Strauss takes top gong for England

Moment that summed-up the series

When South Africa declared yesterday, giving themselves only 44 overs to try to bowl out England.
Many of their selections throughout the series did not add up and their sums at Centurion Park, for a match they had to win, did not make sense.

Decision that decided the series

Clive Lloyd's, to fine Vaughan his entire match fee for using that disgusting word '"inconsistent" about the umpires' interpretation of bad light during the Johannesburg Test. Well, it sure upset Vaughan, and made England's dramatic victory there all the sweeter for their captain.

Batsman most likely to be targeted by the Aussies

It is tempting to say Vaughan, because he did so well against them a couple of winters ago. Or Trescothick, because they've got to him before and reckon he's a weak link. But the answer has to be Strauss. Australia will explore the theory that England's man of the series in South Africa may be vulnerable to a round-the-wicket attack and they will have noted he always keeps slip fielders interested. Glenn McGrath will regard it as a personal challenge to bring the new opener's Test average tumbling down.

Player who needs to improve most before the summer

The obvious answer is Harmison, always assuming that was him bowling against South Africa and not some look-alike drafted in to lull those Aussies into a false sense of security.
But then, Harmison hasn't really got to improve at all. He only needs to go back to what he was doing for all bar the last month of 2004 when he terrorised just about every batsman to cross his path and picked up more than 60 Test wickets.
Having taken only nine wickets in this series at 73 runs apiece, Harmison is now well down the world rankings. Perhaps being No1 until Christmas bothered him rather than inspired him. Like the pressure or not, though, Harmison is the bowler most capable of doing Australia some damage.

Bowler most likely to be targeted by the Australians

It could be Harmison, or Hoggard after his heroics over the past few weeks. But during the course of this next Ashes series England are likely to need long, controlled spells from spinner Ashley Giles to keep them in Tests when the world champions are trying to power away through Ricky Ponting or Adam Gilchrist.
Left-armer Giles has become truly dependable and vitally important to his best mate Vaughan. Australia won't like that. If they can smash him out of the attack it will reopen that old debate about the absence of a 'mystery spinner' in England's ranks and leave Giles feeling under pressure and unwanted again - just like he did a couple of years ago.

The player who stands the best chance of breaking into the team ahead of the Ashes series

Kevin Pietersen would probably expect it to be Kevin Pietersen because England's newly-qualified South African seems full of confidence. But anyone who watched Ian Bell bat at The Oval against the West Indies last season might beg to differ.
The No3 slot needs sorting out before the Aussies are tackled. Maybe Mark Butcher will come again, perhaps Rob Key is the answer. But Bell is the next cab off the rank, and his engine is already running.