How the 2005 Ashes was won
The stars of 2005 relive an unforgettable series
04-Aug-2015
The 2005 Ashes was a titanic contest which ended Australia's 16-year hold on the urn. Here, the two captains, Ricky Ponting and Michael Vaughan, and other stars including Glenn McGrath, Matthew Hoggard, Jason Gillespie and Simon Jones relive the drama, the nerves and the joy of an epic series.
Glenn McGrath takes nine wickets and Shane Warne six as Australia win big despite being rolled over for 190 in the first innings. England fans probably think, "Oh no, not again."
McGrath twists his ankle, Ponting sends England in on a flat pitch, England amass more than 400 on the first day, Warne spins them out cheaply in the second innings, Steve Harmison's slower ball gets Michael Clarke, the game seems over, Brett Lee and Michael Kasprowicz don't think so, Kasprowicz gloves it behind when three runs short, Flintoff consoles Lee.
Vaughan and Trescothick help England rack up a big score, and Australia are left chasing the game. Warne steps up with the bat in the first innings, before Ponting plays one of the finest innings of his career to keep Australia alive. England are denied victory this time as Australia's last pair survive some high-tension overs.
Once again, England put up a tall score in the first innings, before Simon Jones swings Australia out quickly. Gary Pratt runs out Ponting in possibly the most famous intervention by a substitute fielder in Ashes history, and England are left with a straightforward target. Warne, however, thinks 128 is plenty to defend and makes England huff and puff. They eventually get over the line with three wickets in hand.
It is Kevin Pietersen's debut series, and with the Ashes on the line, he delivers an innings for the ages. Warne, having been outstanding with bat and ball through the summer, drops a catch with Pietersen on 15 - a catch that might well have changed the series' final scoreline.