Cricket's Gold - The greatest Test Series of all time - Part 2 - Opinion
Continued from Part 1...
Australia threw everything at this total yet lost crucial wickets in their run chase. England kept on ripping through the Australian top order courtesy Flintoff once again, who was having a remarkable game. Australia’s tail however, was relentless in ensuring
that their side gets home regardless of how good England was. Brett Lee’s partnership with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Michael-Scott-Kasprowicz-c76197, were examples of attempting to defy the odds of losing. Just when it seemed that the deal was sealed, an event unfolded
in the sun kissed outfield of Edgbaston, which changed the fortunes of the English and their summer. With just three runs needed, Harmison deployed a thunderbolt that targeted Kasprowicz’s rib cage. The latter went on to feather the ball to keeper Geraint
Jones who appealed vociferously for a catch. Replays suggested that the batsman was not out, but it didn’t matter. England managed to secure one of the narrowest victories of all time in Ashes history amid jubilation from the crowd. The image of Flintoff consoling
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Brett-Lee-c48419 instead of celebrating after the game had become a part of cricket folklore.
That game was shunned away as a product of lady luck turning in favor of England, yet what was to follow at Manchester was something truly extraordinary. If the Edgbaston Test was considered as an all time Ashes classic, then the subsequent Test at Manchester
was one from the heavens. England’s batting in their first innings was led by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Michael-Paul-Vaughan-c76145 who notched up a thrilling 166 runs in a commanding total of 444. Australia’s response in the first innings however, was overshadowed by one man.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Glamorgan-c784, managed to snare six Australian wickets, which also included a reverse swinging bullet that knocked back Michael Clarke’s off stump. That wicket and Clarke’s bamboozled look was one of the images of the summer. Joni’s
efforts ensured that England were well on their way to victory, as 20,000 people were locked out of Old Trafford in addition to 23,000 inside the stadium on the final day.
England’s second innings total of 280 for 6 was enough to ensure that Australia could be denied victory. The Visitors had to hold on to a draw, and despite sheer pugnacity from skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RT-Ponting-c2377, the odds were stacked against them. The ghosts of Edgbaston
clouded the turf of Old Trafford as the duo of Brett Lee and Glenn Mcgrath had to share the responsibility of leading Australia towards a draw. It all boiled down to the last over for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 to ensure a draw after Ponting’s departure on 156. Australian
eventually hung on this time and celebrated with glee.
England was gutted over that loss and went into the fourth Test acknowledging that they could retain the Ashes if they were to win. The script went in favor of England as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SW-Tait-c2616. A similar
script awaited Australia as England pounded 477 thanks to a century by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Jones-c69217, picked up five wickets to leave Australia in a precarious situation at 218. The Aussies were
forced to follow on, and despite reaching 387, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 just needed 129 runs to win. Australian brilliance in the fast bowling department materialized in that game as they ripped through the English top order. England was open mouthed in the end, yet still
managed to reach a memorable victory with three wickets in hand. The Ashes had been retained and it was left for Australia to win at the Oval to ensure that the series was drawn.
The Oval was the setting for possibly the best grand finale of the 2005 season. England continued to bat impressively in that match, yet this time the silent giant of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Matthew-Lawrence-Hayden-c75233 came into the limelight by punching a powerful 138 runs. The game was still
in England’s grasp as a total of 373 runs in the first innings ensured that they had a slender lead of 6 runs. The second innings was dominated by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KP-Pietersen-c1806, as his 158 runs helped England bat Australia out of the game. Pietersen was dropped twice on
his way to scoring those runs and the cardinal sins committed by the Aussies in the field made way for the heavens to deny them any chance of winning at all. Bad light interrupted the course of play as England fans broke into tears of jubilation. England had
won the series 2-1 for the first time since 1989 and was hailed the best cricket team in the world.
No bilateral encounter in the history of Test cricket managed to generate the same sort of enthusiasm and passion as the Ashes of 2005. Top names such as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Matthew-Hoggard-c1926, Trescothick, Flintoff, Harmison and Jones became idols which were worshipped by an
array of English fans. Cricket became the new football and amid splashes of champagne and tears of joy, Australia had been beaten at last.
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