Top 5 Ashes matches of the 21st century

The 21st century is still fairly young, but it has already had the decency to serve up some magical cricketing encounters – plenty of them coming in the Ashes. The England-Australia battle royal typically throws up some of the best that Test cricket has to offer; fortunately, we have been blessed with many unforgettable moments over the past decade and a half.Much of that is down to England’s increased competitiveness, after being trounced throughout the 1990s, but their renewed fight has also seen a fierce response from the Aussies, who happily dished out 5-0 whitewashes in 2006-07 and 2013-14.So, with the 2015 Ashes now a little over a fortnight away, let’s look back at the five most memorable contests since the turn of the millennium.

#5 Cardiff 2009: Match drawn

James Anderson and Monty Panesar’s rearguard effort helped England salvage a draw

Following the 2005 Ashes – which saw England regain the urn after 18 years in the doldrums – the Poms promptly surrendered it meekly when they were trounced 5-0 Down Under, just a year and a half later. Back on home soil, the fight to rekindle the winning feeling began in thrilling fashion in the Welsh city of Cardiff.

The wonderful thing about cricket is that on occasions players are required to do a job they are not picked for. In this case, it was the responsibility of James Anderson and Monty Panesar – two bowlers – to bat for nearly 12 over without getting out, with their side one wicket from defeat. If they did so, England would draw, if not, Australia would win.

Somehow, they managed to survive. The pair stuck around, and in time, lifted pressure off of their shoulders and onto Australia’s bowlers, who had until then asserted total control. They eroded the deficit and forged a slight lead – runs that effectively counted double since Australia would have to chase them in the dying minutes of the final session.

With the light fading and the spinners unable to make the breakthrough, Anderson and Panesar achieved the impossible, walking off the field to a heroes’ reception. The escape inspired England and by the end of the summer they had reclaimed the Ashes, winning the series 2-1.

#4 Trent Bridge 2013: England won by 14 runs

James Anderson took the final Australian wicket

Australia arrived in England for the 2013 Ashes in disarray and before the series had even got under way in Nottingham, coach Mickey Arthur had been booted for Darren Lehmann after the homework gate fiasco, and David Warner had punched Joe Root in a bar. The actual cricket had taken a back seat.

Once on the pitch though it was business as usual and Australia were plotting about how to recapture the urn for the first time in over six years. They began well, bowling out their opponents for just 215 but at 117-9, the opened door was quickly being closed. Then entered a number 11 on Test debut: Ashton Agar.

Alongside Phillip Hughes, the two put on what was then the highest 10th-wicket partnership in Test history, racking up 163. Agar also nabbed the record for the most runs by a number 11, surpassing Tino Best’s 95 by three, agonisingly missing out on a famous ton. But still, from 98 in arrears Australia had taken the lead by 65.

England responded strongly, indebted to an Ian Bell century, setting a fourth innings target of 311. Again, the first nine partnerships disappointed leaving the last stand – this time it was Brad Haddin and James Pattinson – to hunt down 80. It looked for all money they would do it as well, and had the review system not been in place they would have. It transpired that a James Anderson delivery tickled Haddin’s inside edge and travelled through to Prior. England won by 14 runs and retained the Ashes comfortably.

#3 Old Trafford 2005: Match drawn

One of Ricky Ponting’s greatest innings ever

Ricky Ponting never led Australia to an Ashes triumph overseas, but his rearguard effort in Manchester in 2005 was perhaps his finest hour in England. He was undeniably at the helm of the strongest XI in world cricket – possibly ever – but a charged up home side were smelling blood by the time the third Test of this epic series rolled around.

Michael Vaughan’s 166 and Simon Jones’ 6-53 had ensured the English a healthy advantage going into the second half of the match. Andrew Strauss continued to pile on the hurt with a ton of his own and when they decided to declare, Australia were left to either pursue either 423 in three sessions and a bit, or attempt to hold out for 100 overs or more and keep the series locked at 1-1.

Justin Langer fell early and despite the ship being steadied, by mid-afternoon Australia had lost five and were floundering – any hopes of pulling off the heist were gone, escaping unscathed was the priority. A young Michael Clarke hung around with Ponting for almost 20 overs; Shane Warne then stuck around for more than 21. England kept chipping away though and with 10 overs remaining Warne was ousted, bringing in Brett Lee.

With four overs to go, Ponting heartbreakingly gloved a leg side ball behind, bringing to an end an epic vigil which saw him chew up over 45 overs and accumulate 156 runs. The bunny of all bunnies, Glenn McGrath, now had to fend off four overs with Lee to make sure the hard work wasn’t undone. McGrath faced nine of the final 24 balls, Binga took care of the rest and Australia sneaked out of harm’s way, leaving England’s blood, sweat and tears without reward.

#2 Adelaide 2006 - Australia won by 6 wickets

Ricky Ponting celebrates with Mike Hussey after the latter hit the winning runs

Andrew Flintoff’s men were always under the cosh Down Under in 2006-07. Steve Harmison’s first delivery of the series which sailed hopelessly to his captain at second slip rather eloquently summed up the calamity that was to follow. If you are not inclined to believe a tour can change in one ball though, then consider the second Test in Adelaide the moment England’s doom was apparent.

Australia had won the opening match, but a confident start from the visitors in the next put them in a position of dominance over the first couple of days. Paul Collingwood struck a double hundred while Kevin Pietersen chalked up his joint highest Test score at the time: 158 – a total he had made but never bettered thrice, all in less than 18 months.

England’s 551-6 declared looked to be towering, but an Aussie fightback courtesy of Ponting and Clarke brought them to within 40 after their first innings. However, with nearly four days play complete, a draw appeared the only feasible outcome. Both parties were evidently unaware of the script; the match that had meandered suddenly went into overdrive.

The pace trio of Lee, McGrath and Stuart Clark were fired up and spin king Warne was weaving the ball in trademark fashion. On the ropes, England went immediately into their shell with the intention to protect, but that only left them vulnerable to attack. Wickets tumbled and dreams of a victory were no longer so far-fetched. McGrath snared Anderson to finish off the Poms, leaving Australia 168 to win in the last session of the match.

The thought of such humiliation was too much to resist. The openers may have departed quickly, but Ponting and Michael Hussey proceeded speedily and, with some help from Clarke after the former was caught out, took the hosts to triumph. Within 24 hours, the series had turned on its head. It didn’t turn again, Australia kept pummelling and didn’t stop until a 5-0 demolition was obtained.

#1 Edgbaston 2005: England won by 2 runs

An iconic image of Andrew Flintoff consoling a distraught Brett Lee

England were in the midst of an 18-year Ashes drought and after the first Test of the 2005 series, which saw Australia waltz to victory at Lord’s, that winless period extending was the opinion of most who had any certifiable knowledge of the game. Then, things started to change, and it all began at Edgbaston.

On the morning of the match, McGrath stepped on a cricket ball during his warm-up. The freak accident left ligaments torn and Australia without their ace pace bowler. England had a glimmer of hope, one Marcus Trescothick would accentuate with an excellent attacking 90 after his team was sent into bat after losing the toss. It changed the complexion of the tour. Almost instantaneously, the Poms found their groove. Carnage ensued and they posted over 400 in under a day, and a solid team performance with the ball granted them a 99-run lead.

Australia quickly regrouped though and set about limiting the damage, before inflicting some of their own. Ten of England’s batsmen mustered just 99 between them, hence they were extremely thankful to a boisterous 73 from Andrew Flintoff. His knock dug them halfway out of a hole, but it still only gave them 281 to defend.

It seemed plenty enough when Flintoff and friends reduced their adversaries to 175-8, and despite an entrepreneurial effort from Shane Warne, Brett Lee and Michael Kasprowicz had to garner 62 more with the last wicket against a hostile crowd – the cricketing equivalent to mounting Everest.

As they chipped away, the impossible became improbable and the improbable became probable. The win was helplessly slipping out of England’s grasp as the last pair grew in confidence and with just three more needed, an act of Houdini proportions appeared inevitable. Then, that catch occurred. “Kasprowicz, bowled Harmison, caught Jones.”

Kasprowicz tried to avoid a snorting short ball from the pacer, but he couldn’t. It floated to Geraint Jones who dived to take the catch – England won by two runs. Richie Benaud’s wonderful tones on commentary served to only make the passage of play more iconic.

The image of Flintoff consoling a distraught Lee encapsulated the greatest Ashes series of this generation, and perhaps ever. A summer of twists and turns left a nation on tenterhooks, and finally, on a September day at the Oval, the urn was in their hands once more. But Edgbaston was where it all started.