Just a fortnight ago it seemed inconceivable that Alec Stewart and his team could possibly perform a lap of honour at the Sydney Cricket Ground and receive a standing ovation from English and Australian fans.

Hear the report in audio

But, that more than anything, illustrated the new life Stewart's team has breathed into, not just this series, but certainly the next Ashes tour in four years time.

This winter had to provide a contest and for the last two weeks we had one.

Nevertheless, the frustrations of the first three Tests are not easily forgotten.

Catch after catch after catch was dropped and the lower order was blown away in the blink of an eye.

But something happened between Adelaide - where the Ashes were lost - and Melbourne that transformed England into a tenacious competitive cricket team.

Three things in fact. Catches were taken, with Ramprakash and Crawley performing outstandingly.

Dean Headley burst onto the scene to grab 14 wickets in two games (how England will hope that he can build on that development next summer) and Gough grew in stature to the extent that he must now be considered one of the leading fast bowlers in the world.

With Ramprakash and Hussain building their reputations in the middle order and the progress made by Tudor and Mullally, England's future looks surprisingly bright.