SK Flashback: The greatest Ashes and the greatest cricket video games - Part 2

In the first part of the article, we reminisced about the 2005 npower Ashes series from the Aussie viewpoint. The journey is sweeter along the victor's path, so let us now gallop with Michael Vaughan's victorious bunch as their desperate fight for reclaiming the urn culminated in an unbelievable comeback from behind.

Unlike the Aussie saga, batting heroics heavily feature in the English one, which made it more exciting for the general gaming folk. Adding to that, the tasks are also noticeably simpler.

1st Test (Lord's)

#1 Pietersen to the rescue

The English bowlers did a commendable job in bundling out Aussies for 190 on a wet pitch at the Lord's. But a few overs into their resistance, England have lost half of their lineup to a rampaging Glenn McGrath with just 21 on the board. A shiny-haired debutant Kevin Pietersen is joined by Geraint Jones, the last recognized batsman, as England look cornered. The task is to score 50 runs as Pietersen, without running the other batsman out. This task is a ditto to the first task of Australia saga and is therefore quite easy.

What actually happened: A gutsy partnership between them ensured that England crossed three figures but a lead could not be salvaged. Pietersen chipped in with an invaluable 57 prior to being outfoxed by Shane Warne. One could say, by the sheer grit of the innings, that the lad was destined for great things!

#2 A solid start

Trescothick in action for Somerset

This part features a far-fetched alternate reality regarding the same first innings. Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Strauss form a regular feature on the list of the most illustrious opening partnerships for the Poms. The objective is to complete a 100-run partnership between them to form a strong foundation for an English fightback. Considering the quality of batsmen and the nature of pitch in the game, this is also a straightforward task.

What actually happened: The famed pair could add just 10 runs before Trescothick was trapped in the corridor of uncertainty by McGrath. This sparked an ignominious procession of English batsmen back to the hut, as no one had answers to the lethal swing of The Pidge.

2nd Test (Edgbaston)

#3 A supporting partnership

Too much audacity in one picture.

The opening pair made amends for their dismal performance in the first Test by putting together a century partnership. But after Marcus Trescothick departed for a stroke-filled 90, England lost both Ian Bell and the skipper Michael Vaughan in quick succession. Australia is smelling a comeback opportunity as Kevin Pietersen is joined by the flamboyant Andrew "Freddy" Flintoff. The task is to score a century partnership between them to lead England to an imposing first innings total. Another simple task, like the one before.

What actually happened: This partnership essentially batted Australia out of the contest. What's more, the pair played with their characteristic audacity, scoring at an alarming rate of almost a run-a-ball. By the time the partnership was broken, England had reached 290, from a somewhat precarious 187-4.

#4 An inspired innings

Perhaps the best performance of Flintoff in the whites.

After eking out the crucial first-innings lead, England is back for their second essay. The search for some quick runs has backfired with a flurry of wickets as they are 72 for the loss of 5. Ian Bell is joined by Andrew Flintoff as the pair looks to stick to the plan in the hunt for a strong total to press for a win. The task is to score 73 runs off a maximum of 86 balls with Flintoff with 6 fours and 4 sixes.

What actually happened: The Edgbaston Test truly belonged to Flintoff as he was back for one of the best counter-attacking innings in the history of the Ashes. The task is a point-to-point re-emulation of what panned out in Edgbaston. Ian Bell departed at 75-6. Flintoff associated with the lower order to launch an all-out assault onto the Aussies, swinging his bat at everything hurled at him. There was absolutely no support from the other end, as the highest score from the bottom four was a 12 from Simon Jones. Every single run of those would turn out valuable, as England edged out Australia by just two runs to record the most exciting finish in the Ashes history.

3rd Test (Old Trafford)

#5 A captain's knock

Vaughan batted with purpose and substance

Till this point in the series, Michael Vaughan's contributions with the bat have been largely inconsequential. But after losing Strauss with just 26 on the board, he has teamed up admirably with Marcus Trescothick. Vaughan is well set on 45 and is looking hungry for more. Though his captaincy has been smart, his rough patch with the bat has already been noticed by the critics. A strong performance from the captain is imperative for both his personal career and England's performance in this Test. The task is to score 150 runs with him

What actually happened: Vaughan's 166 was the highest individual score in the series, which promptly pushed Australia onto the back foot. In fact, they never recovered from it, and never looked in contention for a win, barring Ricky Ponting's stupendous individual effort in the fourth innings. It was only with a gritty lower order defence and some great fortitude that Aussies were able to salvage a draw out of the contest.

#6 Cleaning up the tail

Simon Jones: a great example of what could have been...

In reply to England's humongous first innings score, Australia is in a spot of bother at 133-5, thanks to a crafty display of spin bowling by Ashley Giles. As the Australian tail is exposed, they need 97 more runs to avoid a shameful follow-on. Michael Vaughan has brought back Simon Jones into the attack. Jones has already picked up Ponting's wicket in his first spell, and the task is to continue the good work to restrict Australia to less than 230 by taking three more wickets as Simon Jones. This is the only bowling assignment in the English saga and is not a very difficult task to complete.

What actually happened: No, Australia could not be forced to follow-on, thanks to some sensible batting by Shane Warne and Jason Gillespie. But Jones had a stellar evening as he accounted for all the remaining five wickets, finishing with a personal best of 6-53. Looking back, this was definitely the best we could see of a promising career which was unfortunately cut short by prolonged occurrences of injuries.

4th Test (Trent Bridge)

#7 A solid partnership

The best of Flintoff always came when the team needed it the most

The English are placed comfortably at 241-5 as Geraint Jones joins a well-set Andrew Flintoff. The Australian bowlers are looking hapless, as England is looking to capitalize on the good start to bat Australia out of the contest. The scenario has two objectives: to complete a 100-run partnership between Flintoff and Jones and to score a century with Flintoff. Another easy batting essay, considering the experience gained by the gamer till this point.

What actually happened: England looked as if they could do nothing wrong, as the pair batted with supreme command. Every bowler was taken to the cleaners with ease as Flintoff scored his maiden Ashes hundred. Jones also registered his Ashes personal best, chipping in with a sublime 85. By the time the partnership was broken, England had already crossed 400 and had almost ensured that they were not going to lose the Test.

#8. One last chance for victory

England made a modicum target look Gargantuan.

Australia had to suffer a humiliating follow-on due to a collective failure of the batting order. No one could play a decisive long innings, and eventually, Australia folded up for 387, putting up a target of 129 for England in four sessions. Shane Warne was not done yet, as he bamboozled the top three quite cheaply. A nervous Ian Bell holed out to Michael Kasprowicz off Lee to leave England at 57-4. The target is now half done, with England at 65-4. There is a sense of growing panic in the English dressing room as KP and Flintoff take guard. The pair is expected to weather the Warne storm and take the side to victory which is 64 runs away with 6 wickets in hand.

What actually happened: This is perhaps the easiest task in the whole saga, but in reality, the battle was a close one. The partnership of 46 between the pair was crucial, as England trudged to 103. But a twin-strike by Brett Lee and a resurgence by Warne put them in a spot of bother at 116-7. The Test could have gone either way, but the sheer presence of mind of the new pair- Matt Hoggard and Ashley Giles, ensured that England went one up in the series with one more to go.

5th Test (The Oval)

#9 A Strauss century

Andrew Strauss in action

Andrew Strauss has blown hot and cold in the series. He has been among runs with a hundred in the third Test but has a few single digit scores as well. With England winning the toss and choosing to bat, Strauss has the perfect opportunity to end the series on a high if he can knuckle down a hundred to present England the early advantage. The task is to score 129 runs with Andrew Strauss without running any partners out. Another easy task, given his rating in the game.

What actually happened: Strauss played a marathon innings of 129 and was the seventh man to get out. His innings acted as the glue holding together the English innings even in the event of a mini-collapse. It was his performance that set up the platform for the perfect finish for the series from an English viewpoint, which was...

#10 The perfect end for Pietersen

Oval saw the coronation of the new prince of English cricket

Australia had conceded a narrow 6 run first innings lead. A combination of bad light and rain had cut a sizeable chunk from the play as the Englishmen took guard for their second innings. Australia needed wickets, and they needed them quick. England is 67-3 as Kevin Pietersen takes guard against McGrath's hat-trick ball. Though he has been the summer's revelation for England, a hundred has eluded Pietersen all the while. The task is to score 150 runs with him without running any batsman out. This modicum of a task is the most difficult that the game can get, which is nothing in comparison with the analogous task in the Aussie saga.

What actually happened: Warne and McGrath bowled with a vengeance as they got half of the resistance folded up with 126 on board at lunch. In fact, even Pietersen had to survive a hostile display of pace bowling by the Lee-McGrath duo in which Warne dropped a sitter off the former. On a retrospection, Warne might have dropped Australia's last chance to hold on to the urn. A visibly distraught KP is said to have asked his captain about how to go ahead in batting. "Your way", said Vaughan, and the rest, they say, is history. The post-lunch session revealed a different Pietersen as he pummel-whacked the Aussie bowlers around the Oval. He dealt in boundaries as the target began to drift away from Australia. Though he did not get any support barring Ashley Giles, by the time he was done, he had ensured that the Ashes could go only one way.