England have regained the Ashes with a 2-1 series win over Australia at the Oval.
Andrew Strauss' side started the fourth day needing 10 wickets to secure victory, with the Australian's hoping to score a mammoth 466 runs in the final two days to stage a shock comeback.
The hosts started their assault early, claiming the wickets of Aussie openers Simon Katich and Shane Watson early in the morning session, both trapped lbw in consecutive overs to bring the crowd to life.
But Australian captain Ricky Ponting held his nerve and produced a captain's innings, steadying the batting line at number three alongside veteran number four Mike Hussey, whose outstanding 121 had the England bowlers nervous at times.
England were in need of inspiration, and once again it came from Andrew Flintoff, the hero of 2005. Freddie looked tired at times with the ball, but fittingly it was a moment of magic from the talismanic all-rounder which broke the Australian fightback.
Fielding at mid-on, Fred collected the ball as Hussey and Ponting ran for a quick single, before dismissing the Aussie captain with a run-out, sending the middle stump cartwheeling from the ground with a spectacular direct hit and a hurtling Ponting still six-inches from safety.
Despite the experience of the Australian batting line-up, run-outs were to prove the order of the day as Australia's man of the series Michael Clarke found himself caught outside his crease by a whisker while yet to score, third umpire Peter Hartley signalling "out" on the big screen, to send the Oval crowd into a frenzy.
Matt Prior handed Greame Swann his deserved second wicket, stumping Marcus North out on 10, capping an excellent match with another 4 wickets as the spinner baffled the Australian's, assisted no doubt by a less than perfect wicket at the Oval, which captain Ricky Ponting was quick to criticise.
Mike Hussey showed strength of character, breaking his run of 28 test innings without a century. Wicket keeper Brad Haddin provided the most able looking partner for Hussey, who proved himself worthy of his nickname, "Mr Cricket", but having started to look settled he swiped at a well pitched delivery from Swann, and was comfortably caught by Strauss to end all hopes of an Aussie survival.
Veteran paceman Steve Harmison made short work of the tail end, Mitchell Johnson edging a quick delivery to Paul Collingwood, who made a spectacular diving catch at slip to make-up for dropping Ponting on 51 early in the day, before Peter Siddle gifted a catch to Flintoff at mid-off.
The final wicket was to fall to Greame Swann, who finally got his man has Mike Hussey mistimed his shot, caught at short leg to send an elated England team running to captain Andrew Strauss, an emotional moment which will doubtless remain in the mind of English cricket fans for many years to come.
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