IF people had begun to question the future of Test cricket, those doubts were blown away over the course of five exhilarating days at Trent Bridge.
England completed the narrowest of victories against Australia yesterday, taking a 1-0 series lead and setting up the double Ashes battle in the best possible fashion.
Ignoring the DRS fallout, which is likely to wrangle on until the start of the second Test at Lords, the Nottingham clash was simply one of the greatest sporting contests you are ever likely to see.
After the frantic and nervy opening – and a dramatic second day that saw debutant Ashton Agar, 19, break all records at number 11 for the Aussies – the class of both sides began to shine through.
From an English perspective, the innings played by Ian Bell was crucial.
Often criticised for his lack of runs in key situations, the Warwickshire man stepped up to the plate and ground out the most important of centuries.
Following Agar's exploits – which masked over a sensational bowling effort from James Anderson (five for 85) – England could have quite easily surrendered.
Instead, the hosts showed exactly why they are among the cricketing elite. Led by Bell and Kevin Pietersen, who made a gritty 64, England rallied to set Australia a daunting target of 311 on a wearing pitch.
Alastair Cook and his side were the heavy favourites going into the final innings, but as the preceding days had indicated, nothing could be taken for granted.
And so it proved as half-centuries from Chris Rogers and Brad Haddin brought the Aussies to within 20 runs of victory, with a single wicket remaining. And it seemed quite fitting that DRS had a part to play at the end.
Anderson (five for 57) induced the faintest of edges from Haddin – given not-out onfield but, to the delight of England and the home crowd, it was overturned.
If the Ashes opener is anything to go by, these next six months could be truly historic.
