Geraint Jones has revealed how he battled back from one of the toughest weeks of his England career to take the crucial catch which silenced a vocal band of critics among the Edgbaston crowd. The England wicketkeeper bore the brunt of the criticism in the immediate aftermath of the opening Test defeat at Lord's after missing two regulation catches to aid Australia's progress to a convincing 239-run triumph. Leading former players, including ex-Australian captain Allan Border, suggested Jones should come under serious scrutiny for his place but he battled back superbly at Edgbaston to take the crucial final catch which secured a nail-biting two-run victory in front of a tense capacity crowd. That leg-side catch, taken after Michael Kasprowicz had gloved a short delivery from Durham's Steve Harmison, sparked frenzied celebrations in the stand and on the pitch where England celebrated the closest victory in Ashes history. Jones, taunted throughout the game by a group of Australian supporters who questioned his credentials as an international player and his upbringing in Brisbane, immediately raised his gloves in triumph and gestured in their direction. "I'd been getting a bit of stick off the Aussie supporters behind me all day and it was nice to get take that crucial catch," he explained. "It was probably the most important catch of my career so far and I think the emotions were running a bit wild. "I think I got a bit carried away and pointed towards them when we won - I think a few bleeps might be required if it's ever played back on television!" That uncharacteristic show of feeling at the end of an emotional-rollercoaster of a morning session gave some indication of the pressure Jones had been put under since his Lord's errors. Despite public shows of support from coach Duncan Fletcher and several team-mates in the lead-up to the Edgbaston Test, Jones was well aware he needed to produce a much better performance behind the stumps if he was to end the doubts over his ability to perform at the highest level. He disappeared into the safe environment of friends and family and in particular relied on the support of his fiancee Jen and rejoined the squad in Birmingham absolutely determined to put on a better show. "I got my share of criticism after Lord's, but it's something I have to take," he conceded. "I was very thankful I was at home during the break in the Tests because I spent a bit of time by myself out on the golf course just relaxing, just chilling out and getting away from all that. "I think that time away was pretty vital leading into this Test. "The support of friends and my family was also very important, especially my fiancee Jen who was very supportive and it was great they were there to see the win at Edgbaston and be able to go over to them in the crowd after we'd won. "I was really disappointed with my performance at Lord's after putting a couple of catches down and I wanted to come back and do well at Edgbaston." Jones will assemble as part of an unchanged squad in Manchester today to begin preparations for Thursday's crunch third Test as England attempt to build on the momentum gained from their incredible win at Edgbaston. Meanwhile England legend Ian Botham believes Andrew Flintoff's match-winning performance against Australia at Edgbaston will end the comparisons between the two all-rounders. Botham inspired England to the most unlikely of victories at Headingley in 1981, with Flintoff tipped for similar feats before his Test debut in seven years ago. Flintoff, 27, is now considered the world's best all-rounder, with his 141 runs and seven wickets vital to two-run win in Birmingham which levelled the series. But former Durham star Botham does not want to compare his career with Flintoff's, despite the pair being close friends. Botham, now a pundit, said: "Botham's gone, he's history. You can read that in Wisden, in books and magazines. Andrew Flintoff is today and he'll set his own benchmarks and standards. "From the commentary box I'm enjoying watching and talking about him." Flintoff recently recovered from an ankle injury and is making his first Ashes appearances after missing out before because of fitness. Botham believes Flintoff can inspire England to victory, adding: "Freddie and I are good friends and when he was rehabilitating he was as keen as I ever saw him. "He's a terrific sportsman, he offers so much to England - his bowling went up a gear in the Test match, which shows you that the rehabilitation has paid off. "We all know what can happen on his day when he's batting. With him and Pietersen, people don't go to the bar when they are batting - they sit down and wait." | 
