From famous catches to unplayable balls, the Ashes is never short of drama. Here are our top five moments that changed the history of the famous rivalry.
5) Ball of the century | First Test | Old Trafford | 1993
Shane Warne’s first ever ball on English soil – against legendary batsman Mike Gatting – redefined what was thought possible with a cricket ball.
The impact of Warne’s delivery, which drifted towards leg before spinning sharply to clip the top of off, was emphatic. It almost single-handedly caused leg spin to experience a rise in popularity, breaking the dominance that pace bowling had enjoyed throughout the 60s, 70s and 80s in an instant.
As for Warne, then just 23 it was the start of a legendary 15-year career which saw him break every record going, including a record 195 wickets in the Ashes – 38 more than anyone else.
He also dated English rose Elizabeth Hurley – another impressive feat.
4) 301 for no loss | Fifth Test | Trent Bridge | 1989
Between the shambolic Australia of the early 80s and the all-conquering juggernaut of the 90s was the 1989 side led by Allan Border.
The Aussies came into the series having lost five of the last six Ashes, including two at home, but dismantled England 4-0 to regain the urn.
Their dominance was best illustrated by the first day of the fifth Test, as Mark Taylor and Geoff Marsh reached the close at 301 for no loss.
The duo batted for more than six hours, facing 540 balls between them. Taylor reached 141* and Marsh 125*, becoming the first opening pair to bat through a full day of a Test match in England.
Their stand was the culmination of a power shift that saw Australia go on to dominate the Ashes for more than a decade.
3) The Miracle of Cardiff | First Test | Sophia Gardens | 2009
Monty Panesar is one of the worst batsmen Test cricket has ever seen.
So not much was expected when he trudged out to join Jimmy Anderson at the crease with one wicket and 69 balls remaining in the first Test of the 2009 Ashes.
What followed was an impossibly tense 40 minutes, as Anderson and Panesar edged (literally and figuratively) towards the close, slowly bringing the 16,000-strong Cardiff crowd back from the dead.
The tail-enders had, somehow, done it, although it wouldn’t have been possible without Paul Collingwood, who earlier compiled a characteristically gritty 74 from 245 balls to give his side a fighting chance.
The result proved to be decisive, as England went on to secure a tight 2-1 series victory. That was the start of three consecutive Ashes wins, something they had not done since the early 80s.
2) Gary Pratt run out | Fourth Test | Trent Bridge | 2005
Imagine if David Nugent’s only goal for England, which came in his sole international appearance, was a crucial World Cup goal and not a meaningless strike against Andorra.
That is the equivalent of Gary Pratt’s run out of Australia captain Ricky Ponting in the fourth Test of the 2005 Ashes.
Pratt, on the field as a substitute, made the perfect pick-up and throw to send Ponting back to the pavilion in a cloud of rage and choice four-letter words directed at the England balcony.
Australia had been forced to follow-on after a first-innings deficit of 259 but were going well at 155 for 2 when Pratt’s golden arm worked its magic.
England made hard work of their chase of 129 but eventually won by three wickets to take a 2-1 lead which they would never surrender.
Pratt became an instant cult hero among England fans, earning a place on the open-top bus parade following the series win.
It’s safe to say his career peaked on top of that bus – he was released by Durham in 2006 and never played first-class cricket again – but his unlikely place in Ashes history is secured forever.
1) The greatest Test | Second Test | Edgbaston | 2005
Three runs required. One wicket in hand. Steve Harmison to bowl. Michael Kasprowicz on strike. Geraint Jones behind the stumps.
We all know what happened next: the well-directed bouncer, the desperate fend and the tumbling catch down leg.
But who better to summarise the moment than Richie Benaud?
“Jones! Bowden! Kasprowicz the man to go – Harmison has done it! Despair on the face of the batsmen and joy for every England player on the field!”.
As iconic, history-changing Ashes moments go, this is the big one.
If Australia had gone on to win at Edgbaston, they would have taken a 2-0 series lead and, most probably, sealed a ninth-straight Ashes.
But England went on to win the greatest series of all time, sparking celebrations which almost became as famous as the series itself.
Who can forget the images of a bleary-eyed Freddie Flintoff stumbling in and out of 10 Downing Street? Or a crowd of thousands belting out Jerusalem in Trafalgar Square?
These are memories which are still seared in the brains of cricket fans the world over, all thanks to this one moment.
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