Five highs ... and a low
The 1961series left enduring memories for Brian Booth
26-Jul-2005
As Australia celebrate their comprehensive victory in the first Test at Lord's, six former Ashes tourists recall the defining moments of their trips to England. And as it transpires, not all Ashes memories are good memories.
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Greg Chappell
"The Oval Test of '72. We lost the first Test, bounced back and there was a six-day final game with the series still alive. The match fluctuated every day and we won. To see Rod Marsh and Paul Sheahan waving their bats and whooping as they ran off is definitely my pick."
"The Oval Test of '72. We lost the first Test, bounced back and there was a six-day final game with the series still alive. The match fluctuated every day and we won. To see Rod Marsh and Paul Sheahan waving their bats and whooping as they ran off is definitely my pick."
Bob Simpson
"Winning the series in `64 when I was captain and we weren't supposed to is one, and winning the Manchester Test in 61 is the other."
Simpson captained the '64 side that arrived to the headline "We can beat the pants off this lot", and was called the second-worst ever to tour
"Winning the series in `64 when I was captain and we weren't supposed to is one, and winning the Manchester Test in 61 is the other."
Simpson captained the '64 side that arrived to the headline "We can beat the pants off this lot", and was called the second-worst ever to tour
Colin Miller
"I didn't get to play a Test in 2001, but being involved with the winning team was a highlight. We retained the Ashes and to be part of that was fantastic."
"I didn't get to play a Test in 2001, but being involved with the winning team was a highlight. We retained the Ashes and to be part of that was fantastic."
Wade Seccombe
"There were so many standouts in 2001 because it was my first time with the Australian group. One thing that I've remembered recently was our trip to Gallipoli on the way over. That was when we got our sense of self - it was 1915 and the country was forging its identity. On the playing side the highlight was winning the Ashes at Trent Bridge."
"There were so many standouts in 2001 because it was my first time with the Australian group. One thing that I've remembered recently was our trip to Gallipoli on the way over. That was when we got our sense of self - it was 1915 and the country was forging its identity. On the playing side the highlight was winning the Ashes at Trent Bridge."
Graham Yallop
"Ian Botham at Headingley in '81 stands out because I couldn't believe someone could have so much luck in one innings. Among that luck was a brilliant performance, but catches were missed and every time he hit it in the air it dropped between fielders. My other memory is the Manchester Test where I got a duck in the first innings and 114 in the second. I couldn't believe the way things changed so much in a day. I couldn't do anything wrong in the second innings."
"Ian Botham at Headingley in '81 stands out because I couldn't believe someone could have so much luck in one innings. Among that luck was a brilliant performance, but catches were missed and every time he hit it in the air it dropped between fielders. My other memory is the Manchester Test where I got a duck in the first innings and 114 in the second. I couldn't believe the way things changed so much in a day. I couldn't do anything wrong in the second innings."
David Gilbert
"Overall the 1985 tour was a most disillusioning experience for me so it's hard to think of something that's a highlight. We won the second Test at Lord's so that was probably the biggest thing. Bob Holland took five wickets in the second innings and we won - I was so pleased for him. The dressing-room was so full of tension on that tour. There were guys on the trip - Dirk Wellham, Graeme Wood and Wayne Phillips - who were going to South Africa on the rebel tours and then didn't go when offered contracts with Kerry Packer. People were unhappy throughout. As a junior member of the team it was not conducive to playing well."
"Overall the 1985 tour was a most disillusioning experience for me so it's hard to think of something that's a highlight. We won the second Test at Lord's so that was probably the biggest thing. Bob Holland took five wickets in the second innings and we won - I was so pleased for him. The dressing-room was so full of tension on that tour. There were guys on the trip - Dirk Wellham, Graeme Wood and Wayne Phillips - who were going to South Africa on the rebel tours and then didn't go when offered contracts with Kerry Packer. People were unhappy throughout. As a junior member of the team it was not conducive to playing well."
Interviews by Peter English