England reclaimed the Ashes on Sunday with an emphatic fifth Test victory to win the series 2-1. Savour once more the moments that mattered:

LAST PAIR HANG ON IN CARDIFF

Wales’ first Test went down to the wire as England staged a remarkable rearguard action to salvage a draw in the series opener. James Anderson and Monty Panesar were the unlikely batting heroes as their last-wicket partnership held out for 11.3 overs to inch England into a lead to leave Australia with insufficient time to complete the job. Their heroics were made possible by Paul Collingwood who batted stubbornly on a tense final day to score a gritty 74.

CAPTAIN’S KNOCK

England took charge on the opening day at Lord’s thanks to a superb 161 from captain Andrew Strauss. After putting on 196 for the first wicket with Alastair Cook, Strauss might have hoped for more than 425 on what seemed a good batting surface but it proved wonderfully sufficient due to the efforts of his bowlers.

ANDERSON SWINGS IN

The first innings at Lord’s appeared to be following a similar pattern to that at Cardiff as England failed to make the most of a solid start but this time Australia could not capitalise. Anderson produced a superb spell of swing bowling as Australia slumped to 156 for eight on the second day. They battled on to 215 and Strauss chose not to enforce the follow on but Anderson’s four for 55 had put the hosts in control.

FLINTOFF FINISHES THE JOB

It always seemed most unlikely Australia could chase down 522 at Lord’s but a stand of 185 for the sixth wicket between Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin gave them an outside chance. Andrew Flintoff, however, bowled outstandingly to them as they held out on the fourth evening and they could not stay firm on the final day. Graeme Swann claimed the crucial wicket of Clarke but Flintoff’s performance, finishing with five for 92, was colossal.

ENGLAND LOSE LEAD IN LEEDS

Not so much a moment as a debacle as England produced one of their worst performances it recent memory to surrender their lead in the series. They tone was set from the first ball, when Strauss should have been out lbw, and England never improved. Australia’s winning margin – an innings and 80 runs – if anything flattered England.

FREDDIE’S LAST HURRAH

Flintoff may not have contributed much in his farewell Test with bat or ball, but he produced the defining moment of the five days when he ran out Australia skipper Ricky Ponting on the fourth afternoon. Stuart Broad’s five-wicket haul in Australia’s first innings and Jonathan Trott’s debut century had set up a world-record run chase which went from unlikely to impossible when when Ponting’s stumps were flattened.