Two unlikely heroes

Cardiff. First Ashes Test. Fifth day.

Preview
The morning newspapers are full of negative, finger-crossing hopes centred on the possibility of rain. The truth is that if England put up a serious fight, as forecast by Paul Collingwood last night, they can go to Lord's for the second Test on Thursday, not just all square, but with the last laugh. And you know that true blue, knuckle scraping, heads down Aussies cannot endure being laughed at.

To lunch
No sign of a long term recovery as Kevin Pietersen was bowled not playing a shot, as Andrew Strauss was caught behind trying out his favourite square cut and Matt Prior played a rank bad shot at a wide ball and was caught in the slips. Thus 102-5, still 137 behind despite a sturdy knock from Paul Collingwood and quiet good sense from Andrew Flintoff.

Defeat was inscribed on every delivery as the faster trio bowled straight and the spinner Nathan Hauritz - remember what a bad rap he got at the start of the series - caused grunts and sighs and shouts - why? - of "catch it" almost every ball. Now, even if these two bat until tea, the Aussies will still expect to win and if they don't it could be a long, hard summer ahead, with the critics in full voice and the spectators wishing they had spent their entrance money on a fishing rod, a new bike or paying their overdue rates.

To tea
There was too much time left for England to hold out but Australia needed an hour to get rid of Flintoff and another to dismiss Stuart Broad. Flintoff had to ask Ponting if he was happy he had held a low catch - how old fashioned was that - but Broad was clearly unhappy about a plumb lbw decision. Graeme Swann was hit three times in two overs but nothing disturbed Collingwood who had been batting four hours when England escaped to the dressing room with only three wickets left.

Collingwood was in the midst of a special innings, unfazed by all the action and the chatter around him, in his own zone of total concentration, an example to any young cricketer trying to keep his side intact. In his heart he must have guessed it was impossible; but no. I don't think the word impossible is in his vocabulary.

To close

Swann bore his blows bravely for an hour and when he went Collingwood, cool, shrewd and apparently without nerves batted until it seemed he would never be out. He fell, with runs still needed, to a juggling catch, leaving England's fate to the permanent nightwatchman James Anderson and the perpetual No.11 Monty Panesar.

Incredibly, they survived for 69 deliveries, added 19 runs that took England into the lead and, at 6.43 with no time to start a fourth innings, forced Ponting to shake hands on a draw that ranks with any epic match in the Ashes series.

Just as important, the Welsh crowd backed England with a passion that brought back the spirit of '05 and that may be more important than all their heroics when the Ashes come to be decided.