Vaughan hails magnificent Flintoff after thrilling two-run victory
“I firmly felt if we had lost the game, gone 2-0 down, I don’t think we’d have come back from that,” Vaughan said afterwards.
Australia, who resumed on 175 for eight needing a further 107 runs to win, almost got home after their last two wickets added 104 in 100 minutes and 133 balls of thrilling action.
Brett Lee almost saw Australia home with a gutsy 43 not out and together with Shane Warne (42) and Michael Kasprowicz (20) shared stands of 56 and 59 for the ninth and tenth wickets respectively.
However when Kasprowicz was held down the legside by wicket-keeper Geraint Jones off Stephen Harmison, England had won their first ‘live’ Ashes Test since beating Australia at Edgbaston in the 1997 series opener.
The result was the closest victory in Test cricket since West Indies beat Australia by one run at Adelaide in 1992-93 and the narrowest of all in 308 Ashes contests.
“It was a fitting end to a great game of cricket,” Vaughan said. “It’s been fantastic to play in but I really didn’t think it was going to get that close.
“Shane Warne and Brett Lee played very well to put them within distance of winning and it was looking like we weren’t going to get over the line.
“To get over the line is a real good boost to the England team and the important thing is to take this momentum and start well again in the third Test at Old Trafford on Thursday.
“The pressure was there but I just felt we were only ever one ball away.”
All-rounder Andrew Flintoff was named man of the match after he took match figures of seven for 131, including four for 79 in the second innings, and made vital scores of 68 and 73.
Flintoff’s last wicket stand of 51 in 49 balls, made when he had an injured shoulder, with Simon Jones in England’s second innings 182 was pinpointed by Australia captain Ricky Ponting as the vital stand of the game.
“To beat Australia you need a real good team performance and you also need individual brilliance,” Vaughan said. “Freddie Flintoff’s performance through the whole match was outstanding and the only surprise to us all was that he wasn’t there taking the last wicket or the final catch.”
Flintoff said: “I’m going to enjoy this result today but on Monday morning it’s back to the hard work.”
Australia captain Ponting jokingly said of Flintoff, who bowled him for nought on Saturday: “He’s done OK. He did a great job yesterday (Saturday) with his injury and score those very handy runs. And his spell of bowling last night, especially when I went in, was very good.”
Ponting added: “I don’t feel shattered. I’m actually pretty proud of the way we’ve played.
“Kasper and Brett probably feel quite shattered but all the guys have made it clear to them they are really happy with the way they stood up under intense pressure and guys bowling at 150 kph. We’ve got very close to pulling off what would have been an unbelievable win and can take a lot out of this game, especially what’s happened in the last two days.
However, a heartbroken Kasprowicz said: “I will probably leave with the most vivid memory that I’ll replay in my mind for the rest of my life.”
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