BLOODY MARVELS

ENGLAND are hot to Trott towards Ashes glory today after putting the Aussies on the ropes at the Oval.

Jonathan Trott led the way with a debut ton as the visitors were set an unlikely 546 for victory in the deciding Test.

Graeme Swann piled in with an aggressive 63 while Andrew Flintoff, in his final Test, chipped in with a quick-fire 22.

And you safely assume Ricky Ponting had not bitten on a Harlequins blood capsule. That was genuine claret.

A firm defensive Matt Prior prod had landed on Ponting's cheek with the force and accuracy of a decent right hook.

The final insult for the pantomime villain? Not quite.

But surely that will come at some point over the next two days when England reclaim possession of the Ashes.

Down Under, they have been whingeing about this Oval pitch. About the dust. For long periods yesterday, they were ground into it.

Trampled on by Trott's immaculate century, taunted by a string of lower-order cameos.

But don't start up the open-top bus just yet. Make sure it's got a full tank, by all means. But don't turn the key.

On a surface where devilment is looking increasingly imaginary, Australia may yet complete a world record run chase.

If they bat for the next two days, they will inevitably reach the gargantuan victory total of 546.

And if they do, they deserve to keep the urn for good.

But although Simon Katich and Shane Watson breezed productively through 90 minutes without serious alarm last night, and although nearly 400 runs were scored on the third day with only six wickets falling, England must still be overwhelming favourites to complete an unlikely series win.

Who would have thought that when Monty Panesar was hanging on for dear life in Cardiff?

It would be a just reward for Andrew Strauss. The captain - perhaps fittingly for one so understated - has not been given enough credit for his captaincy and his batting in this series.

He has been England's most consistent performer. Before Trott, England's only consistent performer.

Topping the Ashes run charts, serenity amidst the frequent squalls of panic, has been his trademark.

He has skippered intelligently and contributed to some tough but justified selection calls.

One of them was to bring in Trott who, in a single game, ensured that the core of the England batting line-up for some years to come will have been created in South Africa. In the stands, his mother wept when he reached three figures - only the second England player to do so in this slightly bizarre series.

I bet Mrs Trott didn't envisage this when she was raising her son in the shadows of Table Mountain.

In his leaked memo, Justin Langer suggested that some Englishmen were pussycats. But they don't breed pussycats in South Africa. Only big game.

And rarely can a Test debutant have shown such focus and mental application. The contrast with the ommitted Ravi Bopara could not have been sharper.

Trott was the cornerstone of England's second innings, even shrugging off a bouncer that nearly lifted his helmet over the boundary ropes, but is still wary of Australia's threat.

Successful

He said: "I exceeded my own expectations but the win is still the most important thing. You work at your own game so you can contribute to a successful side.

"It wasn't easy and it's a satisfying feeling. The guys around me made it easier for me. I've been working very hard so if I did ever get the chance with the national team then I'd be in the best possible shape to succeed.

"I tried to approach it like any other game. The key thing was to try and play the way I always play and not change anything.

"I don't want to stand still because I want to get better and better. I've settled in really quickly but I don't want to get ahead of myself - and we can't do that either in this game.

"Batting on that wicket will definitely get a lot harder as the ball gets softer especially with spin at one end and our seamers.

"I certainly felt when they took the new ball it got a lot easier, the ball came on to the bat a lot nicer, although you have to be patient and make sure you don't try and force it. We'd have liked to have got a few wickets, but hopefully well do well tomorrow."

With Strauss - who departed when the lunch table had just been set - Trott destroyed any Australian hopes of rattling through the English order and giving themselves a more realistic victory target.

With Trott embedded, others could express themselves.

Stuart Broad airily advertised his batsmanship, Swann lowered green caps even further with a punishing half-century. And it even gave time for the show within a show.

The Flintoff farewell. It wasn't a Frank Sinatra farewell. In fact, it was one more befitting of, say, a Lily Allen, who was here again yesterday - at one point sporting a hat shaped as a giant pint of lager.

HER-OW - Andrew Strauss is hit on the arm

No doubt, Freddie would have approved. And his last innings was somehow fitting. A sort of down-in-one and then out of the swinging saloon doors.

A 26-minute, 18-ball thrash. Four boundaries, a hoik into Peter Siddle's hands, and two standing ovations. Exactly like Flintoff's Test career. Fun while it lasted.

But what Strauss would give for one final Freddie hurrah. England should win this Test and win it comfortably. Defeat from the jaws of victory may be a national speciality but this would take some doing.

Nevertheless, the ease with which Strauss, Trott and Swann flicked aside the Australian attack gave the eternal pessimists plenty to fret about.

The beastliness of this Oval track lay not in the loose matter on the surface but in the grey matter up top.

And sure enough, the demons that had disappeared overnight remained hidden when Flintoff charged in. Freddie and his great pal Steve Harmison were treated with something bordering on disdain by Watson and Katich.

Triumph

But there was enough turn for Swann, and enough encouragement for the buoyant Broad to remind the doom-mongers that the most likely outcome remains an England triumph.

It won't be without a serious fight. This is the sort of unlikely challenge that will appeal to Ponting and his countrymen.

And while we are on the subject of the Australian skipper, amidst all the nonsense about the jeering, his sportsmanship should be recorded.

He made a point of shaking Flintoff's hand when he came to the crease and led the applause for Trott when he reached his century. He's fair and, boy, is he tough.

When Ponting was hit smack in the mouth, he refused treatment, simply spitting out blood as he walked for his lunch.

And that is the attitude he will have instilled in his men, the attitude he will take to the wicket when this first-wicket partnership is broken.

Ponting does not want a bloody nose to go with his bloody lip. England - despite their massive advantage - will have to scrap to their limits to make sure he gets one. And make sure the Ashes really are coming home.

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