As the Ashes series moved from Lord's to Edgbaston, the tide looked like turning in favour of England. This was despite the debacle at Lord's, where the hosts went from a team with the capability to regain the Ashes to appearing as a mere lamb in wolf's clothing. As Ashley Giles pointed out, from a pat on the back, the English players were suddenly at the receiving end of kicks on their backsides.

Kevin Pieterson was perhaps the only player to come out unscathed at Lord's after remarkable knocks in both innings.

The fourth day of the Edgbaston Test was a humdinger, to say the least. One question kept recurring during the final, tantalizing hour and a half of the Test; would the England tail-enders have come this close to a victory from a hopeless position in a Test against their oldest opponents? Perhaps not. But England's narrow win has kept the series alive and fans keyed in to what can end up being a fascinating contest.

Glenn McGrath, the hero of the previous Test, was left nursing an annoying ankle ligament injury after an early morning practice session. While the England batting had all but collapsed under his vicious line-and-length assault at Lord's, it seemed a far-fetched thought that England would perform as disastrously even in his absence. But at lunch on day three, England were ninety five for six, and struggling to build on their ninety-nine run lead. Andrew Flintoff then displayed the wonderful security that a true all-rounder provides, with a seven-wicket haul for the match, and runs aplenty. In effect, victory hinged on Flintoff through the Test, right till the end. That England won by a mere two runs puts things in perspective.

Surprisingly put in to bat, England built a comfortable cushion of 407. Marcus Trescothick made most of the fact that there was no McGrath around to disconcert him, but he missed what would have been a worthy Test century by ten runs. But England were still sitting on the fence at 187 for four before Flintoff and Pieterson built a hundred run partnership that gave the England innings much needed balance. While Flintoff made sixty-eight, Pieterson outscored him by three. Crucially Australia were put under pressure to match and overcome a solid batting performance.

Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting pressed on well after the early loss of Matthew Hayden, but with both experienced pros out for eighty-two and sixty-one respectively, Australia struggled to push forth despite Michael Clarke's forty brave runs and an unbeaten innings of forty-nine from Adam Gilchrist. Australia's 308 meant that England led by 99 and they had an opportunity to level the series. But they were in trouble in the second innings until Flintoff came to the rescue. Shane Warne satiated his voracious appetite with six wickets, Lee picking up the remaining. Flintoff's outstanding innings of seventy-one was the top score by a long margin as England resurrected their hopes with 183 on board, setting Australia 282, a stiff target at Edgbaston.

Given Australia's prowess, heads began to droop as the openers started well. Once again, it was the man of the moment, Flintoff, who lent his magic touch to remove Langer and the afternoon rolled by too fast for Ponting as Australia were spiralling towards gloom and despair at seven for 137. Clarke's vigilance and Warne's unorthodox batting notwithstanding, the umpires decided to extend play on day three by half an hour, thus giving the rampaging English bowlers a shot in the arm. Vaughan's field-setting, coupled with tight bowling by Flintoff and Harmison, gave England one last joy for the day. Harmison bowled a beautiful slowe ball that Clarke misread, and was bowled. Australia now needed 107 more with only two wickets in hand.

If a glorious fourth day was awaited by the English supporters, it was nearly tarnished by a terrific brave-hearted effort by Australia's so-called tail. Brett Lee played second fiddle to Warne who seemed in a belligerent mood. Their forty-five run partnership not only delayed England's charge towards victory but nearly ruined the nationwide party. The breakthrough came in an unexpected, yet welcome manner for the home team. Warne withdrew into his crease a bit too far trying to play Flintoff to the legside, and dislodged his own wicket.

At 220 for nine, England had things in control. But Lee took charge with last man Michael Kasprowicz battling it out at the other end. The pressure on the bowlers resulted in some wayward bowling, and the runs started flowing freely, much to the consternation of the English. To make things worse, Simon Jones missed an easy catch offered by Kasprowicz at third-man. But Steve Harmison held his nerve and chanced his arm to bowl a ribcage-high bouncer. Kasprowicz tried to play it as well as he could, but got a faint touch. Wicketkeeper Geraint Jones flung himself to his left to take the catch and wrap up the game for his side and country.