At the turn of the century, when T20 and franchise cricket had still not taken root, the joys of cricket had to be derived from the limited opportunities offered by a sparsely populated calendar.
Waiting for months to see your favourite players on the TV was quite normal. So every match carried that much more weight and matches lingered in the memory for a lot longer.
While nostalgia tints many memories from years gone by, the 2005 Ashes is unquestionably the gold standard of cricket, possibly the highest level 22 cricketers have ever collectively reached over a prolonged battle.
Most cricket fans vividly remember Brett Lee hunched over after a heart-breaking defeat in the 2005 Edgbaston Test, with Andrew Flintoff consoling him. Those watching the match at that time knew they were witnessing history unfold in front of them.
England, after losing the first Test, went on to win the Ashes 2-1 against one of the greatest Test teams of all time.
After two decades, the landscape has changed but Australia hold the upper hand, having retained the urn for a decade both home and away. But this time, there is a faint hope that England could flip the script and conjure the same magic that the great team of 2005 did.
Australia’s veterans against England’s challengers
Back in 2005, Australia were the leaders of the Test format and had the greatest bowling attack in the game, while England were on their way up while also having some amazing talent.
However, for Australia, the cracks have started to appear. With captain Pat Cummins injured, they have lost arguably their biggest player for the opening match. The core of their Test team, including Smith, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja and Nathan Lyon, are on the wrong side of 30 and possibly on their final stretch in the five-day format.
One more injury, especially in their bowling attack, and Australia will be scrambling for cover. Especially because England have a sensational pack of fast bowlers, like the 2005 side did.
Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue and Stokes himself offer the possibility of the same sustained menace that Flintoff and Co did. Australia batters could be in for a thorough interrogation.
Stokes’ Flintoff moment
Back then, Flintoff was the player who did it all – bowl hostile spells, bat the team out of trouble and lift the level of his teammates. England captain Stokes has taken on the role wholeheartedly, sidelining other formats to make sure his mind and body are completely focused on delivering with bat, ball and in the field in Tests.
In the recent home series against India, Stokes pushed his body to breaking point trying to secure victory in the fourth Test. A century and six wickets in Manchester still wasn’t enough as India held on for a draw, and then won the fifth Test – which Stokes missed through injury – to level the series. Stokes finished the series with over 300 runs and 17 wickets.
Admittedly, Stokes has accomplished a lot more than Flintoff – as an ODI and T20 World Cup winner and Ashes hero on multiple occasions. But he still does not have Flintoff’s 2005 moment. At 34 years of age and a growing list of serious injuries, this is the perfect chance against a diminishing Australian side, to have the crowning moment of his glorious career.
Brook’s chance to shine, like KP
Back in 2005, Pietersen was the glue that held England’s batting together as a dynamic, albeit combustible, middle order batter. England vice-captain, and future all-format leader, Harry Brook finds himself in a similar position.
His game is almost exactly like Pietersen’s – attacking, unpredictable and capable of finishing the match in one session.
Against India in the fifth and final Test, Brook smashed a sensational 111 at over a run-a-ball chasing while 374 to almost pull of an incredible win. He got out with a little over 50 runs needed and with six wickets in hand. That England lost from that position does not take anything away from the brilliance Brook is capable of.
England have other batters as well who can take the game away from the opposition. Ben Duckett is an all-format star while Joe Root is marching towards the all-time highest runs tally. Australia have Smith and Travis Head.
All of which leads to the belief that this time, England’s young hopefuls have more than a decent shot against Australia’s great but weakening team. Just like in 2005.
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 3 (Sterling 46', De Bruyne 65', Gundogan 70')
Aston Villa 0
Red card: Fernandinho (Manchester City)
Man of the Match: Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
Banthology: Stories from Unwanted Nations
Edited by Sarah Cleave, Comma Press
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The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 502hp at 7,600rpm
Torque: 637Nm at 5,150rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: from Dh317,671
On sale: now
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Company profile
Name: Oulo.com
Founder: Kamal Nazha
Based: Dubai
Founded: 2020
Number of employees: 5
Sector: Technology
Funding: $450,000
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
