England's batsmen ensured that the first Ashes Test was one for the record books, as they piled on the runs at the Gabba.
After a near-perfect performance in the three warm-up games England were given a sharp reminder on day one of the threat that even an unsettled Australian bowling unit can pose when on home soil. Three balls into the series and captain Andrew Strauss, who had amassed two centuries in the warm-up games, already had his helmet in his hands caught cutting hard to Michael Hussey in the gully for a duck.
Some spirited resistance from Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen in the afternoon session only temporarily kept the Aussie quicks at bay, and when Paul Collingwood fell for single figures England were tottering on 125 for 4.
Things went from bad to worse as last-minute selection and birthday boy Peter Siddle had a moment of clarity midway through the 66th over, managing to claim three English scalps in consecutive deliveries and complete a rare Ashes hat-trick blowing away England's middle order.
A beautifully crafted 76 from a resurgent Ian Bell ensured the tourists posted a less embarrassing 260 all out, it was Australia though who ended the day at the crease, Simon Katich and Shane Watson guiding the hosts to 25 without loss at the close of play.
One solitary wicket on the morning of day two was bettered in the afternoon session as James Anderson and young Steven Finn put their side right back in the contest prising out both Ricky Ponting and understudy MIchael Clarke, before Graeme Swann dismissed yet another left-hander, this time allrounder Marcus North who pushed at a looping delivery edging to Collingwood at slip.
But little did anybody know that with that fine piece of finger spin bowling the battle between bat and ball was effectively over. Hussey and wicket keeper Brad Haddin batted out the remainder of the day with relative ease, and despite some disciplined bowling from Anderson on the morning of day four England found no help from the pitch or crucially umpire Aleem Dar.
Instead England were forced to look on in awe as Hussey and Haddin both made clinical centuries in a mammoth stand of 307 - then a record for any wicket at the Gabba. A determined Steven Finn made light work of the tail to bag impressive figures of 6 for 125 but the damage had been done with England still trailing Australia by 202 runs at stumps.
Instead England were forced to look on in awe as Hussey and Haddin both made clinical centuries in a mammoth stand of 307 - then a record for any wicket at the Gabba. A determined Steven Finn made light work of the tail to bag impressive figures of 6 for 125 but the damage had been done with England still trailing Australia by 202 runs at stumps.
The enviable solidarity of the England team over the last few years has led many commentators to remark that this may be the country's best chance of winning Down Under for over 20 years, and if the resilience shown by Messrs Strauss, Cook and Trott on the final two days of this Test match are anything to go by they may well be right on the money.
Throughout day three a combination of timely flourishes and solid defensive play saw both openers notch up impressive hundreds with Strauss the only victim, stumped on 110. Jonathan Trott, England's 2009 Ashes hero, joined in the fun and had himself a half century before the close, England walking off the field well placed on 309 for 1.
The run-fest continued on the final day's play Cook breezing imperiously to his maiden Test match double ton, and Jonathan Trott making it two hundreds in two Test matches against England's oldest rivals. Amongst the carnage Australia's attack took a pounding, Mitchell Johnson looking decidedly out of sorts, and that's not just the moustache. His match figures of 0 for 170 pushed his bowling average to 41.05 against the Poms and for the first time in 39 Tests he went home wicketless.
The declaration eventually came with England 517 for 1, becoming only the sixth team in history to pass 500 for the loss of a solitary wicket. Cook also recorded the highest individual score by a batsman at the Gabba and his and Trott's 329-run stand became the highest by any England pair in Australia.
A potentially tricky 41 overs was well negotiated by the hosts and the match was drawn, a half century for Ricky Ponting came as little consolation though after a sapping two days in the field.
Contrary to what some sports fans may tell you there is such a thing as a 'satisfying draw,' even after five days cricket. A momentous fightback on days four and five went a long way to proving how settled this England side is. Moments of individual brilliance aside it is the England team that will ultimately be tested over the next two months, and with cracks now glaringly visible in the Australian set-up, England go to Adelaide with the wind behind them.
