Jul 04, 2015 Part one: Ponting, Vaughan, McGrath, Hoggard, Gillespie, Simon Jones and George Dobell look back at the first three Tests of the 2005 Ashes
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It was to the Poms credit that they did go on to learn how to win, and to Aus's credit that they lost the series without ever giving up and losing with grace - before I get howled down on that last remark, the whole series was played in the very best spirit (as exemplified by the Flintoff/Lee picture). When Aus needed to win on the last day of the fifth test at The Oval, and the sky was dark and foreboding, the Aussies ran on to the ground to field in dark sunglasses - very funny and in perfect keeping with the tone of the series - hardly sore losers when series defeat was the most likely outcome (thankfully, Aus then remembered how to win in 2006/07!) More of the same with the opposite result in 2015 please!
cont... As for the combatants themselves, I remember one commentator summing it up in the final moments of the second test as "one rising team that doesn't quite know how to win; and one champion team that doesn't quite know how to lose" (or words to that effect) - the Poms went on to beat us, but that line stayed with me.
@Wefinishthis. I'm an Aussie and, speaking only for myself, I have no complaints about the umpiring in 2005 Series. Yeah, DRS might have changed the decision against Kasper, but the fact is that it wasn't in use back then and the umpire's decision was perfectly understandable. I can't think of any other howlers in the series either. As for the series itself, it was definitely one of the best ever in so many ways. Aus v WI in 60/61, India v Aus in 2001 and so many others were great too, but 2005 was very special. The vibe in England (where I was living at the time) was unparalleled - everyone was transfixed, whether they knew about cricket or not (including friends of mine from Canada who didn't understand the sport) more to follow...
this was the best ashes ever, and vaughn was the best england captain ever Imran khan of england cricket team
Agree with @RJH431, Australia v India 2001 in India, just two teams at the top of their games going at it.
2005 was great only because it was such a disgraceful series - marred by so many terrible umpiring decisions in the home team's favour that changes to the rules HAD to be made quickly which is why we now have DRS as we do today. The shockingly-bad air-swing-caught-behind decision on Kasprowicz to deny Australia victory with 1 run required for a tie was just the tip of the iceberg. It's a shame because it took away from what could have been a truly great series where Jones and Flintoff stood up with amazing reverse-swing skill and while Australia had problems with the non-selection of Bracken and MacGill as well as terrible luck with McGrath treading on a cricket ball, the big problem remained that the umpiring was just the worst ever seen in a single series. I actually thought that the series in India where Dravid and Laxman brought India back from the brink to defeat Australia was unforgettable, but NZ, SA and the WI of old have all been involved in some incredible series as well.
an excellent series no doubt .. but can it beat Pak vs WI 88, 86,91 .. all ended in 1-1 draw and very close games .. even the draw was nail biting
Not even the greatest this century guys. For me it has got to be Australia vs India 2000-2001. A true epic including the greatest comeback I have ever seen.
The WI tour of Australia in 60/61 still remains for me the greatest series of it all and 1/2 million Aussies agreed!