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The very best sides in professional sport contain players with ability to turn a match off their own back.
They are professional as well as talented, and committed to work hard for success.
They also possess the ability to win the small battles, the crucial moments in a match that, especially in tight games, can determine the result.
Good sides analyse those moments in review post-match. The best sides recognise and control those moments when they happen, turning them to their advantage.
England have again shown that ability in Durham, Stuart Broad bowling his side to victory with a dominant display of seam bowling that left the Australian batting line-up in tatters.
When it counted, Broad (6-50) and England stood up, and Australia collapsed to give the home side a 74-run victory and a 3-0 lead in the series. Broad finished with eleven wickets for the match.
As much progress as the tourists have made in this series, it is evident they still have a long way to go. Australia had looked well in the game coming out to bat last.
Chasing 299, the Aussies started their task positively, with openers David Warner and Chris Rogers playing with intent but also control, combining for a 100-run stand.
Warner especially looked mature, punishing the bad balls but playing with caution to the good ones.
The burly left-hander reached 52 from 74 balls with a fine shot through point, and England were looking nervous.
Then Graeme Swann finally took England’s first wicket, with Rogers caught by Jonathon Trott at slip for 49 to break what had been an impressive partnership and solid platform for the touring side.
Usman Khawaja came to the crease and looked relatively comfortable, negotiating the last few overs before tea to ensure Australia lost no more wickets and remained in a strong position at 1 for 120.
Khawaja made his way to 22 after the break before being trapped LBW to Graeme Swann, Australia 2 for 147 with Captain Michael Clarke coming to the crease, his team still needing 152 runs for victory.
Clarke played positively, combining with Warner to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
But the left-hander’s innings came to an end when he was caught behind by Matt Prior off the bowling of Tim Bresnan for 71, reducing Australia to 3 for 168.
It was then that Broad took control of the match and instigated an all-too-familiar Aussie batting collapse.
Broad bowled Clarke (21) first ball after drinks with a beauty to reduce Australia to 4 for 174, then had Steve Smith (2) dragging a short ball onto his stumps and Australia 5 for 175.
England were suddenly flying, and things got worse for the tourists soon after when Shane Watson (2) and then Brad Haddin (4) were both given out LBW, both reviewed and both decisions went against the batsmen.
With no reviews left, Australia were reeling, and it continued when Broad again trapped another Aussie batsman in front, Harris gone for 11, giving the seamer his fourth wicket.
He then had his fifth when he knocked Nathan Lyon’s stumps out of the ground.
With one wicket needed for victory, play was extended by an extra 30 minutes to give England the chance of wrapping it up, which they did when Broad took his sixth, Peter Siddle (23) caught by James Anderson at mid-off to seal the win.
They had started the day needing wickets to stay in the contest, and Ryan Harris provided them.
Michael Clarke took the new ball as soon as it was available and Harris struck, removing Ian Bell and Mat Prior with consecutive deliveries, both bowled deflecting the ball onto the stumps.
The Queensland paceman had five wickets in the innings and continued to confirm his place as Australia’s premier bowler when fit.
Harris then snared his sixth when Stuart Broad brought was caught by Steven Smith from a sharp bouncer that had the England batsman jumping.
At eight wickets down, Australia was hopeful of keeping their target to less than 250, but Tim Bresnan and Graeme Swann accelerated and provided valuable runs with in another key moment that turned the advantage back to the home side.
It was, again, a momentary lapse by the Australian side that had a large bearing on the outcome of the match.
It is a familiar story for Australia, who will travel to the Oval still without a win in the series and still unable to win enough of those key moments to get them there.
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