From the archives: Relive the 2013 Ashes Test at Trent Bridge as James Anderson handed England victory over Australia

When the 2013 Ashes series in England came around, the hosts were widely expected to retain the urn with little trouble and though they did go on to win it 3-0, it came at the end of a summer of highs and lows in which Australia dominated for large parts, only for England to keep finding the decisive blow when they needed it most.

Much of England's great team over the previous five years - one crafted by Andy Flower and initially led by Andrew Strauss - remained in place, and even if Alastair Cook had now taken over as captain: Cook himself, Kevin Pietersen, Matthew Prior, Graeme Swann and of course, James Anderson.

The latter seamer was now at the peak of his powers, having played a starring role in England's historic victory Down Under only two years previously, and returning to his beloved Trent Bridge for the Ashes opener, he was no doubt confident of playing a big part once again.

Little did he know that over course of five days of pulsating action, he would play the most significant role of all, pushing his body to its limits and delivering a crucial and prolonged seconds-innings spell that hauled England over the winning line and went a long way to ensuring the Ashes would be staying put.

Michael Clarke's Australia arrived in the UK with an exciting crop of young fast bowlers in their ranks but Clarke aside - he was enjoying a golden run of form rarely seen in the history of the game - the batting was brittle, while friction behind the scenes led to the untimely removal of Micky Arthur as head coach only days before the first Test.

Having won the toss and elected to bat first, England's star-studded line-up was regularly pegged back by James Pattinson and Peter Siddle, the latter recording figures of 14-4-50-5 as the hosts were bundled out for 215.

However, with gloomy skies descending on Nottingham, England's seamers quickly wrested back the initiative, reducing the tourists to 75-4 at the close of play as Anderson made his first significant contribution of the match, a vicious outswinger curling past Clarke's outside edge and trimming the bails.

Clarke looked bewildered at the quality of delivery he had received while Anderson was visibly pumped, the veins almost bursting from his neck as he roared in delight. If we thought it could not get any better than that, we were wrong, for this was just the beginning.

The early exchanges of the second day saw Australia stage an initial fightback as Steve Smith gave the first sign of his rebirth as an international cricketer but when they slumped to 117-9, a heavy defeat appeared likely.

What followed was the stuff of Ashes folklore, debutant Ashton Agar producing the type of breathless, attacking batting that only a young man, one not bogged down by the weight of past failures, could muster.

England's world-class attack was sent to all parts of Nottingham and 117-9 soon became 280 all out as Agar drove, whipped and hooked his way to 98 from just 101 balls, eventually falling two agonising runs short of his hundred when holing out to the deep.

Nevertheless, Agar's partnership of 163 with the late Phillip Hughes - who played maturely for his 81 not out - handed Australia a priceless 65-run lead and had seemingly turned the match on its head.

When England suffered two casualties early in their reply, Australia would have been further buoyed but the first of three hundreds from Ian Bell in the series held up the tourists' push for victory and able support from Pietersen and Stuart Broad - who refused to walk after edging to first slip - ensured Australia were set a stiff victory target of 311.

That target looked even more intimidating when, after an opening partnership of 84 between Chris Rogers and Shane Watson, Australia lost six wickets before the close of play on day four to leave them toiling on 174-6.

The following morning, under glorious blue skies and in front of a packed Trent Bridge crowd, 174-6 soon became 211-8 as Anderson produced another high-class and prolonged spell of bowling to rip out Agar and Mitchell Starc.

Having finished with 5-85 in the first innings, Anderson was again in beautiful rhythm, belying a dry and bare surface to extract what little seam movement there was on offer and maintaining an immaculate line and length as Australia suffocated under the pressure.

Not so Brad Haddin who was happy to weather the Anderson storm, even when the Englishman prized out Siddle to leave the tourists nine down and on the verge of defeat.

Haddin was banking on Anderson not being able to bowl all day and when he was eventually dragged from the attack after a brilliant 13-over spell in the searing July heat, the veteran wicketkeeper sensed his chance, Steven Finn immediately taken for 15 runs in a single over before the impressive Pattinson clubbed Swann over the ropes for six.

When Lunch came, Australia had somehow inched themselves to within 20 runs of victory as Haddin and Pattinson's partnership grew to 60, their own confidence growing with every run.

The break proved to be just what England needed, though, Anderson able to receive some treatment for a bout of cramp before he returned to take the first over after Lunch. It was a herculean effort and typically, the paceman started with another maiden.

Still, five runs from the next over from Swann took the visitors another step closer to victory before Anderson had the final say to break Australian hearts, an off-cutter inducing the faintest of inside edges from the bat of Haddin that was initially adjudged not out.

If the umpire wasn't convinced, neither was Anderson - nor Cook for that matter.

Haddin knew, though, and so did Matt Prior. With Anderson visibly shattered, Cook sensed DRS might be England's last hope and, implored by a convinced Prior, he asked the umpire to the send the decision upstairs.

As the third umpire assessed the evidence, Haddin wore the look of a man resigned to his fate, and moments later Trent Bridge erupted, Anderson sprinting away with his arms stretched out wide, his elated teammates in hot pursuit.

A brilliant Ashes Test match had ended in dramatic fashion with Anderson claiming outstanding match figures of 55.5-13-158-10; a match-winning hand that probably decided the fate of the series, even at that early stage.

Not for the first time, nor the last, the Burnley Express had proved to be England's hero.