Who needs to go to a theme park to get their thrills when this first Ashes Test had everything a roller-coaster could offer? Highs, lows, a quick double loop as we waited for the third umpire's decision. This Test had it all.
Ashes cricket is all about who handles that pressure cooker atmosphere the best. Who keeps calm when the temperature is reaching boiling point. Who stands up when everyone else is falling to the wayside.
Today that man was Jimmy Anderson. At the start of the day Australia needed a further 137 runs, or England needed to take 4 wickets to win the Test. Anderson bowled a Herculean spell of 13 overs unchanged. Anderson's persistent probing and searching for the edge resulted in 3 for 29. All the wickets were b Anderson c Cook.
Bowling such a lengthy spell takes great effort. Anderson was like the Duracell bunny. He just kept going and going. Eventually Anderson's body gave in to cramp and he briefly left the field. The job was still unfinished at lunch. Australia now needed 20 runs, or England that one, so far elusive, wicket.
Anderson recharged his batteries during the interval and was once again roaring in at Brad Haddin and James Patterson. In his second over after lunch, Anderson put an end to Haddin's dogged resistance as he edged behind to Matt Prior. Third umpire Marias Erasmus was required to confirm the edge, and he ruled in England's favour.
As the England team saw confirmation of the final wicket on the big screen, Anderson led the way to celebrate, just as he had led the bowling attack. Anderson finished with 10 wickets for 158 runs in the match, with 5 wickets in each innings. That was an outstanding return on this slow, dry Trent Bridge wicket. In addition, Anderson was constantly offering support to his fellow pacemen, Stuart Broad and Steven Finn.
At the start of the series, Anderson was England's joint 3rd leading test wicket taker with 307 wickets, same as Fred Trueman. Now Anderson is 8 wickets behind Bob Willis, then only the great Sir Ian Botham is front of him with 383 wickets.
Aged 30, providing Anderson stays fit, there is no reason why he will not end his career as England's leading test wicket taker of all time. What a long way he has come from being the lad from Burnley with dyed hair.
Spare a thought for Haddin who in scoring a determined 71 runs took Australia to the brink of victory. Haddin batted like a tenacious boxer; a jab and blow here, a solid defensive shot there. This is one man who knows how to fight. There was a feel of Edgbaston 2005 about today. That iconic image of Brett Lee being consoled by Andrew Flintoff when Australia fell 2 runs short, was not re-created to the same extent today. But Anderson did have a prolonged handshake with Haddin and some words of consolation.
This series is not going to be the one sided affair that some predicted. As the Aussies showed today, they aren't going to go down without a fight. The roller-coaster ride begins again on Thursday at Lord's. Make sure you are strapped in as it could be a bumpy ride.
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