England get the formula right, but too late

After the first day of the first Test of this Series, Australia were 2/364.

Going into the last day of the last Test of this series, Australia needed 363 to win.

Matthew Hayden exited the first day of the series on 186 not out,

Michael Vaughan goes into the last day of the series after notching 183.

The bookends of the series mirrored each other with everything in between, all Australia.

The Ashes of 2002/03 were never a contest. Over in 11 days, England were never in the hunt. True to form, they pinched a dead rubber in Australia.

When the squeeze was on in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth they wilted. Couldn't stand the pace. Talk of the toss at the Gabba has ceased because it's now obvious that the decision had little bearing in the final outcome.

England did not have the luxury of batting against their bowling and bowling against their batting.

It was only in their last innings of the summer they made it pass the 400 mark. Only now was some wag found in the tail. You knew something was going on when Harmison was involved in an unbeaten tenth wicket stand of 43.

That gave the English great heart and soon after they had both Australian openers back in the dressing room with the score on five!

The last time Hayden and Langer were back in the pavilion so quickly was against South Africa in March 2002. Hayden was gone with the score on four. Langer fell 15 runs later to make it two for19.

Australia were bowled out for 186.

What can England take from this series? But for the form of Michael Vaughan, not a lot. From the first ball in Brisbane they were outclassed by the Australians. Their performance has picked up since Perth as they gain motivation not to lose 5-0 and Australia loses desire after already claiming the series.

England have found themselves with the upperhand in Sydney not because of luck but because they were beginning to dominate not just sessions but days. The first three Tests only saw England assert themselves in minute patches. A good stroke was followed by a wicket. A good ball was followed by a loose one.

In Melbourne, they began to play good cricket after following on. In this Test, they have been on top but for the brilliance of Waugh and Gilchrist. Caddick and Hoggard used the new ball as opposed to wasting it.

Shame all of this took until the penultimate day of the series until England were ready to play.