I thought I’d spend the early part of next week getting very excited about the final Ashes Test between England and Australia at The Oval.

From the start of the summer, I’d expected it to be the decider but, of course, England have already done the business and won back the famous old urn.

It’s been a wonderful summer for the national side but, just like in the football, they were the greatest side ever after the opening win at Cardiff and the worst side ever after they were thumped at Lord’s.

And that was all in the space of a couple of weeks!

I was delighted for Stuart Broad to take his eight-for in the opening innings of what proved the series-clinching Test at Trent Bridge, because it will go down among the most magical moments in English cricket.

Everything that first morning went right for the bowlers, the fielders and the team in general and, as a professional sportsman, those instances where you are in the ‘zone’, as it is known, come along all too rarely.

I think the whole country was in the ‘zone’ that morning as it became a wonderful, wonderful celebration and it’s one that cricket fans will certainly remember for a long, long time.

My only slight disappointment was that Broad’s heroics put my wager back in the melting pot, as I’ve backed Mitchell Starc to be the leading wicket-taker in the series.

Starc did me proud, however, by taking a six-for himself, so my money hasn’t yet been lost.

Going into the final Test, Broad has 21 wickets to Starc’s 18, so I’m just hoping the Aussie paceman can make up the difference while not taking the edge off England’s deserved celebrations.