Five days of gruelling cricket awaits England, Australia

Surrey, Aug 16 (ANI): England and Australia are up for a thrilling finish to the Ashes series at The Oval, where four years ago the drawn final Test of the 2005 Ashes series had brought a thrilling confrontation between Kevin Pietersen and Brett Lee that decided the fate of the series which England won 2-1.

Five days of gruelling cricket is awaiting both the teams, where the winner will take all.

The pitch will be hard and bouncy, which would make Australian captain Ricky Ponting's condition miserable, as he would be in a dreadlock to choose between four-pronged pace attack or a spinner, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

The fifth and final Test will also be famous for a fascinating match-up, Ponting against Andrew Flintoff, who will both be in the middle to prove a point in the most vital contests of their careers.

The Oval Test would be Flintoff's last match before he retires from Test cricket. It would also be Ponting's final Test match on English soil.

So far the Australian's determination has prevailed against the Lancastrian's fractured flamboyance. But there's still everything to play for. If he's good enough and fit enough, Flintoff can still arouse England one more time. (ANI)