“There
are some forces in the universe so immutable that it takes something
extraordinary to change them. Chief among these is the one that impels
Australian captains not to lose the Ashes, something that had begun to
look increasingly likely until Ricky Ponting arguably played the
captain’s innings of the 21st century at Old Trafford to save his team
from defeat.” – Derek Pringle in TheDaily Telegraph

“Another
day, another Ashes nailbiter. More of this and it will be the cuticles
that take a gnawing. But in what will probably be called the greatest
Test match between these two sides in, oh, more than a week, Australia
survived the day by the very skin of their teeth to set up what
promises to be a dramatic climax over the next few weeks.” – Mike Selvey in The Guardian

“England
took nine wickets, and nine wickets were not enough. England knocked
Australia down and jumped up and down on them all day but they just
couldn’t finish them off. It came down to the last pair in with 24
balls to face. Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath, the fast bowlers, were
bloody-minded enough to complete the job … Thus England reached out
and seized victory with both hands but like the soap in the shower it
slipped from their grasp. England won just about every session in this
match but the killing bite eluded them … everything they did was
right, everything was good, every man did his part. But, and by the
tiniest possible margin, it was not enough.” – Simon Barnes in The Times

“I
don’t feel empty, short-changed or upset at all. Why should anyone
complain about another day’s entertainment like that? … The fact is,
England are the only team in the world capable of giving the Aussies a
run for their money. And the Ashes are still up for grabs – something
we couldn’t say after three Tests in each of the last three series.” – Ian Botham in the Daily Mirror

“Michael Vaughan’s vibrant young side stretched every sinew and tried
every trick as they attempted take 10 Australian wickets on the final
day of the third Test but Ponting, the captain, stood tall and
heroically resisted everything England threw at him … Vaughan’s
players looked absolutely shattered as they walked off and the elation
of last Sunday’s unbelievable victory at Edgbaston would have seemed
like a distant memory. Australia’s defiant rearguard action left
England with little to show for their efforts, but they have plenty to
be proud of.” – Angus Fraser in The Independent

“In
the end, Ponting experienced the epiphany that usually follows
unrequited love: that you can only be responsible for yourself. There
is vindication in this discovery but also a kind of disappointment, a
resignation. And so it is here: innings of solitary grandeur are not
how Australia have built their enviable record, and they are not really
a viable means of defending it.” – Gideon Haigh in The Guardian

“Damn, blast and sulk. But what an incredible game – again.” – Mike Walters in the Daily Mirror