The Aussies arrived at Adelaide mentally shot after England’s second-innings 517-1 declared in the series opener at Brisbane, but the toss appeared to deliver some respite for the hosts as the coin came down in their favour. Ricky Ponting had no hesitation in choosing to bat.

This may well have signalled bedtime for English fans watching on TV back home, with a bucket-load of runs expected on Australia’s most batsman-friendly track. But those who kept the candle burning would be handsomely rewarded. The 20 minutes that followed would come to define England’s dominance in the series.

Several fans weren’t even in their seats yet when Shane Watson pushed the ball into the leg-side and called Simon Katich through for a single from the fourth ball of the match. Jonathan Trott swiftly scampered round from short mid-wicket and took aim. The throw crashed into the base of the stumps with Katich not even in the picture. Trott peeled off in delight, arm raised to the crowd in a celebration reminiscent of Alan Shearer in his pomp.

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It was another special Ashes moment for Trott, who would play such a huge part in the series. The run-out came off the back of his mammoth second-innings effort at Brisbane, where be batted for more than six hours in a partnership of 329 with the impregnable Alastair Cook. He would go on to play sublimely again in the fourth Test at Melbourne, carrying his bat for 168, and finish as England’s second-highest run-scorer in the series.

At Adelaide, England capitalised on Trott’s flying start, Jimmy Anderson taking Ponting’s edge first ball with a beauty of an outswinger before repeating the trick eight balls later to send Michael Clarke on his way and leave Australia gasping for breath. England were on fire. Before the first pints had been slurped, the Aussies were 2-3 – their worst start to a Test for 60 years.

Happy birthday to @WarwickshireCCC and @englandcricket batsman Jonathan Trott. Here’s what Paul Bolton wrote when he was a @WisdenAlmanack Cricketer of the Year in 2011 – https://t.co/iDjrPzCEqN #wisdencricketeroftheyear

— Wisden Almanack (@WisdenAlmanack) April 22, 2020

Despite a counter-attack from Mike Hussey and Brad Haddin, Australia were all out for 245 before stumps on day one. It was a start they never recovered from, Kevin Pietersen scoring a Test-best 227 as England romped to the first of three innings-victories in the series.