Ashes 2010: The best pictures from day four of the fourth Test

Evening. How d'ya sleep? Me either. For the last 16 hours I've been thinking about the last 24 years, and what England are about to achieve. It might take three balls; it might take three hours. Either way, fix yourself a big dumb grin and a big gin and cherish every second. In life, there are few things as beautiful as the window that exists when a deal has been sealed in nature but not name: nailing a job interview or an exam; the moments before a first kiss; and, yep, winning the Ashes in Australia for the first time since December 28 1986 Photograph: Getty Images/Getty Images

All that really matters tonight is the retention of that urn, but there is the chase of another shuddering statgasm in this record-busting series. Australia's record Test defeat on home soil was by an innings and 230 runs. They currently trail by 246 runs Photograph: MICK TSIKAS/REUTERS

67th over: Australia 169-6 (Haddin 11, Johnson 6) The ground is barely a quarter full – it's a Poms' party, basically – as Tim Bresnan prepares to bowl the opening over of the day. Technically England need four wickets, but in reality it's just three as the injured Ryan Harris will not bat Photograph: Jason O'Brien/Action Images

WICKET! Australia 172-7 (Johnson b Tremlett 6) That's the first one Photograph: Jason O'Brien/Action Images

Tremlett gets Johnson with a very good delivery that comes back a fair way to take the inside edge before deflecting onto the body and back onto the stumps Photograph: JULIAN SMITH/EPA

73rd over: Australia 196-7 (Haddin 27, Siddle 6) Haddin is hitting it pretty sweetly, especially through the covers. He has been one of only three batsmen for Australia in this series. In that, as in so much else, the roles have reversed. But then that's no surprise: winning teams do certain things, and so do losing teams Photograph: Gareth Copley/PA

80th over: Australia 235-7 (Haddin 47, Siddle 25) Haddin wears a very good short ball from Anderson on the right breast. The second new ball is due, but Swann might have another over I reckon. "WE CAN STILL WIN THIS!!!" says Henry Scowcroft. Yes, Henry is English Photograph: Gareth Copley/PA

WICKET! Australia 258-8 (Siddle c Pietersen b Swann 40) Swann has struck. Strauss keep him on and was rewarded when Siddle swiped his second ball high towards long on, where Pietersen took a well-judged catch just inside the rope. One more wicket Photograph: MICK TSIKAS/REUTERS

WICKET! Australia 258 all out (Hilfenhaus c Prior b Bresnan 0) ENGLAND WIN BY AN INNINGS AND 157 RUNS. OR, TO PUT IT ANOTHER WAY, ENGLAND RETAIN THE ASHES! Photograph: JULIAN SMITH/EPA

Matt Prior, having picked himself up after taking the catch, can't penetrate the huddle. He decides not to ruin the moment by punching someone in the face and just jumps up and down like a madman on the back of one of his teammates. Wonderful stuff. England have retained the Ashes, and they have done so with their biggest win over Australia since 1956 Photograph: Gareth Copley/PA

Congratulations to England. We all want to support a winning team, but so often winning teams aren't actually very likeable. That's the game. This lot are Photograph: Rick Rycroft/AP

This is a team we can all be so proud of; a resourceful group of likeable, humble, good-humoured fellas who wring every last drop from their talent, who have an equilibrium that allows them to meet with innings victories and thumping defeats and treat those two imposters just the same Photograph: JULIAN SMITH/EPA

Ah salut, indeed, to Flower and to England and – what the hell – to everyone in the whole wide world. Thanks for all your emails throughout this series. They did it! Photograph: Rick Rycroft/AP