It's England way for Vikram Solanki

So to Adelaide, traditionally the finest batting surface in Australia, with both teams assessing a fascinating opening to the series.

And it is England who, thanks to the extraordinary efforts of their batsmen over the final two days, who make the journey with just a little more momentum.

It is significant that no sooner had this opening Test finished than Australia had added Ryan Harris and Doug Bollinger to their squad for Friday's resumption.

Reverse the position and the Aussie press would already be taking huge delight in speculating that this was virtually an admission that England didn't know how to bowl them out.

Whether the English media will do the same I'm not sure but it is difficult to see where the Aussies are going to make their changes.

Peter Siddle can't be dropped after six wickets and a hat-trick and they are sticking with the spinner Xavier Doherty.

Are they really going to eject Mitchell Johnson after one Test?

Bollinger is a left-armer of course but Johnson is their lead bowler and although he did suffer a poor match he has had a decent 12 months.

If there is indecision in the home camp, it contrasts sharply with the English mind-set after taming such a favourable Aussie battleground as the Gabba. Our record there was pretty weak, Australia's formidable.

Yet there are now new landmarks established by Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott which the England camp will quietly make a fuss about.

For Strauss and Cook to have now become the most prolific opening partnership in England's Test history requires a moment's contemplation.

That really is a mighty achievement when you consider the ancestry now left in their wake; to read that Cook claimed another illustrious 'victim', no less than the Don himself, in posting the highest score at the ground will also have resonated within the dressing room.

Cricketers are not consumed by these stats but they do mean something and England's management will make sure the achievements of the past few days are used to further strengthen confidence.

Indeed, I think only a couple of members of the team will have left this Test still waiting to really get into the series.

Paul Collingwood was the one batsman to miss out and Graeme Swann will have wanted to have been more successful with his off spin.

Strangely, the two combined for a rare moment of disappointment over these final two days, when Collingwood put down a regulation chance off Swann to dismiss Shane Watson in the final skirmishes of the five days.

But I am certain that Swann will have a significant say in the destination of the Ashes.

Elsewhere, England have seen their top three get hundreds, Cook a double-ton for the first time in his career.

Conscious that his record against Australia was a little weaker than other teams, Cook particularly will have put a few demons to rest having scored more than 300 runs for once out in this match.

I thought Kevin Pietersen looked in good nick making his 40 and Ian Bell struck some fine form in that important first innings.

As for the bowlers, I thought James Anderson bowled beautifully throughout this Test. He will take wickets with lesser displays but he looks in good working order.

I was also impressed with Stuart Broad – it was good to see him take the one wicket in the final session to get off the mark in the Test.

Broad bowled with aggression but without losing the control. Six wickets for Finn completed a highly satisfactory Ashes debut.

It means, in contrast to Australia's selection conundrum, the entire cricketing world could pick England's team for Adelaide barring injury.

Will either attack be strong enough to take the 20 wickets needed to win a Test?

That will be on the minds of many, Adelaide is a good surface and the bowlers will be in for a hard time but at least there might be some reverse swing – absent at the Gabba – and a little more turn for the spinners.

For now, England will be delighted with their response to the sticky spot in which they found themselves at the end of day three.

Trott proved what an excellent discovery he has been at No 3, a position which has caused England problems for some years, by repeating his debut heroics and scoring big runs when it still mattered.

When Strauss got out to an uncharacteristic misjudgement, there was still time for Australia to win the game.

This is an England team which has been together for a while now and, after reminding their opponents again that there is substance in the face of adversity, they will fancy breaking a few more records before their time is done.