1. Back Foot
If this was, as seems eminently, Ricky Ponting's last dismissal in an MCG Test then it was a symbolic moment. Stuck on the back foot when he's spent almost all his career firmly on the front. The dismissal a microcosm for where Ponting finds himself at the moment, struggling for form in a struggling team and - judging by a quite astonishing interview in which he apologised (sort of) for his rant yesterday but still insisted Kevin Pietersen should have been given out - struggling even to maintain a grip on reality.

2. Time For Tim
The selection of Tim Bresnan here was not met with universal approval. Or indeed any approval. Steven Finn had gone for runs, but was the leading wicket-taker and unlucky to miss out. But history will show it was the right decision - and one down in no small part to England bowling coach David Saker who knows the conditions at the 'G as well as anyone. Bresnan has always been an under-rated bowler, but even his most ardent supporters would not have expected him to remove Australia's two best batsmen and their captain in a spell of three wickets for two runs in 18 balls of world-class swing bowling. The England selectors have got so much right in the run-up to this series - backing Cook, getting Finn into the side last summer, picking Tremlett in Perth, and now picking Bresnan here - we'll forgive their sentimental attachment to Paul Collingwood.

3. Squad Game
England's Ashes-retaining (surely now) efforts in Australia have not been the result of a team effort, but of a squad effort. They have had century partnerships in this series for every wicket from one to six. All the batsmen bar Collingwood have made crucial contributions, and Colly has - as always - been vital in the field with a couple of stunning catches along the way to keep Ponting down on his luck, Matt Prior has until today been almost blemish-free with the gloves while all six bowlers have played their part. Even the unfortunate Stuart Broad, who took just two wickets before injury struck, created pressure that was exploited by Anderson and Finn.

4. Rhino Nasty
Another major setback in the injury-blighted career of Ryan Harris. There seemed little serious alarm as he pulled up in his run-up and hobbled off the field, but soon after a stress fracture in the ankle was confirmed and he's already been slated for surgery tomorrow. It's a desperately unfortunate blow for a man who has worked hard to achieve his international ambitions with a body that too often betrays him.

5. Stats
Jonathan Trott's unbeaten 168 leaves him with a three-figure average against Australia and the second-best Test batting average of all time at 64. While he is unlikely to maintain such giddy heights, he is gurning and scraping his way to a fine career and playing 50 Tests with an average of 50 looks well within the 29-year-old's compass. Bresnan, meanwhile, in an admittedly fledgling career, is currently averaging 32 with the bat and 28 with the ball in Test cricket. For comparison: IT Botham 33 and 28; A Flintoff 32 and 33...

Dave Tickner