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The back-to-back Ashes

The fight for the urn

By the time Australia had been whitewashed in India in February-March, the idea of ten back-to-back Ashes Tests seemed tedious to say the least
By the time Australia had been whitewashed in India in February-March, the idea of ten back-to-back Ashes Tests seemed tedious to say the least•Getty Images
And just a couple of weeks before the start of the first Test, Australia sacked Mickey Arthur as coach and replaced him with Darren Lehmann
And just a couple of weeks before the start of the first Test, Australia sacked Mickey Arthur as coach and replaced him with Darren Lehmann•Getty Images
But Brad Haddin - a knight in cricket pads - was still at the crease. By lunch on the final day, they needed 20 runs to pull off a famous win but only one wicket to do it with...
But Brad Haddin - a knight in cricket pads - was still at the crease. By lunch on the final day, they needed 20 runs to pull off a famous win but only one wicket to do it with...•PA Photos
The second Test: another hundred by Bell and a sparkling and inventive 180 by Root made the Lord's Test a no-contest
The second Test: another hundred by Bell and a sparkling and inventive 180 by Root made the Lord's Test a no-contest•Getty Images
The next match was Durham's first Ashes Test. Once again Australia took a first-innings lead, thanks to Chris Rogers' maiden century, suggesting that the final scoreline of 3-0 was not indicative of how competitive the series really was. Australia dominated passages of play but could not extend it to an entire day's worth of advantage
The next match was Durham's first Ashes Test. Once again Australia took a first-innings lead, thanks to Chris Rogers' maiden century, suggesting that the final scoreline of 3-0 was not indicative of how competitive the series really was. Australia dominated passages of play but could not extend it to an entire day's worth of advantage•Getty Images
In the fifth Test, Steven Smith's maiden Test hundred and Shane Watson's first century of the series gave Australia a 115-run lead but it was another match marred by bad weather. Day four was washed out and Clarke declared Australia's second innings at tea on day five, setting England 227
In the fifth Test, Steven Smith's maiden Test hundred and Shane Watson's first century of the series gave Australia a 115-run lead but it was another match marred by bad weather. Day four was washed out and Clarke declared Australia's second innings at tea on day five, setting England 227•Getty Images
The circus moved to Australia in November. England picked batsmen Michael Carberry and Gary Ballance, allrounder Ben Stokes and fast bowler Boyd Rankin in the squad. But they started the tour wretchedly, conceding 369 for 4 on the first day of a tour game against a second-string Western Australia XI
The circus moved to Australia in November. England picked batsmen Michael Carberry and Gary Ballance, allrounder Ben Stokes and fast bowler Boyd Rankin in the squad. But they started the tour wretchedly, conceding 369 for 4 on the first day of a tour game against a second-string Western Australia XI•AFP
He took nine in the match, and with Warner and Clarke's centuries, Australia had their first win since January - this one by a margin of 381 runs, setting the tone for the rest of the series
He took nine in the match, and with Warner and Clarke's centuries, Australia had their first win since January - this one by a margin of 381 runs, setting the tone for the rest of the series•Getty Images
Chasing 531, England passed 300 for the first time in the series but fell way short of the target
Chasing 531, England passed 300 for the first time in the series but fell way short of the target•PA Photos
The cracks in the WACA pitch seemed like scratches compared to the ones in England's Ashes plans
The cracks in the WACA pitch seemed like scratches compared to the ones in England's Ashes plans•Getty Images
England's batting collapsed once again, however, this time to offspinner Nathan Lyon (5 for 50) and Johnson (3 for 25). Australia ended the year in a way no one could have predicted. Thoughts of 5-0 were not far away...
England's batting collapsed once again, however, this time to offspinner Nathan Lyon (5 for 50) and Johnson (3 for 25). Australia ended the year in a way no one could have predicted. Thoughts of 5-0 were not far away...•AFP
They were a shambles on the field and off it. David Warner was suspended for throwing a punch at Joe Root in a bar in Birmingham during the Champions Trophy
They were a shambles on the field and off it. David Warner was suspended for throwing a punch at Joe Root in a bar in Birmingham during the Champions Trophy•Getty Images
The first Test: on debut, Ashton Agar became the highest-scoring No. 11 and his 98 warmed the hearts of even the staunchest England supporters. His 163-run stand for the last wicket with Phil Hughes was also a world record
The first Test: on debut, Ashton Agar became the highest-scoring No. 11 and his 98 warmed the hearts of even the staunchest England supporters. His 163-run stand for the last wicket with Phil Hughes was also a world record•Getty Images
With 15 more runs to go, England appealed for a caught-behind off Haddin. The umpire said not out and Alastair Cook reviewed. Hot Spot revealed a faint edge and the stump mic had picked up a sound. England had won a thrilling Test, at the end of which Brett Lee, remembering Edgbaston 2005, tweeted: "Where's Freddie? I need a hug."
With 15 more runs to go, England appealed for a caught-behind off Haddin. The umpire said not out and Alastair Cook reviewed. Hot Spot revealed a faint edge and the stump mic had picked up a sound. England had won a thrilling Test, at the end of which Brett Lee, remembering Edgbaston 2005, tweeted: "Where's Freddie? I need a hug."•PA Photos
Australia were bowled out for 128 and 235 - Graeme Swann took nine in the match - and lost by a massive 347 runs
Australia were bowled out for 128 and 235 - Graeme Swann took nine in the match - and lost by a massive 347 runs•Getty Images
Bell scored his third hundred of the series, after which Ryan Harris took a career-best 7 for 117, and Australia were set 299 to chase in five sessions...
Bell scored his third hundred of the series, after which Ryan Harris took a career-best 7 for 117, and Australia were set 299 to chase in five sessions...•AFP
Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott took on the challenge gamely but the capacity crowd, eager to see a 4-0 result, was left to stew in its own juices when, with England needing 21 runs to win from four overs, the umpires called bad light and took the players off
Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott took on the challenge gamely but the capacity crowd, eager to see a 4-0 result, was left to stew in its own juices when, with England needing 21 runs to win from four overs, the umpires called bad light and took the players off•PA Photos
But on day one at the Gabba, England's bowlers, Broad in particular, didn't look rusty at all. Haddin rescued Australia from an under-200 total but they managed only 295. Broad, with 6 for 81, had become Australia's "Phantom Menace", according to the <i>Courier Mail</I>
But on day one at the Gabba, England's bowlers, Broad in particular, didn't look rusty at all. Haddin rescued Australia from an under-200 total but they managed only 295. Broad, with 6 for 81, had become Australia's "Phantom Menace", according to the Courier Mail•Getty Images
Before the next Test, in Adelaide, England were jolted by the news of Trott's decision to leave the tour immediately, due to a stress-related illness that he had been suffering from for some time. Stokes replaced him in the side
Before the next Test, in Adelaide, England were jolted by the news of Trott's decision to leave the tour immediately, due to a stress-related illness that he had been suffering from for some time. Stokes replaced him in the side•AFP
After four years, Australia regained the Ashes in style at the WACA, literally and figuratively a cauldron for England
After four years, Australia regained the Ashes in style at the WACA, literally and figuratively a cauldron for England•Getty Images
On December 22 came a further blow for England, as Graeme Swann announced his immediate retirement from international and first-class cricket
On December 22 came a further blow for England, as Graeme Swann announced his immediate retirement from international and first-class cricket•Getty Images
In Sydney, Stokes took six wickets in the first innings. Australia's top order had slipped up and had to be rescued by Haddin once again
In Sydney, Stokes took six wickets in the first innings. Australia's top order had slipped up and had to be rescued by Haddin once again•Getty Images
Australia gained a first-innings lead but Ian Bell's century stands with Kevin Pietersen and Stuart Broad gave England 310 to defend. By stumps on day four, Australia were 137 runs short with four wickets in hand
Australia gained a first-innings lead but Ian Bell's century stands with Kevin Pietersen and Stuart Broad gave England 310 to defend. By stumps on day four, Australia were 137 runs short with four wickets in hand•Getty Images
But the win was marred by bitterness over Stuart Broad's decision to not walk after edging Agar to slip via Haddin's gloves. Lehmann later called his inaction "blatant cheating" and an Australian newspaper decided to keep Broad's name out of reports when England toured in the return series
But the win was marred by bitterness over Stuart Broad's decision to not walk after edging Agar to slip via Haddin's gloves. Lehmann later called his inaction "blatant cheating" and an Australian newspaper decided to keep Broad's name out of reports when England toured in the return series•Getty Images
In the third Test, Michael Clarke scored Australia's first Test hundred in seven matches, after which Peter Siddle ensured they got a hefty first-innings lead. But rain and bad light robbed them of the chance to make it 2-1. The draw meant England retained the Ashes
In the third Test, Michael Clarke scored Australia's first Test hundred in seven matches, after which Peter Siddle ensured they got a hefty first-innings lead. But rain and bad light robbed them of the chance to make it 2-1. The draw meant England retained the Ashes•PA Photos
But Broad wasn't done rubbing salt into their wounds. In a fearsome display of seam bowling, he took 6 for 50 and dismantled Australia's chase from a steady 168 for 2 - Tim Bresnan triggered the collapse with Warner's wicket - to 224 all out. England had won their third successive Ashes series
But Broad wasn't done rubbing salt into their wounds. In a fearsome display of seam bowling, he took 6 for 50 and dismantled Australia's chase from a steady 168 for 2 - Tim Bresnan triggered the collapse with Warner's wicket - to 224 all out. England had won their third successive Ashes series•Getty Images
There were no open-top bus parades this time, though the victorious England players were accused of urinating on the Oval pitch. England celebrated at the ground late into the night and apologised a couple of days later for getting "carried away amongst the euphoria of winning such a prestigious series" - though their transgressions were not specified
There were no open-top bus parades this time, though the victorious England players were accused of urinating on the Oval pitch. England celebrated at the ground late into the night and apologised a couple of days later for getting "carried away amongst the euphoria of winning such a prestigious series" - though their transgressions were not specified•Getty Images
But the truly menacing bowler of the series turned out to be Mitchell Johnson, who had last played a Test in March. After he steamed in on day two and had Jonathan Trott fending off short deliveries, Johnson was unstoppable
But the truly menacing bowler of the series turned out to be Mitchell Johnson, who had last played a Test in March. After he steamed in on day two and had Jonathan Trott fending off short deliveries, Johnson was unstoppable•Getty Images
By the time Johnson had wiped out England for 172 with 7 for 40 in the first innings in Adelaide, cricket fans were getting misty-eyed about the return of good old-fashioned fast bowling in Test cricket
By the time Johnson had wiped out England for 172 with 7 for 40 in the first innings in Adelaide, cricket fans were getting misty-eyed about the return of good old-fashioned fast bowling in Test cricket•Getty Images
Warner, Watson and Smith scored hundreds, and Stokes made a consolation ton for England, his first, in their second innings
Warner, Watson and Smith scored hundreds, and Stokes made a consolation ton for England, his first, in their second innings•Getty Images
Johnson took a five-for in the first innings in Melbourne, but this time England gained a narrow first-innings lead. Broad and James Anderson took seven between them
Johnson took a five-for in the first innings in Melbourne, but this time England gained a narrow first-innings lead. Broad and James Anderson took seven between them•Getty Images
But all these worries were left for another day as Australia celebrated another huge win and a series whitewash that had seemed unimaginable just a few months before
But all these worries were left for another day as Australia celebrated another huge win and a series whitewash that had seemed unimaginable just a few months before•Getty Images