Magnificent England and a Complete, All-Round Performance

England! The Ashes! Wow! Not quite sure we saw that coming. Not the win, nor even necessarily the winning margin, but the manner in which they despatched Australia and the all-round contribution from 13 players.

Of course enormus credit must go to the back room staff headed up by Andy Flower and also Graham Gooch (batting), Aussie David Saker (bowling) and Richard Halsall (fielding). Those four gentlemen can be very happy with all those departments, for sure.

But in the end it is the players who count, and they delivered to a man? To a man? Let's look at the evidence.

Andrew Strauss - big runs and big opening partnerships, and captaincy from the front. Alistair Cook - a double century, two centuries, two half centuries, man of the series. Enough said. Jonathan Trott - two centuries and a half century, the run out in Adelaide, and the problem number three batting berth sorted.

Kevin Pietersen - double hundred in Adelaide, useul contributions elsewhere, and even a wicket. Some say he very slightly under-performed. Maybe, but he averaged over 50 in the series! Paul Collingwood - disappointing with the bat, but huge role in general, magnificent fielder (the Ricky Ponting catch will be replayed over and over again) and the capture of Hussey's prize wicket in Sydney. Ian Bell - pure class. Three half centuries and a first Ashes century in Sydney. Will probably be moved up to five now.

Matt Prior - magnificent. Vastly improved behind the stumps, 23 catches, and big runs towards the end of the series, including that brutal century in Sydney. Tim Bresnan - people were probably not sure about his test match credentials before this series. They are now. Arch exponent of the swinging ball in both directions, and a tidy lower order batsman. Graeme Swann -  didn't dominate the wicket-taking simply because the England quicks did such a sterling job, but took vital wickets consistently at a very economical rate, hit a few runs and clung on to some impressive catches. Still the number one spin bowler in the world.

Chris Tremlett - so much for not having the killer instinct required in test cricket. The big man was a revelation and a nightmare to face with both his bounce and also movement. Jimmy Anderson - the man who couldn't bowl down under (so they said) emerged as the series leading wicket taker and led England's bowling attack throughout. Was immense.

Then throw in the other two who started the series. Stuart Broad - stomach injury robbed him of the final three tests but the world knows what a class bowler and very useful batter he is. Steven Finn - series leading wicket taker after three tests before being replaced.  

Like I said, the complete, all-round performance by a team who produced on many occasions perfect cricketing days. So what now? The circus goes on. One-dayers against Australia, then the cricket world cup, a tournament England have never won, and then a summer series against India, the number one ranked test team in the world.

There are still more mountains for England to climb. Judging by the last seven weeks, Strauss and his merry men clearly have the appetite for it, too.