2005 Ashes retrospective: Reliving all 22 days of the greatest series of all time

Australia's current winter journey to England and Wales marks the 10-year anniversary of what many would consider the greatest series of Test cricket ever played. Relive all 22 days of the classic 2005 Ashes series with Grandstand's retrospective timeline.

Lord's, day one: England erupts, Australia responds

July 21, 2005

The long build up to the opening Test of this English summer felt different to those that had come before it. Australia had been close to untouchable for what seemed like an eternity of Ashes contests, but had faltered embarrassingly at times in the lead-up ODIs, while England's run of red-ball form sent confidence and optimism flying.

England went for youth and flair in their side in the form of the mohawked Kevin Pietersen, who was preferred to veteran Graham Thorpe. Australia's team largely picked itself, with Michael Clarke and Simon Katich filling the middle order spots ahead of Brad Hodge.

The crowds came to Lord's early, and so too did the clouds, but Ricky Ponting won the toss and gave Australia first crack with the bat. But, as if all of their planning had been based around making an impact in the opening hour, England erupted with the ball.

Steve Harmison, at the peak of his career, was fast and hostile, and left a resounding mark on opener Justin Langer's arm with a rearing short ball. Langer would settle, but the swing of Matthew Hoggard would soon send Matthew Hayden on his way.

Harmison continued his rampage to Ponting, drawing blood from the skipper with a bouncer that rattled the helmet. He too would soon be dismissed, prodding to a wide ball outside his off-stump.

Ask Glenn. Steve Harmison, when asked how to bowl at Lord's

Andrew Flintoff had never played a Test against Australia before this one, and wasted no time in making his mark. He had Langer caught at square leg, while Damien Martyn and Clarke were dismissed soon after.

The Australian rot had set in, and despite brief respite from Adam Gilchrist and Katich, the innings would be put to bed halfway through the second session, Australia all out for 190 and Harmison boasting five of the wickets.

Highlight of the day The opening day had enough highlights to last the length of the series, but Glenn McGrath claiming his 500th Test wicket straight after the tea break was arguably the best.

England achieved its first aim of surviving to tea, but when Glenn McGrath claimed the wicket of Marcus Trescothick - his 500th in Test cricket - from the first ball of the session, the game turned dramatically.

McGrath then found Andrew Strauss's edge, clean bowled Michael Vaughan, forced Ian Bell to chop one on and knocked Flintoff's off stump clean out. He had all five wickets as England collapsed to 5 for 21.

Brett Lee picked up two more late in the day through nothing more than sheer pace, to leave England reeling at 7 for 92.

Lord's, day two: Australia piles on the runs

July 22, 2005

Pietersen had impressed in a brief cameo late on day one as carnage carried on around him, but he quickly showcased his skills further on day two.

McGrath had been near enough unplayable the day before, but a series of shots from debutant Pietersen proved he was not interested in bowing down to the greats of the game. First a flat bat four down the ground, second a stunning six into the second tier back over the bowler's head. 50 on debut for Pietersen made him clearly England's standout with the bat.

He would fall to Shane Warne for 57, going after one big stroke too many and falling to a terrific Martyn catch at cow corner. Shane Warne and Lee would sort out the remaining two wickets despite some handy runs from the tail to bowl England out for 155.

Highlight of the day Kevin Pietersen's arrival into Test cricket was all hairspray and flair, but his monstrous six from Glenn McGrath proved there was a batsman to be feared beneath it all.

Pietersen would not stay out of the action for long though, sending Langer packing with a fantastic bit of fielding, gathering and underarming at short mid-wicket to run the opener out for just 6. But this time, the collapse would not come.

Australia was far from its best, with almost every player making a solid start without kicking on, but those starts would add up to a competitive total. When Michael Clarke fell for 91 late in the day, the score read 4 for 255.

Three more late wickets would fall to keep English spirits up, but by stumps the Australian lead had stretched to 314.

Lord's, day three: England collapses as Australia closes in

July 23, 2005

Simon Katich was the key wicket England needed early on day three, but the dogged left-hander was resilient. Jason Gillespie proved a handy partner as the pair put on 52, and even Glenn McGrath was able to hold up an end successfully while Katich pushed the target further away from England.

When the final wicket eventually fell, after England had butchered no fewer than three catching attempts, Australia had set it 420 runs to win. A world record chase was required.

England quickly decided attack was the best course of action, taking on the opening pair and trying to do similarly with Warne. Strauss and Trescothick raced to 0 for 80 before Lee held on to an acrobatic caught and bowled chance.

Highlight of the day Either Brett Lee's inch perfect delivery to dismiss Michael Vaughan or Shane Warne utterly humiliating Ian Bell. Probably the latter, purely for entertainment value.

From there, the game sped up again. Warne dismissed Trescothick, Vaughan was brilliantly bowled by Lee and Bell found himself humiliated by a Warne slider. When Flintoff fell late, England was 5 for 119.

But debutant Pietersen was again defiant, combining with Geraint Jones to see out the remainder of the day, with Australia needing five wickets to win. Only rain could save England now.

Lord's, day four: Rain only delays inevitable as Australia goes up 1-0

July 24, 2005

For a brief while, it looked like that rain might come to England's rescue. The covers stayed on and the playing cards stayed out until just before the scheduled tea time, before play finally got underway. Ten overs later, the match would be over.

The final four batsmen all fell for ducks as McGrath and Warne cleaned up the tail. Perfect symmetry was achieved in the final dismissal as Simon Jones edged McGrath into the hands of Warne at first slip - the old timers had done the job again.

Highlight of the day Jones: c Warne b McGrath. The perfect combination to end the Test.

There were glimpses of what was to come in this series at Lord's, but they were only glimpses. English optimism took a severe beating thanks to a 239 run loss, and Australia could be forgiven for assuming the status quo would remain unmoved.

McGrath was named man of the match.

Edgbaston, day one: McGrath goes down as England punishes Ponting

August 4, 2005

Many still believe the series was decided on this day at Edgbaston, before a ball had even been bowled. Both teams looked like going into the match unchanged from Lord's, but Australia's campaign was thrown into chaos when McGrath trod on a cricket ball and injured his ankle in the warm up.

Man of the match in the series opener, McGrath was now in agony and on his way to hospital, pale as the whites his replacement, Michael Kasprowicz, would be wearing. But Ponting was undeterred. He won the toss and chose to bowl. The first session would be critical.

Highlight of the day Every single moment of the Flintoff/Pietersen partnership. It was bruising batting, the sort Australia was more used to dishing out, and the crowd lapped it up.

And England was unbelievable. Strauss and Trescothick bludgeoned Australia to all parts in an innings of aggression that was before its time. The faster Lee and Gillespie bowled, the faster the ball went to the fence.

Australia dropped catches and took wickets off no-balls, and when Trescothick became the second wicket to fall just after lunch, the score was already 2 for 164.

Bell and Vaughan failed again, but Pietersen and Flintoff teed off, both hitting electrifying half-centuries as a disbelieving Australian team watched on in wonder. This was an altogether new experience for them.

There were no centuries but thanks to more runs from the tail, England was bowled out for 407 in less than 80 overs - the first time Australia had conceded 400 runs on the opening day of a Test since 1938.

Edgbaston, day two: Australia fights back with the bat

August 5, 2005

Things could hardly have started worse for Australia, with Hayden chipping one to short cover for his first ever Test golden duck.

The frenetic pace of the match continued during Langer's partnership with Ponting though, with the captain in particular looking in fantastic touch with a series of majestic straight drives. But the maligned Giles would make the breakthrough, getting Ponting to loft a sweep to short fine leg.

The trend would continue throughout the day. Clarke, Martyn and Gilchrist all got starts but were not able to kick on as Giles found some form and Simon Jones started to give Australia a taste of his reverse swing. Flintoff cleaned up the tail and Australia was all out for 308.

Highlight of the day The highlight came in the dying moments of the day, when Shane Warne produced one of the best balls of his career. Just how far did that ball to Andrew Strauss spin?

But there was still time for some magic. With only a handful of overs left in the day, Australia threw Warne the ball in hope for some inspiration - naturally, he delivered. The ball he produced to dismiss Strauss just before the close of play is now iconic, and may be the biggest turning leg break of his career.

England still held the crucial lead though, and would close the day up by 124 runs.

Edgbaston, day three: Freddy steals the show, England almost home

August 6, 2005

Australia needed a fast start with the ball, so naturally it would be its fastest bowler who would deliver it. Lee was in scintilating touch early on day three, dismissing Trescothick, Vaughan and night-watchman Hoggard before most spectators had settled in their seats.

The game had changed again, and although Pietersen and Bell steadied the ship somewhat, they were both back in the sheds with the lead having only just gone past 150.

Australia probably did not appreciate it yet, but England still had itself one hell of a matchwinner in Flintoff. He ignored a sore shoulder to launch an awe-inspiring counter-attack, hitting six fours and four sixes - including one from Lee that ended up out of the ground - on his way to an unforgettable 73.

The tail had stuck by Flintoff and he had set up the match for England. Australia needed 282 runs to win. Hayden and Langer started in fine fashion, chipping away at the target to reach 0 for 47 in relatively quick time before Flintoff again made his mark.

It is an over that will live long in Ashes folklore, when Flintoff picked up his team and pushed them towards victory in just seven balls. He dismissed Langer with the second of the over, before rattling Ponting's pads and beating the edge in the next three.

Highlight of the day It was unquestionably Freddy's day, but a moment of magic from Steve Harmison might have been the most influential. His brilliant slower ball to dismiss Clarke from the day's final delivery changed everything... again.

A no-ball gave him one more crack at the Australian captain, and it was all he needed. Ponting edged, Geraint Jones caught and Edgbaston exploded. It is not unreasonable to suggest English cricket completely changed in those seven deliveries, such was the swing in momentum.

The runs kept flowing but so too did the wickets. Hayden, Martyn and Katich blew good starts, before Gilchrist's meek dismissal from Giles's bowling looked to have signalled the end. The last ball of the day surely sealed Australia's fate when Harmison snuck a brilliant slower ball under Clarke's bat, reducing Australia to 8 for 175.

England needed two wickets, Australia 107 runs. Surely there was only one way this could go.

Edgbaston, day four: History made amid unbearable tension

August 7, 2005

With seemingly nothing to lose, Australia opted to counter-attack with the stubborn Warne leading the charge. The pair took 45 off the target in quick time as England, for the first time, recognised a potential problem.

But when Warne inexplicably kicked over his own stumps from the bowling of Flintoff, the race appeared to be run. Australia still needed 62 runs, while England was just one wicket away with Lee and Kasprowicz at the crease.

The bowling became hostile, with Lee suddenly on the end of the sort of brutality he was more accustomed to dishing out. He did not flinch though, and hit some marvellous shots as the runs started to add up.

It's the most vivid delivery that I'll replay in my mind for the rest of my life. It just got big quick and I didn't see too much of it. Michael Kasprowicz

Giles copped the worst of the punishment, but the batsmen found ways to find the boundary off the quicks too. When Simon Jones dropped Kasprowicz at third man with 15 required, England could have been forgiven for thinking another missed opportunity was imminent.

When Lee bludgeoned a Harmison full toss to deep point for a single, three runs were left to win. Edgbaston had all but fallen silent.

Highlight of the day It's either the final delivery itself - a real effort ball when it looked there was no effort left in England - or Andrew Flintoff's comforting arm across Brett Lee. Both iconic moments.

The despair on the faces of the England team in the moments before Harmison's final ball served only to make the celebrations greater. He would bowl short, Kasprowicz would fend down the leg side, Geraint Jones would take the catch and Billy Bowden would give it out.

The sight of Flintoff placing an empathetic arm across the bruised and defeated Lee would define the series, but the wild celebrations continued around them. Australia was beaten, though not disgraced. But England was reborn.

Old Trafford, day one - Vaughan silences critics as Australia implodes

August 11, 2005

McGrath returned to the line-up to partner Lee - who himself had to pass a late fitness test to earn selection - as England remained unchanged. The toss fell the hosts' way, and they naturally opted to bat first.

Lee struck the first blow with a sensational double act - first striking Strauss' helmet with a lightning quick bouncer before deceiving him with a slower yorker that rattled the stumps.

If the start was positive for Australia, the rest was a complete disappointment. Vaughan had struggled for runs all series but suddenly looked composed, while Trescothick was yet again a thorn in the side of the Australians.

He would fall for 63, handing Warne his 600th Test wicket in the process, but Vaughan could not be stopped.

Highlight of the day Australian joy was few and far between on a desperately frustrating day for the visitors, but Shane Warne picking up his 600th Test wicket was special. It was a strange old wicket - a bunch of deflections from a Trescothick sweep ended up with Gilchrist somehow holding on to a catch.

He had his luck - at one point Vaughan was dropped and bowled off a no ball from consecutive McGrath deliveries - but the elegance of the skipper's knock was unquestioned. He would soon pass his ton, the first from any batsmen of the series.

He passed 150 before holing out from a Katich full toss, before a fearsome late spell with the new ball from Lee earned the wickets of Pietersen and nightwatchman Hoggard. The day, though, belonged to England.

Old Trafford, day two: England bowls itself into the ascendency

August 12, 2005

Australia was looking to bat for time early on day two, and Hayden and Langer made a solid if unspectacular start before the latter was removed by an inspired catch from Bell at short leg.

From there, the wickets fell with regularity. Giles was suddenly a handful, removing Hayden shortly after Jones had got one to spit at Ponting, the Australian captain edging to gully.

Highlight of the day If it wasn't Giles's ball to Martyn, it was Flintoff's to Katich. The latter swing back violently into off stump as Katich shouldered arms.

The wickets that fell were quite something. Flintoff bowled a leaving Katich with a massive inswinger, while Giles produced the ball of his career to take the top of Martyn's off stump.

Some in England had the guts to compare Giles's ball to that of Warne's on the same ground 12 years earlier, but while Martyn ultimately suffered the same fate as Mike Gatting, the claims were merely proof of England's pleasure at seeing the tables turned on their oldest cricketing enemy.

Jones found the edge of Gilchrist's bat before a clearly injured Clarke was out playing a daft stroke late in the day. Only some fine hitting from Warne had kept Australia in it, which closed day two at 7 for 214 - 31 short of the follow on.

Old Trafford, day three: The rain offers Australia respite

August 13, 2005

The Manchester clouds opened on the third day, much to the relief of Australia who had spent two days under siege.

Highlight of the day The lovely rainbow that poked its head out late in the afternoon. Or any of the obscenely easy chances that Geraint Jones let slip.

Only 14 overs were bowled in a day that saw Australia avoid the follow on, Geraint Jones miss two straightforward chances with the gloves, and Warne keep Australia alive again.

When the day finally ended Australia was still 180 runs in arrears, but hope had returned, albeit fortuitously.

Old Trafford, day four: Strauss puts England in box seat

August 14, 2005

The pain on Warne's face when he fell for 90 early in the day was obvious. Not only had he failed to see out any more time in Australia's fight-back, he had missed out on what, deep down, he knew would be his last chance at a Test ton.

Jones picked up the final two wickets to finish with six and Australia was bowled out for 302, a whole 122 behind England.

Highlight of the day For those who love the schadenfreude of the game, Shane Warne being caught on the fence for 90 was something to remember. But every part of Strauss's innings was special too.

England went hard early, with Strauss leading the way. He had shown glimpses in this series, but on the fourth day at Old Trafford finally unleashed his full array of back and front foot weaponry.

He would have partners around him helping, Trescothick and Bell the pick of the bunch, but Strauss's combination of technique and aggression quickly took the game away from Australia.

He brought up his century but was unselfishly out soon after. When Vaughan called his men in soon after, England had set Australia 423 to win, an impossible task.

Old Trafford, day five: Revenge from Edgbaston as Australia holds on

August 15, 2005

Thousands were turned away as Old Trafford filled up well in advance of the first ball of the morning. Six balls later, Langer edged Hoggard behind to Geraint Jones - a dream start for England.

The hosts knew they had a whole day to take 10 - now nine - Australian wickets, so patience was a virtue. The same could be said for Ponting though, who compiled one of the innings of his life through gritted teeth.

Long periods would go without a wicket, and then England would grab a handful in quick succession. It was gripping cricket, with the most skilful of batsmen taking on perhaps England's best ever fast bowling attack.

Ponting reached his century with an elegant cover drive, but when Clarke was spectacularly bowled by the rampant Jones the score read 6 for 236. The captain was now Australia's last hope.

We dominated all aspects. I don't think we lost a session. Michael Vaughan

Hoggard dismissed Gillespie, and Warne was incredibly caught by Geraint Jones who flew to hang on to a ball that had deflected off Strauss's knee at slip.

But then another twist. With four overs remaining, Ponting felt for a leg-side ball from Harmison, gloving it through to the keeper. He was gone for an unbelievable 156, Australia was nine down and England could taste it.

Highlight of the day There was some fantastic bowling by England along with Ponting's defining century, but the euphoria on the Australian balcony when Lee turned the final ball away was memorable.

All of a sudden Lee was transported back to Edgbaston, wearing bouncers on the arm and fighting like hell to survive. McGrath, the last man you want to see in a batting crisis, was holding on bravely. It came to the last over.

Harmison was wayward, McGrath held his nerve. Lee scurried through for a bye to take responsibility for the last two balls. A deafening crowd was silenced as Harmison failed to get it right - Australia had held on for a draw.

Redemption for Australia, and redemption for Lee. But the series was on a knife's edge and was no closer to being decided.

Trent Bridge, day one: More punishment for wayward Aussies

August 25, 2005

An elbow injury to McGrath saw him ruled out for the second time in the series, and the Australian selectors finally lost patience with Gillespie. Kasprowicz was recalled, and tearaway Shaun Tait was handed a Test debut. England, again, was unchanged. What luxury.

Another toss fell Vaughan's way and England immediately set out to pile on the runs. Strauss and Trescothick were in blistering touch, the latter particularly impressing with his unique stand-and-deliver style.

Australia bowled 18 no-balls before lunch - including one that spared Trescothick when he was bowled by Lee - and the hosts went to the first break 1 for 129.

Highlight of the day An honourable mention to Shaun Tait's excellent first Test wicket, but Ricky Ponting nicking off opposing captain Michael Vaughan was equal parts brilliant and hilarious.

Rain came at a handy time for Australia, if only to slow the runaway momentum England was accruing. When play resumed late in the afternoon, Tait was the first to strike, skittling Trescothick with a gem of an inswinger for his first Test wicket.

Tait also picked up the struggling Bell cheaply, before Vaughan and Pietersen again steadied the ship. Incredibly, it would be Ponting who would break the partnership, earning the slightest feather from Vaughan for a rare and well-celebrated wicket.

The score was 4 for 229 when play closed, a good start for England but a window of opportunity was still open for Australia.

Trent Bridge, day two: Freddy the hero as England dominates

August 26, 2005

Not for the first time in this series, the day belonged to Andrew Flintoff. The big man was by now a one-man show and had the English public in the palm of his hands, so few were surprised when a bruising century was added to his accolades.

Flintoff found the perfect combination of class and power to render the Aussie attack helpless, the crowd in raptures with every stroke that smashed into or sailed over the fence.

He would fall for a memorable 102, but his partner Geraint Jones would carry on in style, reaching 85 before falling to a sharp return catch from Kasprowicz.

Highlight of the day For all of Andrew Flintoff's power and aggression in this innings, his best stroke was the most delicate and elegant of straight drives from the bowling of Brett Lee. Just a complete cricketer.

England was bowled out for 477, and sensed opportunity with the ball. It was swinging early, and Australia had no answer. Hayden, Ponting and Martyn were all trapped LBW before the score reached 25.

The impressive Hoggard claimed another when Langer gloved one to Bell at short leg, before Harmison trapped Clarke late in the day to leave Australia 5 for 99 at stumps and in dire straits.

Trent Bridge, day three: Australia follows on, Ponting blows up

August 27, 2005

Controversy reigned on the third day, but not before Australia chanced its arm through the batting of Gilchrist, Katich and Lee. The handy runs took Australia's score to 218, but were not enough to avoid the follow on, which Vaughan enforced.

It was the kind of decision captains stake their careers on, and when Australia passed 50 with no loss, Vaughan's nerves were jangling. Hayden soon fell though, bringing Ponting to the crease.

One of the many subtexts playing out behind the series was Australia's opposition to England's use of substitute fielders, so when Gary Pratt ran Ponting out brilliantly for a hard-fought 48, tempers inevitably flared.

Highlight of the day Ricky Ponting's explosion was the series' biggest controversy, and was certainly no way for a captain to behave. How about that throw from Gary Pratt though? Wonder what he's been up to since...

English coach Duncan Fletcher, perched over a balcony in his team's change room, took the brunt of the abuse. It was the first time aggression had spilled over throughout the series, and although Ponting issued an official apology, it was laced with frustration at the situation.

But Ponting had already played his part in a mini-fightback, and although Martyn was dismissed late in the day, Australia had a sniff at 4 for 222 at stumps.

Trent Bridge, day four: Bedlam at the Bridge as England goes ahead

August 28, 2005

Of all the unbelievable days of Test cricket during this series, the final day at Trent Bridge was the most frantic, most fluctuating and most decisive.

It started at a slow pace, as Clarke and Katich looked to slowly take Australia past England's initial 477 run total and beyond. Clarke's 56 off 170 balls was perhaps the most mature innings of his career to that point, but he could not go on with it.

Every run was at a premium for both sides, and Australia was keen to kick on. Warne added a quick-fire 45, Katich fell for 59 and again Lee provided a handy 26 not out. Australia was bowled out for 387 - England needed 129 to win.

Immediately it became clear this match would be over before stumps. Trescothick flew out of the gates with a rapid 27 before the introduction of Warne in the sixth over brought his immediate wicket.

England have been on top from the moment the last ball of the first Test. If the guys can't get up for a game like the one we've got coming up, then they shouldn't be playing. Ricky Ponting

Then all hell broke loose. Warne got Vaughan for a duck, before having Strauss well caught by Clarke at leg slip. Lee was steaming in now, and proved too fast for Bell who top edged a hook shot down to Kasprowicz at fine leg. 4 for 57 - game well and truly on, Australia now in with a chance of retaining the Ashes here and now.

Australia's problem was the run rate, which had never subsided. Flintoff and Pietersen flayed away and looked to have settled the game, before Lee made another telling impact.

He had Pietersen caught at the wicket, before producing an unstoppable off-cutter to beat Flintoff's defence and knock back his off stump. 6 for 111 soon became 7 for 116 when Geraint Jones buckled under the pressure and holed out slogging. England still needed 13.

Highlight of the day The moment Brett Lee dismissed Andrew Flintoff felt like something special. England held on, but Lee's spell of pure passion and pace proved his mettle to many Australians.

But, as was always likely to be the case, Australia was at least 30 runs short. Hoggard and Giles put their nerves aside and settled the game, picking off the remaining runs from Warne and Lee as a once nervous crowd found full voice again.

Giles turned away the winning runs, the most important of his career, and England was 2-1 up. Australia needed to win at The Oval or the urn was England's.

The Oval, day one: Strauss defies Warne to set England up

September 8, 2005

England was forced into a change for the first time in the series as Simon Jones succumbed to an ankle injury, with all-rounder Paul Collingwood stepping in. McGrath returned for Australia, pushing Kasprowicz out.

The toss of the coin was thought to be crucial, and the cheers around The Oval echoed as much when Vaughan won his third straight toss and England set out to bat first for the fourth consecutive time.

Australia's quicks were wayward, England's openers were quickly on top and Ponting needed to throw the ball to Warne to force his team into action. From 0 for 82, England was 3 for 104 at lunch as the leg-spinner picked up three in quick succession.

Highlight of the day It's unfair not to mention Andrew Strauss's second ton of the series, which was another exhibition of top order batting, but when Shane Warne is up and about it's electric. His ball to Kevin Pietersen the pick of the bunch.

Warne then took Pietersen straight after tea, but Flintoff offered the comfortable Strauss a willing partner. The two began to settle things down for the hosts, Strauss bringing up his second ton of the series in style.

Despite Warne incredibly spinning his way to five wickets on the first day of a Test, England closed at 7 for 309 - just marginally ahead on balance.

The Oval, day two: Australia's openers counter as the weather becomes a factor

September 9, 2005

Australia needed early wickets on day two, and although Jones fell early, Giles and Harmison frustrated the tourists with some aggressive batting to take the total to 370 when the final wicket fell.

Aussie openers Langer and Hayden had failed to impact the series in the same way as Trescothick and Strauss, but finally found some form as light conditions began to deteriorate throughout the afternoon.

Highlight of the day While it was nice to see Matthew Hayden find some form after a torrid tour, Justin Langer's footwork and power against Ashley Giles was sensational to watch.

Langer took a particular liking to the bowling of Giles, sending him over the long-on fence on multiple occasions. But when the lights got worse and the umpires offered it to Australia, the batsmen took it.

Australia closed day two at 0 for 112 - 261 behind England still - and surely was hoping to only have to bat once in this decisive Test.

The Oval, day three: On again, off again as Australia takes it slow

September 10, 2005

The dark clouds that seemed to permanently hang over The Oval had started to create a sense of foreboding for Australia, which must have been casting anxious glances as the clock as the days started to get away.

Highlight of the day Not much happened today, except for two Australian openers scoring hundreds, of course. It was a slow grind, but both Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer got their in the end.

When play continued, the runs kept coming. Both Langer and Hayden made centuries on this third day, but the batsmen's keenness to take the bad light when offered meant only 45.4 overs were bowled.

Flintoff took the wicket of Ponting late in the day and bowled with real venom and pace, but a frustratingly stagnant day - not that the English were complaining - came to a close with Australia still 96 behind.

The Oval, day four: Freddy does it again, England puts one hand on the urn

September 11, 2005

Australia's whole batting plan was based on batting just once, and building a big enough first innings lead for Warne to defend on the final day. As a result, the first session of day four was set to be one of the most important of the series.

It's by no means over. We're playing the best in the world and we've got the small person of Mr Warne to contend with who in the first innings was outstanding. Matthew Hoggard

But just as he had in so many decisive moments before, Flintoff took the game by the scruff of the neck. He took four wickets in a spell of raw aggression before lunch, taking his innings tally to five, and leaving Australia all-but dead and buried still 17 runs behind.

If the pre-lunch rampage had set the game up, the post-lunch onslaught knocked it down. Within six overs, Australia would be bowled out - Hoggard the man doing most of the damage - and England held a six-run lead.

Highlight of the day Andrew Flintoff dominating a session hardly came as a surprise by this stage, but seeing English fans cheering for the rain was a more unique occurance.

A potentially difficult final spell was shortened by the umpire's light metre again, but Australia - or Warne, more specifically - still had time to take the wicket of Strauss.

England just needed to bat the day, Australia needed nine wickets and a few runs quickly. It was surely England's Ashes.

The Oval, day five: Pietersen comes of age, England wins the Ashes

September 12, 2005

The atmosphere was understandably tense on the final day at The Oval - every fan, coach and player had seen too many wild fluctuations during this series to assume any result was foregone conclusion.

England started well, but Australia threatened one last time. McGrath dismissed Vaughan and Bell in consecutive balls to really set the pulses racing, and when Warne caught Flintoff from his own bowling the score was 5 for 126.

But history correctly suggests this stage belonged to Kevin Pietersen, who took advantage of a number of dropped catches by the wasteful Australians to end the series as a contest with his own bat.

His first Test ton - a swashbuckling 158 - came from only 187 balls and in only a couple of sessions. Some players of Pietersen's youth and inexperience would have looked elsewhere for support given the occasion, but he took England's responsibility all on his own.

England were better than us; it is as simple as that. We had a great battle but we were never as good as England throughout the series. Shane Warne

Pietersen batted deep into the final session, every boundary provoking wilder and wilder celebrations from the crowd. Australia eventually bowled England out 335, and strode to the crease to bat for no reason other than formality.

Only four balls would be bowled. The light would interfere again, and umpires Bowden and Koertzen strode theatrically to either end of the wicket to remove the bails and stumps - the match was drawn, the Ashes were England's by two games to one.

Highlight of the day When Shane Warne dismissed Andrew Flintoff, the game looked on. When Shane Warne dropped Kevin Pietersen, the game was over. When Kevin Pietersen reached his ton, the Ashes were England's.

If the other great games of this series had been celebrated with a sense of caution, knowing work was still to be done, these England celebrations were the release of almost two decades of tension. Complete relief for players past and present.

Pietersen was rewarded for his performance in this match, Flintoff and Warne for theirs in the overall series, but Vaughan got to lift the greatest prize. The greatest series of all time had ended, and the spoils belonged to England.

Topics: ashes, cricket, sport, england, australia