Australian cricket has not witnessed scenes like these for 18
years. The last pair of batsmen punching the air after the final ball,
team-mates embracing on the dressing room balcony, the crowd roaring as the
tension mounted and the Test reached its climax with the gripping series level
at 1-1.

Now, let’s just ponder what has actually happened. This
all-conquering Australian team, one that has held the Ashes since 1989,
one that will play a World XI in October, one that has been accused of
ruining Test cricket through its dominance, is exchanging high fives
after escaping with a draw against the one-time pie-throwing “can’t
bat, bowl or field” England.

You have to
go back to the MCG in late 1987 to recall anything like that. That was when batting
bunny Mike Whitney (they fudged the Tooheys ad because he could not hit the
bowling of Joel Garner) held out Richard Hadlee for a draw, Australia again nine
wickets down, to give Allan Border his first series victory in three years as
captain.

Border may
well have tossed in the captaincy had Australia lost that last Test against NZ –
and it should not be underestimated what this latest heart-pounding result means
for Ricky Ponting. Let’s not
forget it was Adam Gilchrist who lead Australia to triumph in India, although
Ponting can claim a 3-0 whitewash in Sri Lanka – his leadership throughout this
tour has been listless, unable to inspire a sadly out-of-sorts Jason Gillespie
or Gilchrist, whose keeping is appalling right now.

Ponting’s
masterful century not only held together another fragile Australian innings in
which Matthew Hayden, Simon Katich and Gilchrist were made to look hopeless by
Andrew Flintoff, it has also bought him some time. He made a
huge blunder by bowling first at Edgbaston, having lost Glenn McGrath to injury
half an hour before the toss. This was a piece of foolish machismo by a man with
a passion for punting. Bat first,
make 300+ and Australia would not lose.

Hopefully this escape won’t be seen by
selectors as vindication of some puzzling picks – but the chance to revitalise a
flagging team that could fall from on high far sooner than anyone is prepared to
admit. Tait or
MacGill must come in for Gillespie, Hodge for Katich – and Gilchrist should be
gently reminded that his place should not be taken for granted. Brad Haddin is
no slouch with the bat.

Over in the
England camp, the last two Tests have proven they are worthy contenders for the
No.1 ranking – but they have to win on the subcontinent and in Australia before
they can be crowned. The elation
at Edgbaston and Old Trafford may well give way to substantial deflation at not
being able to win this latest battle and go 2-1 up.

England’s
fightback after Lord’s has undoubtedly made many critics sit up and take notice.
But previous opponents have spent vast amounts of emotional energy trying to
beat Australia, only to wilt in the home straight. Australia
only needs one more win to retain the urn, and that cold fact, along with the
realisation that this was one that went begging for England – could bring all
the hard work undone at Trent Bridge.

Whatever
happens, SBS must be congratulated for showing the series and making the
commercial stations look stupid.