Ashes 2017-18: 8 times England won Tests after losing the urn

Ashes 1997-98

The victorious Australian team in 1997

This Ashes started well for England. Australia were under-prepared and found themselves reeling at 54 for 8 at lunch on Day 1 of the first Test. England never let the advantage go and posted a huge first innings score of 478, courtesy a double century from Nasser Hussain and a century from Graham Thorpe.

Australia batted well in their second innings but had too much to do to avoid defeat, and they couldn't quite manage it. The only innings of note was a Greg Blewett century, which made him the first ever to score a century in each of his first three Ashes Tests.

The second Test at Lord's was influenced by bad weather. A lot of overs were lost and it resulted in a draw, but not before Glenn McGrath took 8 for 38 in the first innings, thus registering the third best figures by an Australian in an Ashes Test innings.

The third Test at Old Trafford was Steve Waugh's. No one barring Waugh and John Crawley (in England's second innings) found batting easy on that track. Waugh scored a century in each innings, the first to do so in an Ashes Test in 50 years. Warne took nine wickets and McGrath picked up seven of them to level the series at 1-1.

Australia were even more convincing in Headingley. Jason Gillespie took 7 for 37 in the first innings, thus registering the best figures by an Aussie on that ground. Matthew Elliott was dropped when he was on 29 and he made England pay heavily by adding another 170 runs to his first that score. Ricky Ponting scored his first Test century and Australia had it easy- a win by an innings and 61 runs.

The fifth Test at Trent Bridge was a must win game for England but they were on the backfoot on Day 1 when Mark Taylor won yet another toss and Australia batted solidly. Then, much to the delight of the trivia-huters, occured the unique sight of twins ( Mark and Steve Waugh) batting against brothers ( Adam and Ben Hollioake), all having been born in Australia.

The visitors won comfortably and became the first country to win five successive major Ashes series.

The final Test at The Oval proved to be a thriller. McGrath took 7 wickets in England's first innings as the hosts were bundled out for 180. It looked like the 4-1 margin was inevitable but then Phil Tufnell joined the party. He too took 7 wickets as Australia only managed a lead of 40 in their first innings.

There was no Reifell or Gillespie, but Michael Kasprowicz wasted no time in making this oppurtunity count as he took the third 7-for in the match to dismiss England for a paltry 163 in their second innings. Australia needed only 124 to win but there was more drama in store. Andrew Caddick joined Tufnell to bowl out the Aussies for 104. A consolation win for England perhaps, but it produced the best match of the series.