Best Ashes Series: Known as the best bilateral series between two legendary cricketing nations. Let’s take a look at the top 5 best ashes series of all time.
The Ashes series began in 1882 season in Australia. Since then, many cricketing legends form both Australia and England have been a part of it. It is undoubtedly the most hyped bilateral cricket series in the world. In simpler words, the Ashes is the most fiercely fought cricketing fiesta between two rival nations, England and Australia.
One could understand it by the history that the tournament beings along in itself. The prize of the Ashes series is the small terracotta urn which houses the ashes of a wooden cricket ball. To sum it up, the Ashes series is not just any ordinary rivalry based series. But it a matter of pride and honor for the concerned two nations.
Best Ashes Series And Moments: Top 5 Best Ashes Series of all time
1. Ashes 2005
England- 2
Australia- 2
Draw- 1
The Ashes series of 2005 had to be the best series played so far. To give a background check Australia were the #1 Test team. And, England had not won the Ashes for the past 18 years.
In the very first test Australia not only cruised past England’s batting order courtesy to Glen McGrath. But also dominated them in both the innings. Although there was some resistance shown by England but Australia stamped their authority in Lords.
In the second test England scored a decent 407, while Australia posted 308. It looked like England were going to impose a big target. Until, Shane Warne stepped up and ensured the target was set below 300 (282). The World No. 1 team seemed to slaughter the English Bowlers in the opening session. But a good counter attack with the ball turning led England to dismiss Australia for 280 runs only.
With the third test of the Ashes series starting, Vaughan 166’s in the first innings led England to score 444, while Shane Warne’s effort with the bat meant Australia reached a respectable total of 302. Andre Strauss come out to score a ton for England in the 2nd innings; with the target set for 423. Just when Australia kept losing wickets from one end. Then it was the Australian Captain, Ricky Ponting whose 156 ensured the game is drawn with 1 wicket remaining.
The fourth test of the 2005 Ashes was played at Nottingham and this was the first time in 17 years that Australia were imposed a follow on after being bundled out at 218 runs in their first innings response to England’s 477. Australia managed to score 387 runs and managed to set a 128-run target for the host nation. Courtesy to Kevin Pieterson and Andrew Flintoff’s small partnership, England took a 2-1 lead.
The stage was set for an epic showdown at Oval to decide the winner of the best ashes series ever. England scored 373 in their first innings while Australia scored 367. Australia’s best bowlers of the 2005 Ashes series, Warne and McGrath tried their best to clinch the match, but Kevin Pieterson’s maiden test century ensured a draw.
After 18 years England had won the Ashes series against the World No. 1 Australian side which is still considered to be the most dominant in cricket’s history.
2. Ashes 2015
England: 3
Australia: 2
Draw: 0
In this Ashes series, Australians were the predicted winners as they were coming off an away series win in West India. More importantly, just before the Ashes, Australia had won the ICC World Cup 2015. On the other hand England was not able to quality for the 2nd round of the World Cup. Furthermore, the England International team seemed broken. England was trying to string together a series of new players after their devastating exit from the same World Cup.
In the first test, England won the toss and opted to bat, wherein managed to score 430. Thanks to Joe Root’s power-packed 134 runs. In response to that Australia too played well and scored 308 runs. Yet again in the 2nd innings, Joe Root led the England batting lineup and the target was set for 41 runs. However courtesy to Stuart Broad, Australia were bundled out for 242. England lead 1-0.
The 2nd Test was played at Lords and Australia were in no mood to back-down. Having managed to score 566, courtesy to Steve Smith’s 215. With England not being able to steady their ship even for once, they were all out on 312. All Australia needed was to add a cherry on top of the cake. And they did so by setting a target of 509 runs. But England’s batting slump continued as they lost all their wickets with just 103 on the board. Series tied at 3-3.
From the 3rd test in the 2015 Ashes Series, rain started poring and the conditions became tough. With Australia opting to bat, James Anderson’s swing did the track as the batting side were done and dusted for 136. England too were sloppy but still put up 281 runs with Joe Root leading the charge with his 61 runs. Australia somehow managed to put the lead and imposed a below power total of 124 runs. England did it with ease and lost just 2 wickets while doing so. England led 2-1.
Fourth Test at Nottingham saw Stuart Broad taking all the time limelight as he took 8 wickets to dismiss Australia at only 60 runs. England made full use of the situation and went onto score 391/9. Having to trail by 331 runs, Australia needed to go big, they rather went back to the pavilion.
England not only won by an innings and 78 runs. But also clinched the series against the much-favored in form Australian side who were expected to continue their winning streak. This is especially against a depleted English side. This why this makes it into the top 5 Best Ashes series of all time.
3. Ashes 1923-33
England:4
Australia:1
Draw:0
The 1932-33 Ashes was known as the most controversial to have been ever played in the history of this bilateral series. This Ashes is regarded as the ‘bodyline’ series as the England team used their controversial tactics to dismantle Australian batting lineup. The bowling attack of England led by Harold Larwood, Bill Voice and Bill Bowes. Bill bowled the ball roughly around the leg stump.
In the ‘Bodyline’ Ashes series, England continuously bowled short-pitched deliveries on the leg stump with 3-4 fielders standing nearby to catch the ball getting deflected from the bat. Having said that in the bodyline series the primary target of the English pacers was Australian batting legend Don Bradman. Bradman who had overwhelmed the English bowlers in the previous Ashes series.
As a result in the ‘bodyline’ Ashes series, England won 4-1 against much favored Don Bradman led Australia. This is not regarded by many in their top 5 best Ashes series of all time, but the bodyline series was certainly one of the most memorable ones in this bilateral arrangement.
January 16 in #sportshistory
Emotions reach boiling point in an infamous #Ashes Test at the @adelaideoval #thisdayinhistory #thisdayinsports #thisdayinsportshistory#pinchhitters #pinchhittersoz #bodyline pic.twitter.com/f89l5PmVnM— The Pinch Hitters (@PinchHittersOz) January 15, 2019
4. Ashes 1974-75
England: 1
Australia: 4
Draw: 0
Now that we have spoken about the English domination and bodyline series, the top 5 Ashes series also comprises of pure Australian domination. Before the 1974-75 Ashes series, England had won the previous one and the other one was a drawn affair. However in the spoken about 1974-75 Ashes, Australia embraced Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson back into the national side.
The two veteran fast bowlers were the highlight of the entire 1974-75 Ashes series and led Australia to stamp their authority on home soil. Both Lillee and Thomson ran past the English batting order in all the first four test matches and that too in frightening style.
Thomson in particular clinched 33 wickets and gave just an average of more than 17 runs. The humiliation was led to such an extent that England’s captain Mike Denness had to drop himself from the team at one stage. The last Test match was eventually won by England as Thomson was sidelined due to injury and Lillee broke down early.
5. Ashes 1981
England: 3
Australia: 1
Draw: 2
This has to be one of the most inspiration comeback in the history if cricket. Being 1-0 down after the conclusion of first 2 test matches of this Ashes series, England went onto win the particular Ashes series 3-1 and it went on to be known as the ‘Ian Botham Ashes. No individual has had more of an impact than Botham in this Ashes.
After the completion of the first 2 tests, Ian Botham had to step down as the captain. But in the 3rd test he came out with his best of 149* in the 2nd innings as the home etam was only able to post a target of 130 runs. Little did anyone know about the legend of Robert Willis, who took 8 wickets to dismiss Australia for just 111. The series was tied 1-1 after 3 matches.
In the 4th test of the 1981 Ashes series, Ian Botham stepped up with the ball when Australia had to chase a mere target of 150 runs. The former England Captain went onto register 5/11 in just his 14 over spell to push England across the victory line.
The second last test match of this Ashe series was in Manchester and England went to bat first and scored 231 runs. While Australia’s slump continued after being bowled out for 130. Just when everyone thought they had witnessed enough of Ian Botham, he decided to add to his legacy and scored 118, England went onto post 404. After which Australia had to chase 506 runs, although they fought but it never seemed enough as they bundled out for 402 runs. England won the series 3-1.
The last test match was at Oval wherein Ian Botham took 6 wickets in the first innings and the match eventually was drawn. Some English cricket fans regard the 1981 Ashes as the best of all time, likewise in this list it finds a place for itself.