Five key moments that helped England win back Ashes

England regained the Ashes against Australia in Nottingham on Saturday. Graham Caygill looks at moments that helped Alastair Cook’s men win..

Joe Root provided solidity to England’s middle order and scored runs in crucial circumstances. Philip Brown / Reuters

Brad Haddin’s dumping

Wicketkeeper Haddin was instrumental in Australia’s 5-0 Ashes whitewash of England in 2013/14 thanks to his middle order batting, but his error on the opening day of the series in Cardiff last month was vital. England, having won the toss, were reeling at 43 for three and Joe Root nicked his second ball from Mitchell Starc to Haddin. Haddin spilled the catch to give Root a reprieve. Root took full advantage of his luck and his 134 was crucial to England tallying a score of 430, which enabled them to take charge of the match and win the first Test by 169 runs.

Clarke calls right or wrong

The toss for the third Test at Edgbaston proved crucial in the end. Michael Clarke, the Australia captain, won it and chose to bat, something his opposite number Alastair Cook acknowledged he would also have done. Both men had misread the wicket, though, which, with a little grass on it and overcast conditions, was ripe for swing bowling. Australia had entered the match with the momentum after hammering England at Lord’s in the second Test, but that disappeared in just 36.4 overs as a James Anderson-inspired England attack rolled them for 136 in the first innings.

Tail wags

Despite Australia’s paltry 136 at Edgbaston, the tourists, led by Mitchell Johnson, had England in major trouble at 190 for seven and a lead of only 50 to 75 runs would have had Australia still in the game. Instead, Moeen Ali (59) and Stuart Broad (31) took the match firmly away from Australia with some aggressive stroke play that added 87 for the eighth wicket and swung the match decisively England’s way as they built a first innings lead of 145.

Wood’s injury

Mark Wood, like the rest of the England bowlers, had a torrid time at Lord’s but would still have played at Edgbaston had it not been for an ankle injury, which forced the selectors to rest him. Enter Steven Finn, a man who had not played Test cricket for two years and was in such bad form he was described as “unselectable” during the 2013/14 tour of Australia. After a spell working on his game with his county Middlesex, Finn had got himself back in contention. He took advantage of Wood’s injury with a superb display of fast bowling and his second-innings six for 79 ensured the team was not hampered by the side injury to Anderson that forced him off the field.

Root to the fore

England’s bowlers rightly took centre stage at Trent Bridge as Broad’s eight for 15 resulted in the tourists being bowled out for only 60. But, just as at Edgbaston, England’s batting appeared as fragile as ever as they slipped to 34 for two and a collapse of their own appeared on the horizon. Root strode to the crease and averted any danger as he played another assured innings. His 130 took the game away from Australia and ensured Cook’s men could cruise to an innings win.

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE