aditionally come into their own the longer the match runs.

Australia batted far better second time round posting an all out total of 387 leaving England to score what looked like an easy 129 to win the match, and to lead the series for the first time.

But of course things could never be as simple a

Following the third Test match that ended in a tense draw after England failed to dislodge the last Australian batsman off the final ball after five days of tense cricket, the bandwagon moved on to the fourth Test match in Robin Hood country at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.

Michael Vaughan the English captain won the toss again and rightly decided to bat on what looked an easy paced pitch. They batted well too, racking up a huge total of 477 with man of the moment Freddie Flintoff notching up his first century against the men from down under. When Australia batted the England bowlers were on the money from the off and finally bundled Australia out for 218, giving England a priceless first innings lead of 259.

Because Australia failed to get within 200 runs of the English total, the English captain had the option of asking Australia to follow on, to bat their second innings again immediately, and he took up that option after consulting with his bowlers about their freshness. Many commentators worried about the decision as it would give Australia an opportunity to bowl last on a potentially wearing pitch, and of course they had within their ranks the best leg spinner in the history of the game, in Shane Warne. Spinners traditionally come into their own the longer the match runs.

Australia batted far better second time round posting an all out total of 387 leaving England to score what looked like an easy 129 to win the match, and to lead the series for the first time.

But of course things could never be as simple as

n won the toss again and rightly decided to bat on what looked an easy paced pitch. They batted well too, racking up a huge total of 477 with man of the moment Freddie Flintoff notching up his first century against the men from down under. When Australia batted the England bowlers were on the money from the off and finally bundled Australia out for 218, giving England a priceless first innings lead of 259.

Because Australia failed to get within 200 runs of the English total, the English captain had the option of asking Australia to follow on, to bat their second innings again immediately, and he took up that option after consulting with his bowlers about their freshness. Many commentators worried about the decision as it would give Australia an opportunity to bowl last on a potentially wearing pitch, and of course they had within their ranks the best leg spinner in the history of the game, in Shane Warne. Spinners traditionally come into their own the longer the match runs.

Australia batted far better second time round posting an all out total of 387 leaving England to score what looked like an easy 129 to win the match, and to lead the series for the first time.

But of course things could never be as simple a

and finally bundled Australia out for 218, giving England a priceless first innings lead of 259.

Because Australia failed to get within 200 runs of the English total, the English captain had the option of asking Australia to follow on, to bat their second innings again immediately, and he took up that option after consulting with his bowlers about their freshness. Many commentators worried about the decision as it would give Australia an opportunity to bowl last on a potentially wearing pitch, and of course they had within their ranks the best leg spinner in the history of the game, in Shane Warne. Spinners traditionally come into their own the longer the match runs.

Australia batted far better second time round posting an all out total of 387 leaving England to score what looked like an easy 129 to win the match, and to lead the series for the first time.

But of course things could never be as simple a

tion after consulting with his bowlers about their freshness. Many commentators worried about the decision as it would give Australia an opportunity to bowl last on a potentially wearing pitch, and of course they had within their ranks the best leg spinner in the history of the game, in Shane Warne. Spinners traditionally come into their own the longer the match runs.

Australia batted far better second time round posting an all out total of 387 leaving England to score what looked like an easy 129 to win the match, and to lead the series for the first time.

But of course things could never be as simple a

aditionally come into their own the longer the match runs.

Australia batted far better second time round posting an all out total of 387 leaving England to score what looked like an easy 129 to win the match, and to lead the series for the first time.

But of course things could never be as simple as that, as the Australians gritted their teeth and began knocking down the English batsman. Four went out relatively cheaply and already the nerves had set in, on the pitch, in the pavilion, throughout the packed grandstands, and in tense living rooms up and down the nation. Thankfully Kevin Pietersen, and who else but Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff, steadied the ship, but once they had departed, the nerves returned with a vengeance. Thankfully Ashley Giles nonchalantly stroked the winning runs as England closed on 129-7 to win the game. Freddie took the man of the match award for the second time after his first innings debut century against the world champions and for his always penetrative and quick bowling.

So the bandwagon moves on to the last stop, the fifth and final Test at Surrey County Cricket’s Oval stadium in London. Like every other ground in this series, all tickets have been sold months in advance.

Terrestrial television viewing figures reached record levels as the nation watched entranced, ironic really, as this will be the last live series available to the public, unless you subscribe to expensive Sky satellite TV. There is barely a fingernail left anywhere in the kingdom and it would seem that this hist