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In reality, though, the bowling is by far the bigger problem.

Australia, after all, are yet to win a match on tour: they couldn't bowl out Sussex in 89 overs second time around, nor could they knock England over in Cardiff, despite having them five down at lunch on the final day, and they rarely looked dangerous at Lord's.

Johnson remains the biggest problem, leaking runs with the new ball without threatening, and will have to play for his place at Northampton, where the touring team go next. They will hope that Brett Lee and Shane Watson are fit enough to provide options if Johnson cannot relocate his radar, buy wow goldas Stuart Clark is said to have lost his nip. Phillip Hughes could do with a few runs to remind himself that batting can be fun.

England will also be happy for the break, Andy Flower, the team director, admitting post-match concerns about the fitness of Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen. Flower said that Pietersen was in constant discomfort and that he would be unhappy going into a Test match with Flintoff if he could not guarantee his fitness over five days. Stephen Harmison, who took six wickets in the shires during this Test, and Monty Panesar will be discussed, as will Graham Onions's contribution in this match and the Edgbaston pitch.

That is for the future, though. This will be remembered as Flintoff's match. He began it by announcing his retirement from Test cricket; he finished it by revealing, if we didn't already know, how much he will be missed.

—Mike Atherton is chief cricket correspondent for The Times

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