Ashes Final result: England 2: Australia 1

England quite clearly owe the Ashes to three factors: the two gentlemen in the picture alongside this post and the rain gods. It was fitting that what held Australia at bay in the final test were the three factors that have made England world-beaters in this series at least - Flintoff, Pietersen and some plain luck. It was clearly the passion and never say die spirit of Flintoff that brought England back into the game in Australia's first innings, when Australia looked like taking the initiative with long-awaited centuries from their two openers. When it was Englands turn to bat, it was Pietersen who dismissed the defensive mindset that had caused the downfall of the rest of the English batsmen and proceeded to put matters out of reach of the Aussies. Yes, he was aided by a generous dose of luck. But then who was it who said that "Fortune favors the brave".

Shane Warne was one Aussie who enhanced his already exalted reputation even further. This series really brought out the competitor in him and it was quite obvious that but for him, England could have won this series much more easily. 40 wickets in 5 tests is no joke against any opposition. However, the question on my mind at the end of this series is "who is going to replace him and McGrath in the Aussie side"? While the senior side was losing the Ashes in England, the Aussie A side was being thrashed by the Pakistani A side. Bereft of these competitors, Australia will have a pretty ordinary bowling attack and the side cannot be as succesful as it has been over the past decade when these two greats were leading their attack. The Aussie side needs to start experimenting and rotating some youngsters pretty soon unless it wants a prolonged period of an ordinary existence in World Cricket.