Epic moments of "THE ASHES" - Prestigious Rivalry Cricket Format

Historical significance

The Ashes test series between England and Australia is one of the prestigious rivalry cricket formats that has been going bigger and bigger day by day. Not everyone knows the history behind this series. Ok now just look back to the history of this prestigious ashes test series.

The story starts right from 1882. In 1882 Australian men’s cricket team won their first test win against England on England soil. Soon after Australia defeated England, the sporting Times (Britishnewspaper) openly wrote some serious words about the England cricket team. They write that the England test cricket format has been burnt and that burnt ashes that had been carried away to Australia by the Australian team.

Then three match series that had been conducted between Australia and England but now this time in Australia. The 3 match test series had been played during the period of 1882-83. Before the start of that series, English captain Ivo Bligh openly said, we are going to regain those Ashes. In that three match test series, England defeated Australia by 2-1. The England cricket team took a sweet revenge on that test series for their loss in the home test.

After the victory in Australia, Ivo Bligh was given a small urn. That small urn contains some of the burnt bail ashes, thereby they stated that was the ashes of Australian test cricket. That tiny urn has never been the official trophy of the ashes test series. But in the late 90s England Wales cricket board and cricket Australia together had some discussion. By the result urn shaped waterford crystal trophy which was presented in the 1998-99 the series. The first trophy was presented to the Australian winning captain Mark Taylor.

From there this prestigious Ashes test series between Australia & England is going on once every two years. Totally 71 series had been conducted till now. In that 71 series Australian team had won 33 test series and England team won 32 test series. Remaining six test series had been drawn. In this particular Ashes test series most runs have been scored by Australian cricket batsman Sir Donald Bradman (5,028). And also the most wickets had been picked up by the Australian legend cricket bowler Shane Warne (195 wickets).

Ok now let’s look back to some of the Epic moments of this Ashes test series:

“Sir Donald Bradman Final Match Duck”

In 1948, a five match test series was played between England and Australia. Australia eventually won the five match test series by 4-0. This was the last test series of the great sir Donald Bradman. In that last match during the second innings, unfortunately sir Donald Bradman went for a duck. This was the most heartbreak duck out in cricket history.

Because it was the 52nd test match for Bradman. Before that innings Bradman scored 6996 career runs. He just needs extra four runs for the grand batting average of 100. And unluckily he didn’t score that four runs, unluckily his batting average ended with 99.94. But till now no one reached this mammoth test average.

“Jim Laker’s 19 wickets in a single match”

In 1956 during the five match test series between England and Australia, Jim laker picked 19 wickets in a single match. At the end of the 3 matches, the series between Australia and England gets levelled 1-1. Soon after, during the fourth match England won by an innings and 170 runs because of the Jim Laker masterclass bowling. And due to this victory, England lead over the test series by 2-1. And notably England won that test series by 2-1 at the end.

In that match England batsmen Peter Richardson and David Shepherd brilliantly scored centuries in the first innings. Due to their brilliant effort England scored 459 runs in the first innings. Then Australia scored only around 84 in the first innings. Jim Laker brilliantly picked 9 wickets in the first innings. Due to the follow on Australia started their second innings. In the second innings Jim Laker this time Picked 10 wickets and England won by a huge margin of innings and 170 runs. And also Jim Laker is the very first bowler to pick 10 wickets in an innings respectively.

“Aggressive Australian players changed the test match to one-day match”

In 2006 during the five match test series, Australia entirely dominated England. In that series Australia won by 277 runs in the first test match. To bounce back from that first match defeat, England sensibly played their first innings in the second test match. When they scored around 551 runs for 6 wickets, they decided to declare the first innings. But that decision upset the whole England team later.

Australian players brilliantly batted during their first innings like the England players did. They scored around 513 runs in their first innings. At the end of the fourth day, England started their second innings. At the end of the fourth day, England scored around 59 runs for 1 wicket. But on the last day Shane Warne, Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath totally fired up the entire England team at the end of the tea session.

Only few time left over to end the last day of the test match, Australia needed 168 runs to win that match. However, everyone decided this match was going to be a draw. But Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey batted like they were playing in a one-day match during the last minutes. Ricky Ponting scored 49 runs from 65 balls and Michael Hussey scored unbeaten 61 runs from 66 balls. Due to their attacking contribution Australia reached the target of 168 runs in just 32.5 overs and stunned the entire England cricket fans.

“Magical Survival by James Anderson and Monty Panesar”

In 2009, during the five match test series between Australia and England James Anderson and Monty Panesar’s brilliant effort at the last minutes changed the test series result. In that test series during the very first match England won the toss and elected to bat. England scored 435 runs in their first innings. Then Australia begin their first innings. In that match Simon Katich, Ricky Ponting, Marcus North and Brad Haddin all four of them scored centuries. Notably Ricky Ponting scored 150 in that innings. Because of their brilliant effort Australian team scored around 674 runs for 6 wickets. And at that stage, they declared the first innings and called upon the England team to begin their second innings.

Australian bowlers terrifically bowled against England and they picked one by one of the England batsman wickets. During the last session of the last day, Australia was in the race to win that match. During the over of 93.3, England’s 9th wicket was gone. Only few overs left over, Australia just needed one wicket to win that match. But James Anderson and Monty Panesar survived around 12 overs till the last minute. And due to their brilliant effort the match was drawn at the end.

At the end of the series England won that five match test series by 2-1. If Australia won that very first match, the result may have ended up 2-2. But due to the great survival of James Anderson and Monty Panesar, England won the test series.

“Wonder from Ben stokes that changed the series result”

During the last test series (2019) Ben stokes did the wonder at the end of the 3rd test match. As a result of the first two test matches, Australia lead over England by 1-0. And then the third test match between them starts at Leeds. England won the toss and asked Australia to bat first. Australia scored around 179 runs in their first innings. Everyone thought England was going to score big and win that match easily. But the Australian bowlers Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and James Pattinson restricted England to just 67 runs. Josh Hazlewood picked a brilliant fifer in that innings.

Then Australia started their second innings and scored around 246 runs.They set over the target of 359 runs to England on day 3. With remaining two and half days to end test match, Australia need 10 wickets to win the match and another side England need 359 runs to win that test match. During the second innings, England openers Rory Burns and Jason Roy quickly departed in the second innings.

However, England openers lost their early wickets, middle order batsmen sensibly played and they rescued the England team from a defeat. But at one stage during the over of 115.2, England lost their 9th wicket.And at that stage England scored only 286 runs.To win that match England badly needed another 73 runs. But on the other side Australia just needed only one wicket to win that match.

And there Hero of that match Ben stokes joined his hand with Jack leach and rescued England by his outstanding batting till the last ball. They scored the partnership of 76 runs for the 10th wicket. And notably, in that 76 runs Ben stokes alone scored 75 runs. Ben Stokes scored the unbeaten 135 runs and received the player of the match for his masterclass effort till the last second. And the test series ended with the result of 2-2. If Australia defeats England in the third test, the result may end up with 3-1.

“Andrew Flintoff Greatness in Edgbaston”

In 2005 during the five match test series, Andrew Flintoff charged up and it ended the Australians dream by just two runs in the second test match. Australia won the first match in that series. And then the second match started in Edgbaston. Australia won the toss and asked England to bat first. Marcus Trescothick and Kevin Pietersen scored brilliant half centuries. And then followed by, Andrew Flintoff Scored a blasting 68 runs in just 62 balls. At the end of the