With the players and fans still basking in the glow of their famous Ashes test victory the first of two T20 internationals took place, a form of the game where England can rightly call themselves the world's best.
The last time the two sides met in a T20 international was the World Cup final back in May, a game that saw England finally win a ICC competition after several failed and often humiliating attempts.
In the aftermath of that game the predictable Aussie excuse was that it wasn't really a legitimate form of cricket. A quick hit, a bit of fun, but nothing that really reflects the quality of a team.
That argument looks a little hollow in the wake of their test hammering and the way they approached the first T20 at Adelaide suggests they are ready to take these sort of matches far more seriously.
Shane Watson raced to a 31-ball 59 in an opening stand of 83 with David Warner from just nine overs as the hosts threatened to blast an unreachable score. But the moment Watson fell to Yardy the runs began to dry up, with just 74 added in 11.2 overs and only five boundaries coming in the second 10 overs.
England's innings began with intent and the final Australian score of 157 was looking modest as the visitors flew along to 85/3 after ten, those watching the live scores were convinced the side would romp home.
But Shane Watson led the fight-back, ending with final figures of 4-15 and as three quick wickets fell England needed just four runs from the final over with two wickets remaining, suddenly the score made much less comfortable reading.
That was one wicket, when Graeme Swann was clean bowled by Watson. The next two deliveries to Shahzad were dot balls. With the nerves palpable across the Adelaide Oval a leg-bye brought 21-year-old Chris Woakes on strike with three runs needed from two.
The headline writers were sharpening their pencils as the youngster chopped the ball away for two that levelled the scores and then with the field in for the final delivery confidently clipping the ball off the pads to seal a dramatic record-breaking eighth consecutive T20 win.
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