Australia may have retained the urn but couldn't do enough to win the 2019 Ashes series as England clinched a 135-run fifth Test victory to level the scores.
Stuart Broad and Jack Leach were two of England's star performers at The Oval, taking four wickets apiece, giving coach Trevor Bayliss a fitting send-off.
After a series laden with moments of individual excellence, Sportsmail expert Lawrence Booth looks back at the five most memorable moments from across the five Tests.
FIRST TEST - EDGBASTON
At 122 for eight on the first day of the series, Australia looked like going 1-0 down before they had warmed up. But in his first Test innings since his year-long ban because of Sandpapergate, Steve Smith rescued them with a superlative 144. He later sealed the match with a second-innings 142. Smith was back — and how.
SECOND TEST - LORD’S
Smith had moved to 80 in the first innings at Lord’s when Jofra Archer pinged him on the neck during a ferociously fast spell that touched 96mph. Smith left the field for a concussion test, returned soon after before falling for 92, and was later ruled out of the next Test. The theatre that afternoon was breathtaking.
THIRD TEST - HEADINGLEY
All Nathan Lyon had to do to secure a 2-0 lead for Australia with two Tests to play was catch a gentle return from Pat Cummins and, with Jack Leach stranded, whip off the bails. Somehow he dropped the ball, allowing Leach to return to safety, with England needing two to win…
THIRD TEST - HEADINGLEY
… but the drama wasn’t over. Next ball, Ben Stokes missed a huge slog-sweep, only for umpire Joel Wilson to reject Lyon’s appeal.
Australia had wasted their last review moments earlier and technology suggested Stokes was out. In the next over, he thrashed Cummins through the covers to move to 135 and complete a fantastical one-wicket win.
FOURTH TEST - OLD TRAFFORD
England breathed an almighty sigh of relief when Leach had Smith caught on 118 in Australia’s first innings. But their faces went white as they saw the replay: Leach had overstepped. Smith returned to the crease to hit 211 and set up Australia’s Ashes-retaining win.
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