ENGLAND may have won The Ashes series 2-1 but, in a cruel twist for Ricky Ponting's men, it was Australia who dominated the stats.
The tourists had eight centurions to England's two, although four of the eight came in the opening Test when England clung on for a draw.
The top three bowlers, in terms of wickets taken, were also all Aussies with Ben Hilfenhaus leading the way on 22.
But in captain Andrew Strauss, England had a man who led from the front. He scored 474 runs, the highest aggregate, at an average of 52.66 and was an unsurprising choice for man of the series.
Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke was not far behind on an aggregate of 448 runs and took the tourists' man of the series award.
The Australians may have taken more wickets overall, but the English bowlers had more five-fors and enjoyed purple patches which turned the game in their favour.
Another statistical anomaly appears in Stuart Broad's effort in the heavy defeat at Headingley.
He took his Test best figures of 6-91 which was also the only occasion in the series that more than five wickets were taken by an individual bowler in a single innings.
But it will be the spells of Andrew Flintoff who took 5-92 at Lord's and Broad (5-37 at The Oval) which will live much longer in the memory.
And so, despite the Aussies' better stats, England had the brighter moments as the little urn returned home.
SERIES SUMMARY
First Test (Cardiff): England 435 & 252-9 drew with Australia 674-6dec Scorecard
Second Test (Lord’s): England 425 & 311-6dec beat Australia 215 & 406 by 115 runs Scorecard
Third Test (Edgbaston): Australia 263 & 375-5 drew with England 376 Scorecard
Fourth Test (Headingley): Australia 445 beat England 102 & 263 by an innings and 80 runs Scorecard
Fifth Test (The Oval): England 332 & 373-9dec beat Australia 160 & 348 by 197 runs Scorecard
ENGLAND WON THE SERIES 2-1
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
MAN OF THE SERIES: Andrew Strauss (ENG)
ENGLAND MAN OF THE SERIES: Andrew Strauss
AUSTRALIA MAN OF THE SERIES: Michael Clarke
BATSMEN (*not out)
HIGHEST AGGREGATE: Andrew Strauss (ENG), 474 runs at 52.66
BEST SCORE: Andrew Strauss (ENG), 161 in the second Test at Lord’s
CENTURY MAKERS:
Simon Katich (AUS), 122 in the first Test at Cardiff
Ricky Ponting (AUS), 150 in the first Test at Cardiff
Marcus North (AUS), 125* in the first Test at Cardiff
Brad Haddin (AUS), 121 in the first Test at Cardiff
Andrew Strauss (ENG), 161 in the second Test at Lord’s
Michael Clarke (AUS), 136 in the second Test at Lord’s
Michael Clarke (AUS), 103* in the third Test at Edgbaston
Marcus North (AUS), 110 in the fourth Test at Headingley
Jonathan Trott (ENG), 119 in the fifth Test at The Oval
Mike Hussey (AUS), 121 in the fifth Test at The Oval
BOWLERS
LEADING WICKET TAKER: Ben Hilfenhaus (AUS), 22 wickets
BEST FIGURES: Stuart Broad (ENG), 6-91 in the fourth Test at Headingley
FIVE-FORS:
Andrew Flintoff (ENG), 5-92 in the second Test at Lord’s
James Anderson (ENG), 5-80 in the third Test at Edgbaston
Peter Siddle (AUS), 5-21 in the fourth Test at Headingley
Stuart Broad (ENG), 6-91 in the fourth Test at Headingley
Mitchell Johnson (AUS), 5-69 in the fourth Test at Headingley
Stuart Broad (ENG), 5-37 in the fifth Test at The Oval
TEAMS SCORES
HIGHEST
Australia 674-6dec, in the first Test at Cardiff
Australia 445, in the fourth Test at Headingley
England 425, in the second Test at Lord’s
LOWEST
England 102, in the fourth Test at Headingley
Australia 160, in the fifth Test at The Oval
Australia 215, in the second Test at Lord’s
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