LONDON, 8 September 2005 — England captain Michael Vaughan avoided any flights of Churchillian oratory and refrained from invoking the spirit of Agincourt on the eve of today’s climactic fifth Ashes Test.

While British newspapers have trumpeted the deciding Test against Australia as the biggest sporting occasion in England since the 1966 soccer World Cup final, Vaughan preferred to concentrate on the journey rather than the destination. “We will just do as we have done in the last few games,” he told a news conference yesterday. “I don’t see any reason why we should change our approach.”

Vaughan will be in distinguished company if England secure the win or draw they need to reclaim the Ashes relinquished to Allan Border’s 1989 Australian side.

Two other Yorkshiremen, Len Hutton and Ray Illingworth, also reclaimed the symbol of England-Australia cricketing rivalry after 19 and 12 years respectively.

Hutton’s team clinched victory over the 1953 Australians at the Oval while Illingworth’s men won in Sydney in the 1970-1 series.

Both were memorable series but neither approaches the 2005 conTest for sustained excitement after it had appeared business as usual following the first Test at Lord’s when Australia cantered to a comfortable victory.

Instead the series most recalled is the 1981 Ashes clash in England when Ian Botham transformed the home’s team fortunes after they had also lost the opening Test.

Australia set news standards for attacking cricket in the opening years of the 21st century but they have been more than matched by England who have taken the attack to the tourists since Lord’s. Vaughan, though, preferred to cite England’s determination to stick to their game plan.

“I wouldn’t say aggression,” he said. “But we have been controlled and disciplined.” This year’s Oval Test is the latest ever staged in England and although the weather throughout England is still summery the forecast is uncertain. Rain is predicted for tomorrow and Saturday before clearing on Sunday with sunshine forecast for Monday’s final day. Any time lost will make a draw more probable for an England side who plan to emulate the 2003 rugby World Cup winners with an open-top bus parade in London’s Trafalgar Square if they do regain the Ashes. With the impeccable timing that distinguished his term as Australia captain and his subsequent career as a television commentator, writer and pundit, Richie Benaud has announced that the fifth Test will be his last in an English commentary box.

No one has played or watched more cricket than Benaud, who believes the 2005 conTest is the best series he has ever witnessed.

“The best Test series in which I played was the one with the tied Test when Frank Worrell brought his side to Australia in 1960-61,” Benaud, 74, recalled.

“That was the best from a playing point of view. The best as a commentator for me was the 1981 series, and in particular the match at Headingley, Botham’s match. Now it’s my view, and people may disagree with it, but I think this series shades the 1981 tour. “And that’s saying something, because a long time has passed since then. I’ve always held the view that ‘81 was the best but now I think that this series has just gone ahead of it in my mind.”