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England win back The Ashes

Author: Rose Young
Date: 25/08/2009
Cricket betting

England have retained The Ashes! After yet another series of ups and downs between the two fierce foes, the little urn has returned to its rightful home and it was a great sight watching on as captain Andrew Strauss held the coveted prize aloft at The Oval on Sunday.

Now that the dust has settled, we look at some of the pivotal moments during the series and how the pendulum swung to and fro before eventually bringing success for England.

First Test - Cardiff - After England posted what looked like a competitive total of 435 in their first innings, Ricky Ponting's men smashed a massive 674-6 before declaring.

England's second innings started dreadfully when they lost two early wickets at the end of day four.

Many people made the mistake of thinking the tourists would make light work of finishing the job off but, after solid resistance from Paul Collingwood, the final pair of James Anderson and Monty Panesar somehow managed to survive the final 69 balls to salvage a miraculous draw.

Second Test - Lord's - Again England posted a respectable score of 425 before lunch on day two and, by the end of the Test's fourth session, England had the Australians rocking on 22-2.

By the end of the day, Anderson had ripped through the Aussies' middle order, taking four wickets as the tourists ended on 156-8.

Day three saw England firmly in the driving seat and they eventually declared on day four leaving the visitors chasing 521 to win.

Andrew Flintoff ripped into the top order and, although Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin offered stern resistance, England sailed into a 1-0 series lead after dismissing Australia for 406 on the morning of day five.

Flintoff took five wickets to get his name on the Lord's honours board on his final Test appearance at the grand old ground.

Third Test - Edgbaston - The first two sessions were lost through rain before Australia scored 263 in their first innings.

England finished day two on 116-2 but day three was a complete wash-out to leave the match meandering towards a draw.

Although England pressed on and put Australia, who have been installed as the online favourites to reclaim The Ashes in 2010-11, back into bat, the tourists held on.

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Fourth Test - Headingley - With Australia gaining some momentum, Strauss won the toss and opted to bat first, a decision he would later regret.

Not long after lunch England were skittled out for 102 and, by the end of day one, Australia had moved on to 196-4.

The tourists continued where they left off and finished day two on 445. England then again started off in disappointing fashion and finished the day on a horrific 82-5.

England held out until day three's second session before their calamitous effort came to an end where they were all-out for 263. Ben Hilfenhaus and Mitchell Johnson found form with the ball as they levelled the series score.

Fifth Test - The Oval - The climax o the series was upon us. England won yet another toss and opted to bat.

Strauss once again looked in imperious form and, by the first session on day two England were dismissed for 332 before Australia started brightly themselves.

However, Stuart Broad produced a match-winning spell, taking 5-19 in 47 balls to help dismiss the tourists for 160. England were in control and set the Australians a mammoth 545 to win.

Ponting and Michael Hussey offered some hope but, once Flintoff had spectacularly run out Ponting, the writing was on the wall.

Wickets started falling at regular intervals and, when Graeme Swann bowled to Hussey, Mr Cricket edged the ball onto his pads for Alastair Cook to take a simple catch and ensure England won by 197 runs to take the series 2-1.

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