The Ashes

There had already been a few 'can't believe I'm actually here' moments on this trip - the Sydney Opera House first coming into view, New Year's Eve fireworks - but nothing that compared to how astonishing it felt on Sunday to be at the Sydney Cricket Ground for an Ashes Test. I followed all nine 2013 Ashes Tests closely, so to watch the third (and final) day of the fifth test live was just amazing.

I bought the cheapest ticket at the reasonable price of $60 (just over £30) so I expected to be sitting up in the stratosphere with the ball a tiny pixel. But I had lucked out and found myself just twelve rows from the front, behind long-off. It was a fantastic seat. 42,000 were packed into the SCG (the majority wearing pink for Jane McGrath day) and the atmosphere was great - every wicket was greeted with uproar and the Barmy Army sung admirably considering the summer they'd had.

I was also in good spirits despite England's pathetic tour. Australia were already leading by over 300 runs going into Sunday so the result was effectively decided already. This meant I could set aside my England allegiance and just enjoy the cricket. And what entertaining cricket it was! 14 wickets, 302 runs, the end of the match, and an abundance of memorable moments: Chris Rogers' century, an acrobatic catch by George Bailey, Michael Carberry's bat snapping like a weak piece of cardboard, a trademark England batting collapse which saw four wickets fall in the first two overs after tea, and explosive going-down-swinging knocks from Stokes and Broad.

A peculiarity about watching cricket live is that the game is about tiny details - a faint knick, a hint of swing - that can't possibly be seen from outside the boundary. This was where the radio commentary came in. At $20, the portable radio device was dreadfully expensive considering how little it would cost to make, but it was certainly worth buying and greatly enhanced my enjoyment of the day, especially as I was unaccompanied. The commentary was a lot like Test Match Special, although not quite as charismatic it did feature TMS stalwart Johnathan Agnew. After spending so much time listening to cricket on the radio over the past six months, sitting just behind the ropes under the sweet Australia sun with the sound of Aggers' quintessentially cricketing voice in my left ear was just fantastic. I witnessed England get whitewashed, but it will surely rank among the best days of my adventure.

A great view at the SCG