Ashes throwback: Top 5 moments from the 2013-14 series Down Under

It was a perfect Australian summer (for the home fans at least) the last time English visited them down under for the game’s oldest rivalry, the Ashes as Australia blanked England for a 5-0 whitewash. Coming off from a series loss in England a few months ago and with new coach Darren Lehmann settling into his role, that was an even sweeter victory for Australia.

The summer four years ago was about Mitchell Johnson instilling fear in batsmen with nasty spells, Stuart Broad being booed, plenty of on-field banters and sledging, and some great performances that kept every cricket lover on their toes.

Ahead of the Ashes 2017-18, which is about to begin at the Gabba, Brisbane on November 23, we shall take a look at five memorable moments that made headlines during the last series in Australia.

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Clarke and Anderson go at each other

It was only the first Test of the series and the on-field banter couldn't have got worse when Australia captain Michael Clarke and England fast bowler James Anderson went against each other at the Gabba in Brisbane. When the latter was batting, Clarke was heard over the stump microphone yelling "get ready for a f***ing broken arm". He was subsequently fined for the abusive language but that incident fired up the whole nation.

Mitchell Johnson terrorized English batsmen

After disappointments in the previous Ashes series, Mitchell Johnson finally came into his own during this summer. He was bowling at serious pace and at times was "nasty", terrorizing the English batsmen. During the second Test at Adelaide, on a good batting wicket, he ripped through the line up on day three in the post-lunch session in which he took 5-12 and finished with 7-40 in that innings.

His 8 wicket haul in that match proved that he can bowl hostile spells even on flat tracks. Mitchell Johnson finished with 37 wickets for the series as England just didn't have any answer for his serious pace.

Haddin's 94 turns the Brisbane Test upside down

It was not a wonderful start for Australia with the bat as they were reeling at 6-132 in the first Test at Brisbane. That's when wicketkeeper Brad Haddin walked in and changed the course of the match and probably set the tone for the series. His counter-attacking 94 and the 114-run partnership for the 7th wicket with Mitchell Johnson ensured Australia finished with a competitive 295 in the first innings.

England could manage only 136 in the first innings and while chasing a mammoth 561 to win the Test were bowled out for a miserly 179. Brad Haddin had potentially turned the game in favour of Australia during the post-tea session on day 1.

Harris bowls a dream delivery to dismiss Cook

Australia were already 2-0 up in the series when the third Test was played at the WACA. Once again England were facing a mountain to climb in the fourth innings to win the match and keep their hopes alive in the series. Chasing an improbable 504, England would have hoped for a marathon knock from their skipper Alastair Cook but his stay was reduced to a solitary ball.

Ryan Harris dismissed the captain off the very first ball with an absolute peach that angled back into the left-hander before seaming a wee bit to hit the off bail and sent the home crowd into delirium. Harris later went on to say in many interviews that this was the best delivery he has bowled in his entire cricket career.

Stokes scores the only ton by Englishman

There wasn't a lot for the England side to look back to from the series. The only bright spot came during the second innings of the third Test at WACA in Perth when all-rounder Ben Stokes scored a hundred, the only ton by an England player in the entire series.

Stokes's 120 delayed the inevitable for the visitors but the left-hander's innings showed his class and versatility as a Test batsman.