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To recognise the full extent of this achievement it has to be placed into context. This is only the fourth time since 1945 that England have gone to Australia and come away with the Ashes urn. England have lost every Ashes series they have played in Australia since 1986/7, and perhaps most impressive is the turnaround from just four years ago, when England went to Australia and came home having not won a single test match. It is easy to see why people get so cynical about England’s chances in Australia, but the current breed of English players are going about their business in a way that is breathing new life into English cricket. Passion, aggression, ruthlessness, the list could go on. The very same characteristics that were once associated with the great Australian teams of the last thirty years are now being shown by England, and it is very refreshing to see.
With the exception of the first morning in Perth, when England have had the Aussies on the ropes in this series they have kept them there, and the Melbourne test match definitely highlighted that. Having produced a magical performance to bowl the Aussies out for a measly 98 in their first innings, Andrew Strauss and Alistair Cook opened England’s first innings with true English grit and determination, putting on a first wicket partnership of 159 that set the platform for England’s mammoth first innings total of 513. Jonathan Trott’s 168 not out was sensational, an innings of class, hard work and commitment all rolled into one. Instead of complaining and shouting at umpires, maybe Ricky Ponting should take note of the way Trott has played throughout this series and take a few lessons from him to try and rediscover his own form before he is axed as captain.
A moment should also be taken to congratulate Tim Bresnan on his performance in Melbourne. The no frills Yorkshire bowler was brought into this test match to perform the task of pitching the ball up with pace and swing, and that’s exactly what he did. I commented after Perth that England’s bowling was wayward and their lengths were far too short, and by bringing Bresnan into the team for this game, it shows that Andy Flower thought the same. Match figures of 6-75 from 31.4 overs more than justified his inclusion, and it was fitting that it was Bresnan who took the wicket that sealed the match and retained the Ashes.
The final instalment of this series is fast approaching, and England will know that avoiding defeat in Sydney will mean not only retaining the Ashes but winning them outright. Andrew Strauss has called for focus from his men, and he will have a burning desire to take the series 3-1. Strauss and Flower’s team are making history in Australia right now, not only evoking memories 1986 but potentially surpassing them. Sydney will come, but for now, England celebrates.
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