There’s nothing quite like Ashes cricket. One of the oldest and most sacred sporting competitions on the planet. The whole thing is soaked in tradition, history, and nearly 150 years of bad blood between the two greats of the game. It’s a competition like no other. Since 1882 the two sides have battled it out for the famous Urn. As the two sides face off over the next six weeks, let’s take a look back at some of the greatest series and moments that made this competition so unique.
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The 1948 Ashes
Let’s go right from the start. Look away if you’re an England fan because this series is famous for one man and his domination here in England. Sir Donald Bradman. Need I say any more? Australia came to England having not won a test since before the Second World War, their eyes firmly set on taking the Urn back down under. With this being Bradman’s last tour of England and his final series, he had a lot to live up to if he wanted to go down as a cricketing great. He certainly didn’t disappoint.
The Australian domination began right from the outset and they won the series 4:0 with very little resistance from England. Bradman was stellar, and along with names like Arthur Morris and Neil Harvey, the touring side whitewashed England on home turf.
Most notably at Headingley, where the Aussies chased down 404, a record that still sits today. The mercurial Bradman hit 173 not out and his fellow talented batsman Arthur Morris hit an impressive 182 to seal victory. But it didn’t all go their way. Bradman, needing just four to keep his average above 100 in the last game (a ridiculous feat), was bowled for a duck and finished with an average of 99.94. Unlucky Donald. Still, 4:0 isn’t too bad, is it?
The 1981 Ashes
For many people, this is the series that kickstarted their love of cricket. It’s also thanks to one, talismanic figure who consistently dragged victory from the jaws of defeat. Ian Botham was the country’s hero. After going one down in the opening test, Botham took it upon himself to drag his side back into the series with an incredible 149 not out in the third test. But he didn’t do it alone. Bob Willis took 8 wickets for just 43 runs in what might be the best spell of bowling ever seen in the Ashes. They won that match by just 18 runs in what was one of the great test matches of all time; it really had it all.
Botham then took five wickets for only 1 run over 28 balls in the fourth test and helped England to a 29 run victory, before he smacked 118 runs at Old Trafford to seal the series. It was one of the best series performances and etched Botham into English cricket folklore, beating a very good Australian side to keep the Urn here in Blighty.
The 2005 Ashes
It’s a series that defined a generation. Two sides who wouldn’t give an inch across all five matches, with eventual winners England edging out an all-time great Australian side. The visitors arrived having kept The Ashes since 1987. But the near 20-year wait came to an end as Michael Vaughan’s men edged out the Aussies 2:1
The series had everything. Shane Warne at his sparkling best, ripping apart the English batting lineup on multiple occasions. Freddie Flintoff doing his best Botham impression, making runs with the bat and taking wickets at crucial times with the ball. Kevin Pietersen announced himself to the world with an incredible 150 in the final test to get the English over the line. The Australian captain run-out by a substitute fielder, something Pointing wasn’t best pleased about. A two-run victory for the English in the second test was the highlight and a turning point, the ultimate showcase for test match cricket. It was a rollercoaster like no other and for many, the greatest series there has ever been.
With this year’s Ashes getting off to a flyer, with Pat Cummins providing another all-time moment that will go down in Ashes history; could this series be added to the list? Let’s hope for big runs, wickets, and splashes of cricketing genius that put it alongside the moments that make this competition so special.
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