably won the first Test at Lord’s, many feared the worst. There followed at Edgbaston one of the most gripping Tests of all time. At stumps on Day 3 Australia, chasing 282, were 175-8.
The outcome seemed a formality. “We thought, ‘Great, get a couple of wickets in the morning and then we can go straight on the party,’ “Jones recalls.
If only.
“They showed what they can do and whittled it down slowly but surely. I dropped a catch on the boundary with 15 needed. I just lost it in the crowd. But we escaped by two runs. That levelled the series. If we had gone 2-0 down the series would have been over. Their tails would have been up.
“I was watching it back the other day. It stirred all the old emotions. There was a special bond in that side, the best I have ever been involved in.”
Old Trafford was always a happy hunting ground for Jones. He loved bowling there on the fast track. He took six wickets in the first innings, among them the notable scalps of Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist. In the second he got Michael Clarke with what he stills says is the best ball he ever bowled.
“I bowled him two overs of reverse away swing. I wanted to get him comfortable. He was taking a big step forward every ball and shouldering arms. When you get to that level the batsmen are just so good. You have to play games with them. I had a gut feeling, ‘I’ve got to go inswing here.'"
“The ball came out absolutely perfectly. I couldn’t have bowled it any better. I heard him say, ‘Ah no,’ as it hit the stumps. Then as he came past me I said: 'On your way son', although not as polite as that. Someone asked if they could get the noise of his off stump being hit, as a ring tone!”
With that match drawn, the series moved to Trent Bridge where Jones enjoyed another five for haul in the first innings. Then in the second an old injury flared up.
“At Lord’s I remember running in the first Test from the Nursery End, and heard a massive crack in my right ankle. I thought, ‘That don’t feel right.’ I got through the game. By the time we got to Edgbaston it was still sore so I was given a cortisone injection to calm it down. I got through that Test at 75 to 80 per cent. By the time of the third Test the cortisone had kicked in and I felt better.
“I had a local anaesthetic in that Test from a local doctor at the ground. I think he put too much in. When I was running in, I didn’t know where my foot was. It was like when you’re at the dentist and have a local anaesthetic and it all goes numb. I felt like it was someone else’s leg. I didn’t know where my foot was when I was landing and that scared me. I could easily have gone over on it. I turned to Vaughan and said: ‘I can’t carry on. I can’t feel my leg.’ A scan revealed he had bone spurs and one had broken off.
“I was devastated when I went off and that was it the last Test I ever played.”
Apart from Jones’s unfortunate injury, the match was also notable for accusations of cheating aimed at England. They surfaced when Gary Pratt - the substitute fielding for the injured Jones - ran out Ponting at a crucial juncture. In his frustration, Ponting engaged in a heated exchange with Hoggard and Giles, and then with coach Duncan Fletcher as he entered the pavilion.
“Fletcher was looking down on him and Ponting started effing and jeffing. He thought we were cheating by giving bowlers a breather. Seeing him having a go at Fletch, I thought, ‘They’ve gone here. We’ve got them.’ We were in their heads for most of the series with reverse swing. They just didn’t like it.”
Jones watched the final Test at The Oval from the dressing room. A draw ensured a 2-1 series win and triggered days of celebration. These included an open top bus tour through London, and a visit to No 10 Downing Street.
The comparisons with the 2005 squad and that of 2023 doesn’t stop at the respective coaches – Fletcher and Brendon McCullum, both of whom preach swashbuckling expressive cricket. It is also the relationship they have had and have with their captains, Vaughan in 2005 and Ben Stokes now.
Both believe their approach will future proof the appeal of Test cricket against the onslaught of the limited-overs game.
“They are open minded, not regimented,” Jones explains. “It is almost off the cuff stuff. It is so refreshing. Give someone freedom and they will pay you back. That’s so important for players.”
While England wrestle with their bowling line up, one man who would surely have been playing is Jofra Archer. Like Jones before him, the Barbados-born quick bowler has been plagued by a succession of injuries.
“It’s a huge blow that Jofra is not going to be around,” Jones said. “I know how he feels because I went through a lot of injuries. You feel as if you’re making progress and then you get hit by another setback. It hurts because all you want to do is play the game you love. I think he can come back. He has shown the resilience and hunger to come back before. I love watching that bloke bowl."
One man Jones feels sure will be part of the attack is Stokes.
“I am sure he will be. They’ve been holding him back. They are just being sensible with him by keeping him back for the big games. There’s a huge series coming up. He is a fighter, a grafter. He will do anything for that side. He will bowl 15-over spells at times. It might be to his detriment the next day in terms of how he feels, but he doesn’t care. The team comes first.”
Invariably, a brilliant all-rounder has been at the heart of English Ashes success. Think Ian Botham in 1981, Flintoff in 2005 and now Stokes.
“I see a lot of similarities between Stokes and Freddie, in term of their mentality and being utterly selfless,” Jones, who predicts a 2-1 England success, says.
“You need a big character. The amazing thing about Fred was when he walked on to the field he had a presence. He is a big lad, when he had the ball in his hand or his bat, that presence only increased.
“He was a special cricketer. So is Ben. I watched the innings he played at Headingly in 2019 – 135 not out. I watched that innings and I just thought, ‘How have you done that?’ To keep the strike as much as possible to protect Jack Leach was masterful in itself. But then to open up as he did and win the game was utterly incredible.“
With hindsight, would Jones, who now works in insurance, have changed anything?
“People have asked me would I rather have played 80 Tests and not had ’05. The answer is no. I’d have 2005 every day of the week. We beat probably the best side that has ever lived.”
And he smiles at the memory.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Mobile phone packages comparison
Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199
Teams
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan
Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday
Saint-Etienne v Montpellier (10.45pm)
Saturday
Monaco v Caen (7pm)
Amiens v Bordeaux (10pm)
Angers v Toulouse (10pm)
Metz v Dijon (10pm)
Nantes v Guingamp (10pm)
Rennes v Lille (10pm)
Sunday
Nice v Strasbourg (5pm)
Troyes v Lyon (7pm)
Marseille v Paris Saint-Germain (11pm)
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
The five pillars of Islam
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
Company%20profile
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202-litre%204-cylinder%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E268hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E380Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh208%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hoopla%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDate%20started%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMarch%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Jacqueline%20Perrottet%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2010%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPre-seed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20required%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24500%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries
• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.
• For more information visit the library network's website.
Company Profile
Company name: Yeepeey
Started: Soft launch in November, 2020
Founders: Sagar Chandiramani, Jatin Sharma and Monish Chandiramani
Based: Dubai
Industry: E-grocery
Initial investment: $150,000
Future plan: Raise $1.5m and enter Saudi Arabia next year
Zidane's managerial achievements
La Liga: 2016/17
Spanish Super Cup: 2017
Uefa Champions League: 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18
Uefa Super Cup: 2016, 2017
Fifa Club World Cup: 2016, 2017
EA%20Sports%20FC%2024
%3Cp%3EDeveloper%3A%20EA%20Vancouver%2C%20EA%20Romania%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20EA%20Sports%3Cbr%3EConsoles%3A%20Nintendo%20Switch%2C%20PlayStation%204%26amp%3B5%2C%20PC%20and%20Xbox%20One%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Opening day UAE Premiership fixtures, Friday, September 22:
- Dubai Sports City Eagles v Dubai Exiles
- Dubai Hurricanes v Abu Dhabi Saracens
- Jebel Ali Dragons v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Stormy seas
Weather warnings show that Storm Eunice is soon to make landfall. The videographer and I are scrambling to return to the other side of the Channel before it does. As we race to the port of Calais, I see miles of wire fencing topped with barbed wire all around it, a silent ‘Keep Out’ sign for those who, unlike us, aren’t lucky enough to have the right to move freely and safely across borders.
We set sail on a giant ferry whose length dwarfs the dinghies migrants use by nearly a 100 times. Despite the windy rain lashing at the portholes, we arrive safely in Dover; grateful but acutely aware of the miserable conditions the people we’ve left behind are in and of the privilege of choice.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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Spider-Man%202
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The specs: 2018 Jeep Compass
Price, base: Dh100,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.4L four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 184bhp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 237Nm at 3,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.4L / 100km
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THE LOWDOWN
Photograph
Rating: 4/5
Produced by: Poetic License Motion Pictures; RSVP Movies
Director: Ritesh Batra
Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sanya Malhotra, Farrukh Jaffar, Deepak Chauhan, Vijay Raaz
Federer's 11 Wimbledon finals
2003 Beat Mark Philippoussis
2004 Beat Andy Roddick
2005 Beat Andy Roddick
2006 Beat Rafael Nadal
2007 Beat Rafael Nadal
2008 Lost to Rafael Nadal
2009 Beat Andy Roddick
2012 Beat Andy Murray
2014 Lost to Novak Djokovic
2015 Lost to Novak Djokovic
2017 Beat Marin Cilic
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
European arms
Known EU weapons transfers to Ukraine since the war began: Germany 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles. Luxembourg 100 NLAW anti-tank weapons, jeeps and 15 military tents as well as air transport capacity. Belgium 2,000 machine guns, 3,800 tons of fuel. Netherlands 200 Stinger missiles. Poland 100 mortars, 8 drones, Javelin anti-tank weapons, Grot assault rifles, munitions. Slovakia 12,000 pieces of artillery ammunition, 10 million litres of fuel, 2.4 million litres of aviation fuel and 2 Bozena de-mining systems. Estonia Javelin anti-tank weapons. Latvia Stinger surface to air missiles. Czech Republic machine guns, assault rifles, other light weapons and ammunition worth $8.57 million.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Need to know
The flights: Flydubai flies from Dubai to Kilimanjaro airport via Dar es Salaam from Dh1,619 return including taxes. The trip takes 8 hours.
The trek: Make sure that whatever tour company you select to climb Kilimanjaro, that it is a reputable one. The way to climb successfully would be with experienced guides and porters, from a company committed to quality, safety and an ethical approach to the mountain and its staff. Sonia Nazareth booked a VIP package through Safari Africa. The tour works out to $4,775 (Dh17,538) per person, based on a 4-person booking scheme, for 9 nights on the mountain (including one night before and after the trek at Arusha). The price includes all meals, a head guide, an assistant guide for every 2 trekkers, porters to carry the luggage, a cook and kitchen staff, a dining and mess tent, a sleeping tent set up for 2 persons, a chemical toilet and park entrance fees. The tiny ration of heated water provided for our bath in our makeshift private bathroom stall was the greatest luxury. A standard package, also based on a 4-person booking, works out to $3,050 (Dh11,202) per person.
When to go: You can climb Kili at any time of year, but the best months to ascend are January-February and September-October. Also good are July and August, if you’re tolerant of the colder weather that winter brings.
Do not underestimate the importance of kit. Even if you’re travelling at a relatively pleasant time, be geared up for the cold and the rain.
more from Janine di Giovanni
The specs
Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 180hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 250Nm at 3,00rpm
Transmission: 5-speed sequential auto
Price: From Dh139,995
On sale: now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
