Cricket: England - startled rabbits to raging bulls

No matter what happens in the remaining two matches of this thrilling Ashes series, England, after outplaying Australia at Edgbaston and Old Trafford, have shown they have the potential to go on and become the best side in the world.

Prior to the remarkable events of the last fortnight, few would have expected Michael Vaughan's team to have reached this pedestal.

We knew they were good. Fourteen victories in 18 tests against West Indies, New Zealand, South Africa and Bangladesh proved that. But the big question was, how would they fare against the team who have dominated cricket for a decade?

After a 239-run defeat in the first test, many feared the worst. Vaughan's side, with the exception of Stephen Harmison and Kevin Pietersen, had frozen on the big stage and predictions of 3-1 were quickly being altered to 4-0 or even 5-0.

That England managed to turn things around during the week between the first and second test is a testament to the character, belief and talent among this determined and resourceful group of players. England teams of the past have played prettier cricket than the current side but few, if any, have matched their intensity and power. It has shaken each and every Australian cricketer to the core.

This was highlighted by the celebrations witnessed on the Australian balcony after Brett Lee kept out the final delivery of the match to earn his side a draw. Never before can an Australian side have sent their 12th man out before the last over with instructions on how to bat.

Before Harmison started the final over, Stuart MacGill rushed out to tell Glenn McGrath to bat a metre out of his crease to reduce the chances of him being given out lbw. What MacGill forgot to tell the fast bowler was to get back in the crease once the ball had been bowled.

McGrath lurched forward to smother the second ball of the over but missed it, and wicketkeeper Geraint Jones threw the ball to Matthew Hoggard, who was standing next to the stumps. Thankfully - it would have been a totally immoral way to win a match of this stature - Hoggard chose not to break the stumps, but this did not prevent MacGill feeling that he had almost cost his team a test match.

Duncan Fletcher, who became the England coach in September 1999, believes his side's performance in the third test was the best since he took charge.

"We have asked for the side to play consistently well over longer periods of time and it is exciting that they can now hold their concentration to win 12 sessions in a test match like that," he said.

"I think the public have been pretty proud of the side. Quite a few probably thought that there was a little bit of luck about our win at Edgbaston, although we did play good cricket there. But I thought we played even better cricket at Old Trafford.

"This is the best side I have worked with. It is a test side playing against the best side in the world as equals. The best part is that they are so young and there is still room for improvement, and this makes working with them so exciting."

England's batsmen, who resembled startled rabbits when they pitted their techniques and minds against Shane Warne and McGrath at Lord's, have turned into raging bulls who are now prepared to meet their confronters head on.

Whether an identical approach to that which was adopted at Edgbaston will bring the same success against Warne, and a fully fit McGrath, at Trent Bridge in a week's time is yet to be seen, but it has certainly given Australia something to think about.

The batting of both teams has looked vulnerable throughout the opening three tests, but Australia's has been far more disappointing than England's. When the Aussies arrived in England they could boast four players with a test batting average of more than 50. Yet before the second innings at Old Trafford, when Ricky Ponting scored a wonderful 156, not one of these players had come close to posting a test century.

The Australians will say that sloppy batting has caused so many of their players to get out between 20 and 60, but it has more to do with the quality of England's bowling, which has been unremitting.

Even the finest batsmen find it hard to score their initial 20 or 30, but having reached this score they tend to go on and make it count. Yet against England, batting has become no easier once this goal has been attained, because the next bowler has come on and challenged the batsman as much as the man he replaced.

The ability of Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff to reverse-swing the old ball has been one of the main reasons why England have been able to keep Australia under pressure.

That England can make a 20-over ball behave in such a manner has amazed the opposition. Not since the days of Pakistan's Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis have bowlers achieved such movement.

Jones' bowling and spirit were laudable on Tuesday, but Flintoff was a colossus. Whenever England were down he produced something special and he deserved to walk off a winner.

But the real quality of the man could be seen two hours after the match. As I was leaving Old Trafford I popped my head into the groundsman's shed to congratulate head groundsman Peter Marron for producing an excellent pitch. And who should I find among the lawnmowers and rakes, sitting on a bench in his whites and bowling boots having a beer with Marron and his staff? Yes, Andrew Flintoff.

- INDEPENDENT