ON THIS DAY
Follow UsIt was the summer of relentless banter, settling scores, and reigniting an iconic rivalry. It was the summer when legends of the game would take on the most iconic cricket venues once again; it was the summer of the Ashes.
Having failed to win the Ashes urn for 18 excruciating years, where Australia and England engaged in eight Test series, it was understandable that hosts England weren’t the favourites despite coming to the 2005 Ashes on the back of six consecutive series wins.
Ricky Ponting’s men, however, were topping the ICC rankings for Tests, and they showed their quality at the Lord’s. After Steve Harmison’s fifer limited Australia to just 190 in the first innings, it was time for a Glenn McGrath special. The legendary Aussie bowler took nine wickets in two innings to help Australia win the first Test by a whopping 239 runs.
But Michael Vaughan’s England was built differently this time. There was an undying optimism in the English dressing room, having defeated Bangladesh, South Africa, New Zealand and West Indies twice the previous year. They knew they could come back stronger, and they did exactly that.
A determined batting display propelled by an outstanding all-round performance by Andrew Flintoff saw England take a 99-run lead in Birmingham. McGrath’s absence owing to an ankle injury made it difficult for Australia to compensate, but a veteran Shane Warne’s six-wicket haul almost brought the match into Australia’s bag before England ran away with a 2-run victory.
With the series levelled, both the teams approached Old Trafford for yet another clash of the Titans. The English batters had found their mojo back. After putting up 444 in the first innings, they would stop Australia at 302 to further hand them a target of 423 runs in 108 overs.
Though Flintoff’s four-wicket haul would keep Australia on the back foot for most of the fourth innings, an unbelievable 156-run knock by skipper Ponting helped his side draw the match. This match is also remembered for Warne’s 600th Test wicket, becoming the first player in Test history to do so.
A decisive outcome was just around the corner, and an in-form England team wasn’t going to let this chance slip by. Riding on a Flintoff century in the first innings, England would post the highest team total of the series of 477 in the fourth Test. While Australia continued to feel McGrath’s absence, England’s Simon Jones continued to shine with the ball as his fifer saw Australia bowled out for 218.
In yet another historic moment, Australia were forced to a follow-on for the first time in 17 years. Harmison would take three wickets in the second innings apart from two-wicket hauls from Matthew Hoggard, Flintoff, and Ashley Giles as Australia were wrapped up for 387 runs. While chasing a paltry target, 129 runs looked easy, England made a meal of it by getting reduced to 116/7 before a 13-run eighth wicket stand saw the hosts take the lead.
While a series win was off the cards, Australia could have still retained the urn with a win in the fifth and final Test at the Oval and thus began a memorable Test match. After Warne’s six-wicket haul limited England to 373 runs in the first innings, centuries by Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden saw Australia trail by just five runs prior to the second innings.
However, intermittent rain delayed the match in regular intervals, and by the time Australia’s first inning was over, it was already Day 4. The visitors kept fighting in the hope of a slim victory and reduced England to 34/1 by the end of the fourth day.
The entire summer was going to be decided on September 12, 2005. Day 5 was a make or break for both the teams, and England was visibly nervous as they were reduced to 126/5 by lunch and 199/7 by Tea. The hosts were looking at a probable final-day heartbreak, but a gritty Kevin Pietersen stood tall, buoyed by as many as three dropped catches.
The towering all-rounder would eventually hold his end to score 158 runs - arguably the most crucial knock of the series - as England would give a target of 329 runs. The outcome was effectively over, as Australia would end the match at 4/0.
The 2005 Ashes is labelled by many to be the best Test series ever played.
