British media delight in rare Ashes victory

Britain's media reacted with predictable glee yesterday to England's two-run victory over Australia in the second Ashes test as the story dominated front and back pages of tabloid and broadsheet alike.

"Was this the best match ever?" asked both the Daily Telegraph and Daily Express on their front pages after England levelled the series at 1-1 following the closest finish in Ashes history and their first win in a "live" Ashes match since 1997.

"England's ecstasy" declared the Guardian's front page, above a story by Richard Williams predicting an upsurge in interest in the game at grass roots level.

The Guardian's sports pullout bore a full-page picture of man of the match Andrew Flintoff captioned: "In affectionate celebration of English cricket, which was reborn at Edgbaston on August 7 2005", mirroring the "obituary" of the English game that gave the series its "Ashes" name following England's defeat by Australia in 1882.

Flintoff, whose stirring deeds with bat and ball spurred England on throughout an amazing three and a half days, was widely compared with Ian Botham, the last all-rounder to strike fear into the Australian team.

Flintoff's nine sixes in the match was an Ashes record, overtaking the six of Botham in the memorable 1981 series.

Sportsmanship

"Flintoff joins the giants," said the Daily Express while former England opener Geoff Boycott wrote in the Daily Telegraph that Flintoff would be an automatic choice for any world XI.

Boycott, along with several other observers, also made a point of highlighting Flintoff's sportsmanship, shown when he immediately commiserated with Australian tail-ender Brett Lee while the rest of the England team joined in a delirious celebratory huddle following the match-deciding dismissal of Michael Kasprowicz.