UK Tabloid Talk 24/8

Kevin Pietersen and Michael Clarke liven The Oval with spiky exchange
by Andy Wilson, The Guardian
Michael Clarke and Kevin Pietersen engaged in the most prolonged and visible on-field exchanges of the Ashes series as a soporific afternoon session sprung to life shortly before tea.

KP in war of words with skipper Clarke: 'You're captain... no one likes you'
by Lawrence Booth, The Daily Mail
Australia's concerted effort to unsettle England with a war of words continued as both Shane Watson and Michael Clarke got stuck into Kevin Pietersen.

Spat between Kevin Pietersen and Michael Clarke lightens up torpid day
by Mike Atherton, The Times
At lunchtime yesterday, Kevin Pietersen was presented with a miniature silver bat by the ECB in recognition of becoming England’s highest run-scorer in international cricket. The sight of Pietersen at the Kia Oval always recalls the 2005 series, his magnificent duel with Brett Lee and the delicious tension that was dissipated by his brilliant hundred.

Ashes 2013: Michael Clarke loses his cool in verbal spat with Kevin Pietersen as Australia frustrations simmer
by Nick Hoult, The Telegraph
Australia's frustration at England's attempt to save the fifth Investec Ashes Test flared up into a verbal spat between Michael Clarke and Kevin Pietersen on the third day at The Kia Oval.

The Ashes: Sledging's late arrival sets tone for a bitter winter Down Under
by Paul Hayward, The Telegraph
Kevin Pietersen was slow with his bat and quick with his mouth when Australia tried to portray him as a pariah in this England side.

Ashes 2013: Ryan Harris has become Australia’s main man for home series
by John Townsend, The Independent
Australia will spend the next three months trusting that Ryan Harris remains at peak fitness as they seek what they have termed “payback” in the return Ashes series.

England's Root and Pietersen hit 50s as final Ashes Test plods towards a draw
by Dean Wilson, The Daily Mirror
England chose the scene of thrilling Test finales to grind Australian hopes of a consolation victory into the dust with brutal cussedness.

England's Ashes success is being sealed with the efficiency of 'boring boring Arsenal' rather than the swagger of Barcelona
by Paul Newman, The Daily Mail
One big five-day Oval party to celebrate England’s emphatic Ashes victory without the tensions of a series still up for grabs? Hardly. Put the open top bus parade on hold. This final Investec Test has been more like a giant wake.

Ashes 2013: Jonathan Trott’s first two hours yielded 15 runs – it was like going 30 on the motorway
by Kevin Garside, The Independent
This was recidivist stuff from England, 50 shades of grim on an even track.

Nathan Lyon on top in battle of wits with Kevin Pietersen
by Richard Hobson, The Times
The respect of Kevin Pietersen is rather less tangible than wickets, averages and little old urns, but Nathan Lyon is entitled to treasure it as one of the hardest-won trophies for any spin bowler in world cricket.

Ashes 2013: Joe Root admits that if all teams scored slowly ‘no-one would watch’
by Stephen Brenkley, The Independent
England grudgingly conceded last night that they had an obligation to the paying spectator. Such a notion looked as though it had never entered their collective psyches as they spent the third day of the fifth Test tootling along at barely two runs an over.