Ashes: Australia cricketer Mitchell Marsh tucks into cheeseboard in the middle

But it still meant England had won the series 3-2, an overall result that confounded the forecasts of many pundits.

Victory for the hosts would have been the first time the English had ever won four tests in a five-match Ashes series in England.

“The wickets are the same for both sides – in three out of the five test matches we played better than Australia”, said Cook. It was finally confirmed when the England captain’s post-match press conference at The Oval was halted because Joe Root burst out laughing at mention of Stuart Broad’s length.

The ICC said Cook pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing.

After England resumed the day on 107-8, Mitchell Johnson took their final two first-innings wickets in consecutive deliveries on a sunny morning and Michael Clarke took the obvious option of enforcing the follow-on. I think that’s the way the game should be played – and, most importantly, I want to see a victor and a loser. At certain moments we’ve had outstanding performances by members of our side.

Clarke said at the toss that the control offered and a seam movement on a fair bit of grassy pitch in Oval by Siddle was the reason behind picking him up ahead of 22-years old Pat Cummins. As well as Ryan Harris, who quit cricket a week before the Ashes because of injury, this could be the last series for Brad Haddin, Shane Watson and Adam Voges – players who are all in their 30s. I always talk about gears and knowing when to move up in test cricket.

They responded to 481 all out with only 149 of their own and then, following on, Cook’s attempted rearguard came to little as they mustered 286 and Peter Siddle, conspicuously absent through the first four Tests despite favourable conditions, finished with match figures of six for 67.

“There are a lot of things behind the scenes when you are making decisions – we are obviously trying to get it right as best as we can”.

“I’d like to see groundsmen around the world – not just here – have the courage to go with what they think is a good cricket wicket”, Clarke was quoted as saying by the Sydney Moring Herald on Sunday. “In the same breath I cherish how lucky I’ve been to be able to play against England as regularly as I have, and play against India and South Africa and Bangladesh, whether it’s Test, one-day or Twenty20 cricket”.

“He didn’t have as productive a series as he’d have liked to, but he had to change his position in the batting order and did it very successfully at Edgbaston at a time when we really needed senior players to stand up”, added Strauss. “I hope Belly is around for the next few years”, Cook said.