England started 2009 by losing both their captain and their coach yet ended it having triumphed in an Ashes series which proved cricket still had nothing to rival Test matches for sheer drama.

Ricky Ponting’s men were ahead on almost every individual statistic yet it was England who won 2-1 after clinging onto a draw in the Cardiff opener where the Australia captain made a majestic 150.

The series was a triumph for England captain Andrew Strauss, parachuted into a leadership role after a falling out between former captain Kevin Pietersen and coach Peter Moores cost both men their jobs.

Injury meant Pietersen played little part in a series where Andrew Flintoff bowed out from the five-day game, because of fitness problems, in style.

Superb fast bowling from the all-rounder saw England beat Australia in a Lord’s Test for the first time in 75 years.