The Great Ashes Escape

Newsbeat's sports reporter David Garrido watched the thrilling last day of the 1st Ashes Test in Cardiff.

When it was announced the 1st Ashes Test would be in Cardiff, who'd have bet on such a dramatic finale?

Fans are probably still pinching themselves after England managed to squeak a draw out of a completely hopeless position.

With the hosts five men down before lunch on day 5, they were staring at a humiliating defeat.

Enter Paul Collingwood, the man for a crisis.

It was never going to be Twenty20-style hit and hope - you could see he had a calming influence on his batting partners, even Freddy Flintoff.

"Colly" kept Graeme Swann going when he'd been shaken up by some aggressive Aussie bowling, and again Jimmy Anderson supported well.

But when the backbone broke and Collingwood was out for 74, it looked like that was that - England 1-nil down in the series.

Australia needed one more wicket in the last 12 overs, either Monty Panesar or Anderson. Inevitable, surely?

But that final breakthrough never came.

Fan power

With the Barmy Army growing in voice, every blocked ball was cheered as if it was a massive six into the stands…no-one was leaving this one early.

Fancy dressing fans helped raise the atmosphere in Cardiff

And who said Monty couldn't bat?! So often mocked for his lack of technique, almost every stroke was text-book - they were perhaps the most important seven runs he's ever scored.

The Aussies, so ruthless and brutal before, lacked the killer instinct - neither tail-ender was prepared to budge…and the tourists simply ran out of time.

Cue utter jubilation for England.

But there's no doubt about it, the home side got let off the hook.

It feels like a win, but it's not. If anything, it's an indication of just how good Australia are. England have work to do this week to catch up.

The top order need to start weighing in with some big centuries - not just 60 or 70, the bowlers need to start showing their nasty side - get aggressive, get ugly.

But who cares? What a start to this Ashes series. If this is setting the tone, bring on Lord's.