Brave Australia Powerless to Stop Freddie Fairytale

There is a reason that Test cricket is so called. With an hour to go at Cardiff Australians looked to have an all important first Test victory in the bag and had England crumbled then, who knows how the last few days may have panned out. However, that denial ensured that after dominating 90% of the game, the momentum was arguably with England.

The announcement by Flintoff before a ball had been bowled that this would be his last five day series resulted in speculation that England may be distracted, and that their last ditch efforts to save the first Test might be in some way compromised and again, so it may have been. To my mind it would come down to who won the first session: if Australia dominated then their suggestion that Freddie had distracted his team mates would seem to have come true, but if England dominated then surely it would be Freddie's perfect goodbye to HQ.

It proved to be the latter, as Strauss and Cook put on a consummate batting display, taking apart a hapless Mitchell Johnson and posting over 120 at lunch on the first morning. From that moment on it felt like it was England's game to lose. In the first innings Freddie played second fiddle to impressive displays from Anderson and latterly Onions before the decision to not enforce the follow on was announced.

With hindsight it could have been a disaster. Had Ponting run out Pieterson and caught Bopara in just the space of two overs then England would have been just 90 for 4 and in severe trouble. Instead, Prior was able to nail home England's advantage before fate had her say on the last two days.

Much will no doubt be made of what could have happened if Flintoff had been no-balled when he dismissed Katich, if Umpire Doctrove had referred Strauss's catch to the third umpire as he had done Hauritz's or indeed if Hussey had rightly been given not out off Swann but whatever is said of these events and the effect they had on the ending this Test match will be Flintoff's forever.

The aggression, the passion and the sheer force of will were all there, written in fire on that wonderfully expressive face which hurt as hard in '07 as it had smiled in '05. They were in every ball and ultimately every celebration as Freddie hauled his team over the finish line in his own unique style. Even for Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin whose brave knocks threatened momentarily to hand Australia an unlikely victory it must have been terrifying to look down the other end and see a man willing to literally destroy his own body purely to take your wicket.

There were other positives that will have been buried under the red top salute to England's one man army and they too were key in this victory. Strauss's opening knock was one to savour, while Cook's aggressive 95 reminded me briefly of how Trescothick used to bully the opening bowling, although to fall once again to a simple straight delivery will have been frustrating. Prior and Collingwood both came back well from first innings disappointments to bat Australia almost out of the game while Swann's four wicket haul will have done wonders to restore his confidence.

Obviously there will be concerns that Flintoff's body may be unable to repeat these heroics in each of the next three games, but I would be amazed if he wasn't at the very least fit for the final match of the series. Other lingering doubts hang over Onions and Pieterson who looks as though he may well have played his last game of the series as his troublesome Achilles effects not only his form but also his state of mind. However, whoever is selected at Edgbaston now is a time to celebrate and recall one of the greatest performances seen at Lord's, as well as remember that no matter how much England dominated the last five days, in the Ashes momentum can change against you as well as for you.