Throng

Monday 6th and Tuesday 7th July at 7.15pm

Ahead of this year’s Ashes, Mark Nicholas takes a timely look back at England’s stunning 2005 triumph over Australia, hailed by some as the greatest cricket series of all time. He recalls key moments from the five games, using previously unseen footage. Part one features action from the first three Tests at Lord’s, Edgbaston and Old Trafford. Part two on Tuesday covers the Tests at Trent Bridge and the Oval.

England began the first Ashes Test of 2005 with a statement of intent. Aggressive bowling by Steve Harmison and Simon Jones showed that Michael Vaughan’s men were ready to fight. The home side dismissed the Aussies for 190, but it only took the familiar figure of Glenn McGrath running in to the crease to shatter early hopes. The veteran fast bowler tore through the English lineup, at one point snatching five wickets for just seven runs.

Kevin Pietersen, in his Test debut, steadied the ship for England but a series of dropped catches in the second innings enabled the tourists to build an imposing lead. Australia won the game by 239 runs and it seemed as if the 2005 series would be another tale of heartache for England.

The second Test at Edgbaston opened with a spot of unexpected luck – McGrath injured himself after stepping on a cricket ball. With England’s nemesis ruled out, the home side made a bright start. After a brief wobble, Andrew Flintoff put on 103 for the fifth wicket with Pietersen. England scored 407; Australia replied with 308. Ricky Ponting’s side were eventually left with 282 to win.

The stage was set for a historic showdown. By the last day, Australia still required 107 runs. England needed just two wickets. Australian legend Shane Warne and fast bowlers Brett Lee and Michael Kasprowicz fought to save the match, but in the most breathtaking finale of all time, England seized the final wicket with two runs to spare – the closest margin of victory in the 128-year history of the Ashes. One of the most memorable scenes of the series was Flintoff taking a moment out of the celebrations to console the last Australian standing, Brett Lee.

In the third Test at Old Trafford, McGrath returned and Michael Vaughan made good with the bat – scoring 166. Simon Jones grabbed six wickets in a first innings that saw Shane Warne top score for run-shy Australia. Clearly rattled for the first time in the series, the Aussies were set a whopping 423 to win. However, captain Ricky Ponting led by example, knocking an impressive 156 in the second innings to help his side secure a draw.

McGrath was absent for the Test at Trent Bridge, where England made 477 in their first innings. After scoring a meagre 218 in response, Australia suffered the indignity of being forced to follow-on for the first time since 1988. Tempers continued to fray when Ponting was run out by a substitute fielder.

Yet England made their fans suffer once again in the final innings when they needed to score just 129 runs. One-man army Shane Warne picked up four wickets as the home side stumbled. In a series notable for tail enders saving the day, it was Matthew Hoggard and Ashley Giles who steered England to a 2-1 series lead. Giles, who had taken much of the blame for the first Test defeat, had the satisfaction of hitting the winning runs.

The final Test at the Oval was marred by poor weather. Australia dominated the match until Flintoff and Hoggard took control by claiming the last seven wickets for just 33 runs. However, some fine bowling by Warne and McGrath – in their final Test on English soil – left England’s hopes of sealing a draw hanging by a thread. Then, in perhaps the costliest mistakes of the summer, Matthew Hayden and Shane Warne both dropped balls from Kevin Pietersen. KP went on to hit 158, carrying England through the day. A draw was declared in failing light and England triumphantly reclaimed the Ashes.

Can the class of 2009 repeat the feat? Highlights of the first Test from Cardiff begin on Wednesday.