How England defied the odds

England regained the Ashes from Australia at the Oval on Sunday even though the Australians possessed the three highest wicket-takers and six of the top seven run-scorers.

Australia also scored more centuries (8-2) and held more catches (58-37) but still lost the series 2-1.

WHY DID ENGLAND TRIUMPH?

Despite Australia's overall statistical superiority, England won the critical battles in a series which fluctuated from session to session between two evenly matched sides.

Last wicket pair James Anderson and Monty Panesar batted for 69 balls to salvage a draw in the first Test at Cardiff after England had been outplayed throughout.

Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook plundered 196 runs for the first wicket at Lord's to seize the advantage and Andrew Flintoff produced a magnificent spell of fast bowling on the final day to secure victory.

England's other Test victory also came in London.

In the fifth Test at the Oval, Stuart Broad took five for 37 to demolish the Australian first innings.

Jonathan Trott then scored a century on debut to help set a victory target which was always beyond the Australians.

WHAT WENT WRONG FOR AUSTRALIA?

Australia expected opening batsman Phillip Hughes and the team's fastest bowler Mitchell Johnson to make major contributions after outstanding series in South Africa.

But Hughes was axed following the Lord's Test after proving vulnerable against the short ball. Johnson endured a nightmare match at Lord's and although he recovered to bowl well in the crushing Australian victory at Headingley he was not a force in the deciding match at the Oval.

Australia also blundered by not picking specialist off-spinner Nathan Hauritz at the Oval, sticking with the side who won in Leeds in conditions ideal for quick bowlers. The Oval pitch turned from the opening day.

WHAT NOW FOR ENGLAND?

Injuries prevented England making a serious bid to reach their stated goal of world number one after the 2005 Ashes win.

Michael Vaughan and Andrew Flintoff were never the same players again and fast bowler Simon Jones has not played Test cricket since.

The present England management are keen to avoid any hint of complacency after beating their oldest rivals with coach Andy Flower pointing out on Monday that they are still the world's fifth-ranked team.

But the initial signs are promising that this team will develop rather than decline like their 2005 predecessors.

Flower and captain Andrew Strauss took over a side in disarray this year and the latter has responded by scoring more runs than any other batsman in the world and winning back the Ashes.

WHAT NOW FOR PONTING?

Ponting, 34, is only the second Australian captain ever to lose two Ashes series in England after Billy Murdoch in the 19th century.

But he remains the one outstanding player in an Australian side in the process of rebuilding, after losing a group of great players, and he was admirably honest on Sunday, making no excuses for himself and his team.

If he retains his form and desire, Ponting is likely to be given the chance to win back the Ashes for a second time at home.