Please read the part 1 of the 2005 Ashes before you continue with 2005 Ashes the series began.
The series got off to a fiery start at Lord’s. Harmison bowled fast and straight to bowl Australia out cheaply and in return, McGrath was meticulous in bowled England out for even less. However, by the 2nd innings, normal service seems to have returned with Australia scoring near 400 and in the end won comfortably. Everyone at that point would have certainly thought that normal service has resumed. It is only a question of time before Australia raps up the Ashes.
There were past occasions when Australia sealed the Ashes in 10-11 days. Wil this be any different? Afterall, England were unable to go past even 200 in two consecutive innings. If this wasn’t shellacking, what will it be? As it turned out, things did improve for England and drastically at that. The only silver lining for England was the twin fifties scored by Pietersen proving what an inspired selection he was.
The eventful beginning to the second test
Strangely, Michael Vaughan was quite composed after the first test loss. Whether he felt the pressure on the inside that only he will know but he boosted the confidence of the Englishmen in no uncertain terms.
“Lads, this is gone, it doesn’t get spoken about again, we’re starting the series again at Edgbaston”
and the second test began
There was drama on the morning of the 2nd test. McGrath decided to play little bit of football and twisted his ankle. This proved to be the turning point for the entire series. Australia had Shane Warne who made spin bowling in general and leg spin in particular fashionable but I always felt that it was McGrath who had much higher influence on the outcome of the games. He provided the breakthroughs at the top, in the middle and absolutely cleaned the tail. With him not playing, Australia lost a major influencer.
As if losing McGrath on the morning wasn’t enough, Ricky Ponting, the Australian captain decided to bowl after winning the toss. This wasn’t the Australian way. Past Australian captains and players always say if you win the toss you bat first. If in doubt, think and then bat first. Ponting opting to bowl was a shock. Was he arrogant? Did he think that England will rollover quickly? Did he expect to win the Ashes as always in 10 days? Only Ponting can answer these questions.
England got off to a rollicking start. This time, it was England who weren’t batting like England. Trescothick and Strauss played their shots right at the outset. Probably the fact that McGrath wasn’t playing seems to have had a positive effect on the English batsmen. The aggressive batting continued throughout the innings and by the time the day ended, England were bowled out but not before they had posted more than 400.
Start of Australia’s second innings
Australia’s first innings wasn’t that eventful but they came back really well to restrict England the second time around and as a result Australia had to chase 282 to win the test. Usually, Australian team of that era will chase these runs as a matter of right but this time, there was something strange on the air. Andrew Flintoff, who to be fair didn’t do much in his career chose the perfect moment to impose himself on the game. One great spell of fast bowling accounted for Langer & Ponting. Towards the end of the day’s play, England had done the unthinkable. They were on the brink of a famous win.
However, Australia were not going to give up. Not for nothing were they one of the top two greatest side ever to have played the game. Warne and Lee and Lee & Kaspowicz conjured up a magical partnerships to bring Australia to the brink.
I can still remember the nerve wracking last few overs. England bowlers gave everything to get that one wicket. Australian batsmen weren’t ready to rollover. To compound matters for England, Simon Jones dropped a catch with 15 required. Surely, Australia cannot lose this.
With only 3 runs required, in came Harmison. He banged one short. Kasprowicz who up until that point did not look flustered perhaps now felt the pressure. He wasn’t able to duck or play the bouncer convincingly. The ball took the glove and Geraint Jones did the rest behind the wicket.
In the words of Benaud
The words of Richie Benaud who was on air on that day will ringer forever.
“Jones. Bowden. Kasprowich the man to go…..”
These beautiful words completed a fascinating day and a fascinating test. Whether this can be called the greatest test, I will not get into that because there were couple of tied tests and West Indies had won a test by one run. Not to mention the Kolkatta one.
Series level and the 3rd test at Old Trafford
Simon Jones bowled with incredible hostility to pick up a 6-fer. Vaughan and Ponting scored brilliant hundreds. Ponting more so because he was trying to save the game for Australia. The picture that will remain etched in the minds of everyone who saw that game will be how the Australian balcony celebrated a draw. It was anathema to them. Australia changed the way how test cricket must be played. It is either a win or a loss though in their case, it was mostly win. For such a team to celebrate a draw with all vehemence, clearly showed that they felt extreme pressure and the absence of McGrath certainly rattled them.
4th test underway
In a series, you are lucky to get one really close test. Two is unbelievable. Three in a row, the series must be truly outstanding. Indeed it was. Three back to back thrillers. Infact, it must not have been close at all because Australia were that far behind at the end of the first innings. England made a complete mess of a small target. They were in danger of losing at one stage but Ashley Giles and Matthew Hoggard out of all was left to score the winning runs. Now, England are within a draw to regain the Ashes after 16 years.
Final test
The last test did not live upto the standards of the previous three. However, on the last day, the world witnessed the talent of one Kevin Pietersen.
These were Pietersen’s words told to Wisden
I remember waking up on the final day and at breakfast reading ‘England need one hero today’ in the paper. I just thought to myself, ‘Jeez, how amazing would that be if that was me’. Nothing in my innings was premeditated – it was all instinct.
Indeed he became the hero on that day. If not for his hundred, there is a chance England could have lost the last test and thereby could have lost the Ashes too. Pietersen saved their blushes. This one innings goes onto show what an inspiring selection as Pietersen’s.
Conclusion
15 years on, the series till feel fresh on memory. However, for the English fan, the Ashes series till now after 2005 have been a mixed bag. A couple of whitewashes and a 4-0, all of them in Australia, it is something the English fan would not have expected after the sterling display in 2005. For the neutral, we will not mind such a series every now and then amongst the same teams.
