Australian cricket team in England and Scotland in 2009 ever Test match – finished in a draw, while the second Test at London's Lord's Cricket Ground resulted in a 115-run victory for England after they had bowled Australia out for 215 in their first innings. Andrew Flintoff, who had announced his impending retirement from Test cricket prior to the Lord's Test, took five wickets in the second innings to secure the victory. The rain-affected third Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham also finished in a draw, but a batting collapse brought about by immaculate bowling in the fourth Test at Headingley in Leeds meant that England were dismissed for 102
Test matches in England in 2005 to console the despondent batsmen—a gesture which was widely commented upon as indicative of the good sportsmanship and mutual respect between the teams which characterised the series. England's two run victory is the narrowest result in Ashes cricket history (there have been two Tests won by a margin of only three runs). It is also the second narrowest run victory in all Test cricket history. (other narrow victories given here) With the series square after England's close win in the second match at Edgbaston in Birmingham, the stakes of the third Test at Old Trafford in Manchester had risen significantly.