So England celebrates, while the Aussies cut figures of frustration. But who came out of the test match with the much vaunted ‘momentum’?

In the immediate aftermath, and judging simply by the jubilant spectators at Sophia Gardens, England appeared to be the team in the driving seat. Having repelled an Antipodean onslaught and adopting a stubborn posture in the face of almost certain defeat, Andrew Strauss’ lower order showed the strength of character normally displayed by their Australian counterparts.

The much-maligned recent trend in England’s thinking of sending in a night-watchman irrespective of the state of the game actually paid off, albeit in a previously unexpected manner.

James Anderson has borne that particular responsibility of late and he has spent much time at the crease against the West Indies, India and South Africa in the past twelve months. He managed to survive a total of 69 deliveries in his match-saving innings of 21 not out yesterday but that is child’s play compared to the 113 he faced in Chennai against the likes of Ishant Sharma and Harbhajan Singh not to mention the 112 at Headingley against a Protea bowling attack boasting Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini.

The confidence that regular batting provides coupled with the steely determination typical of a Lancastrian has turned Anderson into someone that you no longer fear for when he strides to the middle. He is by no means an all-rounder but neither is he a walking wicket.

While the collective spirit shown by Graeme Swann, James Anderson and Monty Panesar was encouraging in the extreme during the last two sessions of the match, the stoicism exemplified by Paul Collingwood in batting for almost six hours in the face of immense pressure was something to truly applaud.

It was a trait lost on the likes of Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Strauss and Matt Prior, each of whom were back in the pavilion following a scandalous choice of shot – or, in the case of KP, no shot at all.

This gutsy, obdurate cricketer is tailor-made for these situations and he was the one England player to emerge in total credit with two half centuries and even a wicket under his belt. He must have run Ricky Ponting close for the man of the match award and had he still been not out at the close I think the Durham man may well have got the nod.

For all the praise being heaped on England’s character though it must not be allowed to gloss over what was, for the most part, an inept technical performance.

England’s first innings was a classic example of batsmen getting in and then getting out. While we can excuse Prior this time round - along with Flintoff - Pietersen needs to take a long hard look at himself while Alastair Cook seems to have learnt nothing from his tour to Australia in 2006-7, once again wafting away from his body at the ball slanted across him.

England’s bowlers were also well-below par. England’s inability to take twenty wickets on a regular basis has been discussed intensely in cricketing circles but on this occasion they could not even bowl their opponents out once. Australia meanwhile took nineteen wickets for the concession of almost exactly the same amount of runs as they amassed for the loss of just six.

Huge improvements need to be made in just about every department in the England team. A return to the squad may possibly be in the offing for the mercurial Steve Harmison and Ian Bell might even fancy his chances of breaking into a mentally-fragile top order.

Perhaps just a recognition that they are playing Australia and not the West Indies might serve to sharpen them up and having snatched a draw from the jaws of defeat the players know that they cannot afford to perform so averagely again.

Australia have to be the happier of the two sides but they will not be without their concerns. For all the tenacity of Peter Siddle and the accuracy of Ben Hilfenhaus, the fact remains that they failed to bowl out a wilting England XI and that the final hour included a full eleven overs with Monty Panesar in their sights.

Mitchell Johnson looked like an imposter compared to the man who ripped the heart out of South Africa just a few months ago. And while Nathan Hauritz came out of the match with six wickets to his name and having totally outshone his opposite numbers, ultimately he did not have the guile to prise out England’s number ten and eleven.

To prevent another five days of agony, England fans must be hoping that the likes of Stuart Broad, Anderson and especially Swann cannot possibly bowl that ineffectually again and that Pietersen keeps his concentration at the maximum level when they line-up at Lords for the second test on Thursday.

The optimism may well be with England and their supporters but the reality of the situation puts Australia in firm command going to the home of cricket where they have not been beaten since 1934.

England may have got out of jail in Cardiff but they would do well to remember a lesson from four years ago. When Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath saw out the final 24 balls at Old Trafford to prompt their teammates into raucous celebrations on the balcony of the pavilion, the stay of execution lasted only until the next test match before England nudged ahead in the series with victory at Trent Bridge.

It was a lead England did not relinquish and now it is they who must take heed.