THE ASHES NOTEBOOK: Hugh Jackman fulfills his dream of watching an Ashes Test and Jimmy Anderson enjoys low-key birthday celebrations

Although play was halted due to rain, it still turned out to be an eventful day as the Ashes drew to a close.

There were also plenty of talking points outside of the action, with a famous actor in attendance.

Mail Sport’s Aadam Patel offers some highlights from Sunday at The Oval.

Superhero fulfills Ashes Test dream

On Sunday, Australian actor Hugh Jackman saw a lifelong dream come true to watch an Ashes Test match live.

Jackman, best known as Wolverine in the X-Men film series, tweeted, “I dreamed of this moment as a kid. Never thought it would happen. If only I could go back in time and tell that skinny little boy… believe it!”

His Instagram story was also valuable, describing the opening delivery of the day as the ‘first pitch’, before sharing a photo describing ‘cricket explained to an overseas visitor’. Cricket Australia’s social media team attempted to interview the 54-year-old, but had no luck.

Australia have bowled just 34 maidens in the 648.5 overs they bowled against England in the series – shattering the record for the fewest maidens bowled in a five Test series.

The previous record was 74 in 1924 when South Africa toured England. In Ashes history, the fewest girls ever bowled in a series before Australia’s 34 were 56. That was during the 1886/87 series, which only had two Tests.

The celebration of Jimmy Anderson’s 41st birthday was relatively low-key, with a birthday card signed by the team handed to him in the dressing room before the game.

Before the rain came, the public serenaded him with birthday songs whenever he stood on the border, while his two daughters, Lola and Ruby, put up a handmade message in the welcome box, where his family sat, that said, “Congratulations on your 41st birthday daddy.’

Anderson hopes he can celebrate in style today, along with the retiring Broad, by winning the final test.

Jimmy Anderson’s 41st birthday celebrations were relatively low-key prior to the game

England’s next test is in Hyderabad in January when they face India in a five match series but it remains to be seen where it will be televised in the UK as the Indian cricket board is known for being late exit from the negotiations.

When England last toured India in 2021, Channel 4 showed Test cricket on terrestrial television for the first time since 2005, but that’s unlikely this time around as the deal was made during the height of the pandemic.

It is expected to be a showdown between Sky and TNT for the rights.

It remains to be seen whether England’s next in India will be shown live in the UK in January