Top 3 Ashes spells of the 21st century

Glenn McGrath, 5/53 at Lord's, 2005

Courtesy Cricket Australia

Glenn McGrath will forever be remembered for the genius he was and for the magic he used to cast with both the Kookaburras and the Dukes. Also, he was probably the greatest exploiter of the Lord's slope ever born. Who can forget the trail of destruction that he lay in 1997 when he devastated England with exquisite figures of 8 for 38.

Speaking of the 21st century, though, the veteran returned to the very venue on the opening day of the Ashes and relived his Lord's masterclass. Earlier in the 1st innings of the match, he had seen Harmison's hostile spell where he struck Australia's skipper flush on the helmet and set the aggressive tone for the visitors. Australia were consequently bundled out at a miserly total of under 200. McGrath had a favor to return and, goodness, he did that in some manner.

The 35-year old virtuoso had prophecized that Marcus Trescothick will be his 500th scalp and he was spot on. He had the English opener nicking to the slips cordon as he slipped it down the slope. Four balls later, Andrew Strauss followed his partner to the balcony, clueless as he fended at one outside off and edged the away-dipper to Shane Warne positioned at 1st slip.

McGrath was on a roll and there was no stopping him now. He skidded one through the English skipper, Michael Vaughan's defenses that flattened his stumps before having Ian Bell chop it behind to hear the death rattle. Before any other Australian bowler could contribute, McGrath had already registered yet another fifer and had his name emblazoned on the Lord's Honours Board once again. His latest wicket was Flintoff whose off stump was bedded to eternal sleep by a vicious nip-backer.