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Day One - Edgbaston - Match Scorecard

The English fans began rejoicing this morning even before a ball had been bowled. The ground announcement that Glenn McGrath would be taking no part in the game after he twisted an ankle in the pre-match warm up was greeted with cheers of enthusiasm from the partisan Edgbaston crowd and there was little reason for the celebrating to stop when the players took to the field. The first session of play belonged entirely to the home side.

Depending on your point of view Ricky Ponting’s decision to send England in after winning the toss was either extremely brave or extremely cautious. It certainly wasn't expected.

The optimists argued that it was a positive move intended to reinforce the psychological hold his bowlers had over England's batsmen. The pessimists thought it based more on the freak tornado that soaked Birmingham his rain last week leaving the pitch underdone, even by the groundsman’s own admission. The captain had opted to give the England's batsmen the chance to unearth any surprises the surface might hold.

If that was his reasoning then Ponting would have been extremely disappointed by what he saw. From the very beginning the track played more like Bombay than Britain.

With no McGrath to trouble him, Marcus Trescothick helped himself to some wayward bowling from Brett Lee and some tighter bowling from Jason Gillespie. At the other end, Andrew Strauss also feasted on the Australian attack after he was first given an early life when he was dropped at first slip by Shane Warne, he was four at the time. The England pair batted with such velocity that they brought up 50 runs in only 5.3 overs.

The lack of visible swing or any bounce other than that of the slow and low variety meant that Ponting was forced to bring his leg spinner into the match. Warne came to the bowling crease in just the 14th over of the game and was dispatched over the fence almost immediately by Strauss. Soon afterwards, the South African-born opener was caught at gully by Matthew Hayden off Michael Kaprowicz’s bowling, only for a no ball to be called.

For most of the morning session it seemed nothing could go right for the Australians. Then, with the score on 112, Warne finally made the breakthrough. Strauss’ scalp coming from a leg break that turned from well outside the left-handers off stump back onto the wicket.

The dismissal made little impact on England's scoring rate, with Trescothick and captain Michael Vaughan leaving the field to a standing ovation and a lunchtime total of 1 for 136.

As is often the case, the break brought something of a change in fortune. When the players returned to the field, Trescothick, who until that moment had looked infallible, played at a Kasprowicz delivery that left him from wide outside the off stump and succeeded only in steering the ball into the waiting gloves of Adam Gilchrist. The Somerset man returned to the Pavilion having struck 90 runs of just 102 balls but he must have been kicking himself for not going on with it. Despite averaging 45 in Test cricket, Trescothick has never hit a century against the world champions, his previous highest score being the 76 he made at the same ground in 2001.

The Australian fight back continued as Bell, who barring a second innings miracle looks to have overtaken both Giles and Geraint Jones in the race to be the first selectoral casualty this series, also edged Kasprowicz behind. His captain soon followed him after mistiming a hook off Jason Gillespie's bowling and ballooning it to Brett Lee at fine leg. From their position of strength, England now looked vulnerable at 4 for 187.

Things seemed to be getting even worse for Vaughan’s men. Warne resumed where he had left off in the Lord’s test insofar it came to baffling Andrew Flintoff with his variation. For his first few overs at the crease, the burly all-rounder edged, poked at and mistimed Warne’s leg breaks before finally deciding that the best place to put the ball was into the crowd.

From there the match took another turn. While the Australian bowlers continued to attack so too did the England batsmen.

Flintoff, eyes closed and orthodoxy banished, launched no less than three Brett Lee bouncers over the rope. Such was his willingness to take the Aussies on that his partner Pietersen seemed to go unnoticed. However, when he did, it was for playing the kind of sublime whip through mid-wicket that would have had VVS Laxman knocking on his door for batting lessons.

Finally, Flintoff flashed at a wide ball and was caught behind of Jason Gillespie, the Australian bowler seeming to have regained some of the rhythm he has lacked so far on this tour. When the partnership was broken, England had lifted their score to 290 in only 54.3 overs – Flintoff contributing 68 of them in 62 balls.

Geraint Jones came and went, another caught behind victim of Kaprowicz’s. Meanwhile, Pietersen, with only bowlers left to accompany him, continued to play strokes. However, he was tempted by Brett Lee into one smash too many, his quest for one more six falling short of the boundary and into the waiting hands of Simon Katich.

The last time the England tail batted, they succumbed to Australia's bowlers without a fight or a run between them. But there was no mistaking their resolve today as they followed the lead of their more gifted teammates and continued the attack.

When the final wicket, Matthew Hoggard, fell LBW to a Warne slider, England had struck 407 runs with half an hour's play left. It was the only time since the 1930's that Australia had conceded 400 runs in a day's cricket. However, any chance of taking an Australian early wicket to cap off the day was ruined by a passing shower that brought the players from the field just as the openers marked out their crease.

It was an anti-climactic end to an electric day's cricket – the meaning of which won't be clear until Australia too has batted. Although one thing is obvious already: despite predictions of an Australian romp, we have a contest.

Day Two - Edgbaston - Match Scorecard

England began once more in the ascendancy, capturing the wicket of Matthew Hayden for the first golden duck of his test career in just the second over. The opener struck a good length ball to short cover where Strauss waited in anticipation. At the other end, Harmison gave Langer another working over, hitting the Australian twice in the process.

Australia were already reeling - and but for an accurate throw from Pietersen fielding close on the off-side, Ponting would have been on his way back to the change rooms without scoring. As it was, the speed of Pietersen’s pick up and release meant there was no one backing up the throw and England conceded five runs.

Langer and Ponting steadied the ship with an 88 run partnership, Ponting hitting 61 off just 76 deliveries in a sparkling innings. Jones went for three fours in one over, courtesy of two Ponting straight drives and a full toss despatched through mid-wicket.

Giles caused the batsmen a few problems before Ponting top edged a sweep to a waiting Vaughan at backward square-leg just 27 minutes before lunch. England were back in the hunt at 2 for 88 and despite conceding five an over, were in command of the game.

Martyn joined Langer and looked to be playing the bowlers well until his decision to run a quick single just before lunch backfired. Fielding at mid-on Vaughan picked up the ball in his right hand and aimed at the non-striker's wicket, surprising Martyn who looked to be coasting to the non-striker’s end. The third umpire confirmed the West Australian was short of his ground and at lunch on the second day, Australia were in trouble at 3 for 118, Langer still there on 27 not out.

Australia lost a further two wickets in the mid session on day two, Clarke for 40 and Katich for just four runs. Clarke and Langer put on 76 runs for the fourth wicket, Clarke scoring the majority with another assured knock of 40, before he fell to Ashley Giles at the wicket. The arm-ball did for him and he couldn't resist nudging at the ball outside his off stump. Langer at the other end continued to play a gritty innings, intent on securing one end as Australia fought their way to saving the follow-on.

Katich was the next man in but didn't look confident against Giles or Flintoff and with the score on 208 and the follow-on saved, Katich fell to Flintoff. Jones took his second catch of the match following a slanted delivery across the left-hander's body, Katich could do nothing but gently nudge the ball into the Welshman's gloves. England were well in control.

Gilchrist, quite often Australia's saviour in times of need entered the fray with just 15 minutes before the tea interval. Gilchrist and England will well remember his last knock at Edgbaston in 2001 when he smashed 152 including five sixes. He got off the mark with a marvellous cover drive, Flintoff having pitched the ball up too far, easy runs for a batsman of his calibre.

Langer (72*) and Gilchrist (5*) saw Australia to the interval without the loss of any more wickets. 101 runs were scored and two wickets fell in a very interesting session. England still hold the aces going into the final session of the day, Australia depending on the two recognised batsman to keep the attack at bay.

England applied the pressure in the final session of the day, thanks mainly to Giles who bowled unchanged from one end and a combination of Jones and Flintoff saw Australia falling 99 runs short of England's first innings.
 
Gilchrist was left stranded on 49 as both Gillespie and Kasprowicz were adjudged leg-before by Koertzen in consecutive balls, Flintoff will be bowling his hat-trick ball when the second innings begins. Giles and Flintoff were the pick of the bowlers, both taking three wickets as Australia were bowled out for 308 runs.
 
Warne gifted his wicket to Giles playing a pre meditated slog. Lee didn't hang around to support Gilchrist and despite a stoic knock of seven off 37 deliveries by Gillespie, the writing was on the wall for the tourists.

In reply, England looked composed, Trescothick scoring four boundaries in his undefeated 19 at the close. Strauss who was bowled by Warne in his first innings, suffered the same fate when the magician clean bowled him again, once again pitching the ball in the rough only for it to turn a mile and beat a thrusting pad. Hoggard played out the final four balls of the day, England very well positioned with a healthy 124 run lead and nine wickets remaining.

Day Three - Edgbaston - Match Scorecard

Just when you thought this year's Ashes couldn't get any better, Australia proved why they are the number one ranked team in the game, reducing England to 6 for 95 at lunch. It was a devastating spell from a fired up Brett Lee early on, capturing three key wickets, Shane Warne chipped in with a further two and Australia were well and truly back in the game.

Trescothick wafted to a wide delivery outside the off stump and Gilchrist took the catch behind the stumps, Lee's first victim. it was the 18th time in just 24 innings against Australia the opener has fallen this way. Three balls later, Lee clean bowled Vaughan for a solitary run and it appeared the England captain miss-judged the length of a faster delivery. Curiously as at Lord's to McGrath, Vaughan jumped off the ground as he was beaten all ends up. England rattled at 3 for 29.

With the addition of two runs and 12 balls later, Hoggard gifted Lee's third wicket of the morning to Hayden fielding at gully, his 81st catch for Australia. Pietersen came in and was very fortunate to escape the embarrassment of a first ball duck, Bowden unmoved by the appeal for a caught behind. Tv replays suggested that the ball faintly clipped his glove down leg-side, Pietersen escaping to battle on.

Bell and Pietersen put on 41 before Warne took his revenge following two massive sixes from the South African born Pietersen. In an ironic twist, he was adjudged caught behind by a superb reaction catch but replays this time showed he didn't touch the ball. Three runs later Bell fell victim to a superb delivery from Warne, once again Gilchrist the fielder. Flintoff looked assured despite suffering from what appeared to be a freak injury, his shoulder popping out as he played attempted a cut to Langer. Jones and Flintoff saw England through to the break without loosing any more wickets, England 194 runs ahead with four wicket remaining.

Flintoff's 73 was crucial for England and allowed them to post a challenging 282 to win. Warne ended the all-rounder's innings and in so doing took six wickets in the innings, 10 in the match and now stands on 599 wickets in all Tests.

Australia began confidently, Langer the more positive of the opening pair, Hayden looking to find some of the form that has been missing of late. The once prolific run scorer has now failed to score a century in his last 15 Test matches, averaging just 28 for a number two.

Vaughan introduced Flintoff with the score on 0 for 47 and immediately set out to attack. The bowler took just two deliveries to snag Langer, bowling an unplayable delivery, Langer was clean bowled. Flintoff had narrowly missed out on a memorable hat-trick by one ball, nevertheless he at that point had taken three wickets in four balls.

Four balls later, Ponting who had looked nervous nicked the ball to Jones at the wicket without scoring, Flintoff once again the hero of Edgbaston. Martyn and Hayden steadied the ship somewhat until Hayden held out to Trescothick at second slip for a patient 31. Any hope Australia had of a victory disappeared when Hoggard accounted for Martyn's wicket at mid-off for a solid looking 28. Australia were reeling and out of it, four wickets down for just 107 runs.

Katich, Gilchrist and Gillespie all fell within three runs giving Giles his first and second victims of the innings and Flintoff his first. Little hope had by this time been replaced with no hope but Clarke and Warne's partnership helped restore some pride to a woeful batting display by Australia. With Gillespie's wicket falling in the 35th over, Australia had been reduced to 7 for 137.

England claimed the extra half hour in the hope of wrapping up the Test early. Warne struck two massive sixes off Giles and until the very final over of the day, it had looked as if Australia would go into the fourth day with the final recognized batsman at the crease. Clark faced a fiery over from Harmison and with a wonderfully executed slower ball, Clarke couldn't keep the ball out and it was all over for day three. 107 runs are now required with just two wickets remaining, Australia at stumps are 8 for 175.

Day Four - Edgbaston - Match Scorecard

Amazing batting from tailenders Warne, Lee and Kasprowicz almost pulled off a remarkable victory on the fourth morning, but England hung in there and won by two runs. The final catch off Harmison by Jones was debatable but despite another umpire error it was the second closest victory in Test history since 1993 and the tightest Ashes victory margin in 128 years.

Warne and Lee started confidently and despite a monumental challenge ahead of them they set about attacking the bowlers and taking every run offered. The 45 run partnership, in just nine overs, was a mixture of classic batting shots, fortunate nicks and edges, more importantly they dug deep and took the game to England. Warne stepped back to Flintoff and his back foot had nowhere to go but hit the stumps, the partnership over and more importantly for England the match.

Kasprowicz came out with England requiring just one wicket and immediately hit out at Giles, knocking him over mid-off for the first of three boundaries in the over. Simon Jones fielding at third man then dropped a catch that should have been taken but a slight hesitation from the Welshman kept the Australian's in the game.

Lee was struck twice, once taking a few minutes to recover from a full blow on his left hand. Despite the pain he continued to fight and show the grit and determination found so often in the Australian camp.

With the scoreboard ticking over thanks to quick runs, singles and buys down the leg side, the match looked as good as lost for England and when Kasprowicz appeared to glove the ball down the leg-side, Australia had only required 2 runs for victory. Television replays suggested the catch should not have been given, Kaspo taking his hand off the blade as the ball went through. It hasn't been a good match for the umpires, both making far too many mistakes during the course of the Test match, mistakes that often even out during the course of a series.

With the gritty fight back from Australia this morning, the fairest result would have been a tied match, no team deserved to lose such a amazing contest. England finished the game off and now go to Old Trafford buoyed by the result, Australia will have to dig deep if they are to challenge in the third Test. The batting has been poor throughout and with the prospect of another Test without the metronome, Australia face an uphill struggle against a rejuvenated England side.

Flintoff was named man of the match following his Bothamesque match.

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