What a fantastic end to the Test match summer with England regaining the Ashes in front of another enthusiastic crowd at the Brit Oval. I thought England deserved to edge it in a series between two well-matched teams.
I am obviously biased, but I thought it was a fitting finale to Andrew Flintoff’s Test career. He would have liked to continue playing Test cricket but the injuries he has had in recent years have told him that his body is struggling to cope. Hopefully, his decision will help him prolong his career at one-day and Twenty20 international level.
I was expecting him to have an impact towards the outcome of the final Test, but I wouldn’t have predicted it to come in the form of a run-out. Fred’s throw to dismiss Ricky Ponting broke up an important partnership on that final day and gave England renewed belief at a time when Australia seemed to be growing in self-confidence.
The way that final Test fluctuated mirrored the series as a whole. If you can remember back to that first Test in Cardiff, Australia absolutely dominated it, only for Jimmy Anderson and Monty Panesar to battle out the final 40 minutes and save the game.
That determined performance on the final day provided England with the self-belief to go on and win their first Ashes Test at Lord’s since 1934, with Fred producing another of those spells that lives long in the memory. I remember having dinner with him during the Oval Test in 2005 when he declared that he would bowl and bowl until Australia were all out and I believe a similar thing happened this time at Lord’s.
His unbroken 10-over spell on that final morning had everyone on the edge of their seats and to finish with his first five-wicket haul at Lord’s in his final Test appearance that was a fantastic achievement.
I also thought England had the better of the drawn third Test at Edgbaston, although rain and bad light ended any hopes of a positive result. On this occasion it was Australia’s turn to bounce back and fight hard on the final day to save the match, with Michael Clarke hitting a brilliant century.
Unfortunately Fred was ruled out of the fourth Test at Headingley because of his persistent knee problems, plus a scare over the fitness of wicketkeeper Matt Prior shortly before the start, distracted England because Australia dominated from start to finish to level the series and set up a decider at the Oval.
After England’s performance at Headingley, there were doubts about whether they could lift themselves to claim the victory they required to win the Ashes at the Oval. I think the week off they had inbetween the final two Tests did them the world of good and responded with a much-improved performance in London to win the Ashes.
