Onthe homefront, Newt Gingrich, baskinginthe afterglow ofhisbigvictory, kept up thewitheringpersonalattacks that hadprovedsosuccessful in the campaign.
With a number of players on both sides looking rusty in terms of adapting to the skills required for 50-over cricket, Watson got Australia on thefront foot in the seven-match ODI series after the disappointment of losing a first Ashes campaign at home since 1986-87.