The Ashes Greatest Moments Post by: Norman Underarm 16 November, 2010 - 4:12 PM

(Photo: Getty Images)

The Battle Of Edgbaston – 2005

(Video: YouTube)

The second 2005 Test was arguably the greatest Ashes battle of all time. Needing 282 to win, it didn’t look good for Australia as it slumped to 8-175. Shane Warne gave his country a glimmer of hope by hitting 43 to go with his 10 match wickets but when he was dismissed, the visitors were 9-220 and needed Brett Lee and Michael Kasprowicz to produce a miracle. And they almost did. The unlikely duo guided Australia to within three runs of the victory target but ‘Kasper’ sunk Aussie hearts when he gloved a Stephen Harmison delivery before being caught behind, handing England a famous two-run win. Adding insult to injury was that Kasprowicz was sent packing by umpire Billy Bowden despite his glove not being anywhere near his bat! Thanks again Billy.

Waugh's Last Stand - 2003

The Aussies were giving England 'what for' leading the series 4 test wins to nil. Captain Steve Waugh was being belted in the press for his bad form. Steve hadn't much luck with the bat and was under some extreme pressure when he strode to the crease with the score at 3-56. England might have won the last Test, but everyone remembers Waugh scoring a four off the last ball on day two to bring up a well-earned century.

Warnie's Hat-Trick - 1994

(Video: Channel Nine)

This was the first hat-trick in The Ashes by an Aussie bowler in 90 years. That's incredible. The pitch was starting to cut up rough into the fifth day of the second Test at the MCG. Phil DeFreitas, Darren Gough and Devon Malcolm became the latest bunnies in Warne's trap. The best part was that England ended up all out for a measly 95.

Warnie's Ball Of The Century - 1993

(Video: YouTube)

These were Warnie's glory years, a new spin bowler on the scene was about to blow cricket apart. Let's face it, spin bowling hadn't been considered very cool up until now, every young kid wanted to be a pace bowler off the long run. Warnie ambled in to loosen up his arm and bowl his first delivery on English soil. What happened next is now folklore. Mike Gatting was completely dumbfounded by the amount of spin and just watched in slow motion as his off-stump rocked back and forth. It was Gatting that declared it, 'the ball of the century'.

Alderman Tackles Pitch Invader - 1982

Okay, not so great, but a memorable moment. The gentlemanly sport of cricket turned a nasty corner when hooligans invaded the oval during a Test between Australia and England. One of them gave fast bowler Terry Alderman a clip behind the ear as he ran past. What happened next is mind boggling, Alderman gave chase and rugby-crashed the scrawny fan into the turf. Dennis Lillee then applied the half-nelson and a new sport could have been christened, Contact Cricket. It never took off, but Alderman did dislocate his shoulder and missed more than a year of cricket. We still think it was a subversive ploy from the English camp.

Botham's Five For One - 1981

We loved and hated 'Beefy' Botham, from his portly figure to his supposed drinking prowess. We would have loved it if he was an Australian. Sadly he was batting and bowling far too well for the enemy. In one of the most amazing spells of bowling ever, Botham destroyed the Aussies. In a memorable 28 balls 'Beefy' took 5-1. We needed 151 to win, one minute we were 5-105, next thing, we were all out for 122.

The Centenary Test - 1977

The Centenary Test was played out at the MCG in the summer of 1977. It celebrated 100 years of great rivalry. There were some memorable highlights in a classic stoush, Rod Marsh became the first Aussie wicket-keeper to score a hundred and a young blonde batsman named David Hookes drew spontaneous cheers when he belted the not-much liked captain Tony Grieg to all parts of the MCG. The late Hooksey hit five fours in row as he helped the Aussies to a 45-run win, the exact same result as 100 years before.

Snow Gets Man Handled - 1971

It was the summer of 70/71 in Sydney, England had Australia on the run in the seventh and deciding Test. The main offender was fast bowler John Snow, who had been ripping the Aussie batsmen to shreds. Things turned nasty when he knocked down tail-ender Terry Jenner with a bouncer. When Snow went back to fine leg after his over, he was man-handled by an angry Aussie fan leading to a walk-off from the English team.

Bradman Rolled For A Duck - 1948

Every cricket fan knows the story, it was the Don Bradman's last innings, he only needed four runs on the board to achieve the incredible Test batting average of 100. Instead the English bowlers didn't follow the script and some geezer called Eric bowled him out for a second-ball duck. History now shows that the Don ended up with an average of 99.94. That final figure was often asked in citizenship tests for new Australians. It's true, we wouldn't make something like that up.

Jimmy And Monty's Rearguard - 2009

Just over two years after registering the first Ashes whitewash in 86 years, Australia was poised to kick off the 2009 Ashes Series with its sixth Test win in a row over the Old Enemy in Cardiff. At 9-233 in the second innings, the Poms were headed for an innings defeat needing six runs just to make the Aussies bat again. But the visitors didn’t count on the resilience of No.10 James Anderson and No.11 Monty Panesar who survived an amazing 69 balls to deny Australia victory and ensure a dramatic draw. That result set the tone for the rest of the series as England reclaimed the Ashes 2-1.

What's your favourite Ashes moment? Have your say now.

 

Leave your comment

• andy says

  ball of the century was my absolute fave, just ahead of steve waugh making a hundred off the last ball of the day.

  what a moment.

  Posted Wednesday 8 July, 2009 8:33 PM
• sir matthew masterson the third says

  tally-ho old chaps. before 2005, no one cared about cricket. in 2005, cricket was all the rage.

  now? no one cares again.

  til we win again. tally-ho!

  Posted Wednesday 8 July, 2009 8:34 PM
• Garreth Handke says

  First hat-trick by an Aussie bowler in 90 years? What about Damien Fleming and Merv Hughes..? As mentioned in the commentary.

  Posted Thursday 9 July, 2009 10:28 AM
• Norman says

  Hey Gareth
  I believe they are only referring to hat tricks in Ashes Tests...

  Posted Thursday 9 July, 2009 10:46 AM
• Michael says

  Warnie's 700th wicket at the MCG in 2006 bowling Andrew Strauss for 50 when it was 4/101 and the crowd clapped because it was a good achievement

  Posted Tuesday 21 July, 2009 10:12 AM