England Ashes Victory, 2005, by Nobby
From MemoryArchive
Who: Nobby What: England Ashes Victory When: September 2005 Where: The Oval London
As I guess most readers of this will be from the US so the first question you would ask is "What the heck is the Ashes?" The Ashes is the traditional name for the trophy played for by the England and Australia cricket teams. It dates back to the 19th century when Australia first beat England at cricket. There are three wooden sticks in the ground at each end of a cricket pitch 22 yards apart called stumps and on top of those are two small pieces of wood balanced on top called bails. When England lost the game it was called the death of English cricket and the bails were burnt and the ashes sent to Australia. Since then the rivalry between England and Australia has been intense, but in recent years Australia have consistently been the best team in the world by far.
This year's ashes series comprised of 5 5 day matches (called tests). Australia won the first test easily, England won the second test by just 2 runs, the third was drawn and the fourth won more comfortably by England.
So on to the last test. England needed to win or draw to regain the ashes which had been in Aussie hands for nearly 20 years. If they lost, then the series would be drawn and Australia would keep the trophy.
The series so far had been the most exciting, fiercely fought matches in history. Everyone was in agreement.
England batted first and batted well for a day and a half posting 373 runs (a good score), Australia replied in similar fashion posting 367 runs. During their innings however, there had been some stoppages for bad weather and poor light, so by the end of the fourth day England had just a day and a bit to stay in bat long enough for the match to end with no result (draw). They lost one of their best batsmen Andrew Strauss at the end of the 4th day but the most likely outcome was still a draw and an England series win.
I had the Willy Wonker golden ticket. A ticket for the last day of the last test. It only cost me £10, they were going on ebay for £800. I wouldn't have sold it for £8000.
With all the terrorist problems in London, everyone was searched getting in to the ground, so the game started with most of the crowd still outside. By the time I got to my seat England were cruising nicely. Marcus Trescothick and captain Michael Vaughan were showing the Australian bowlers no respect and hitting them all over the ground. Then, out of the blue, Vaughan plays a bad shot and is caught behind for 45. Then new batsman Ian Bell is out first ball. Oh dear!
The tension starts to mount in the stadium. Australia have their tails up and they are throwing everything at England. Bowlers Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee are showing unbelievable venom, pace and accuracy and at the other end, the greatest bowler of all time Shane Warne is weaving his magic. You could tell the batsmen were nervous, the run rate slowed right down and England went on the defensive. New batsman Kevin Pieterson was next in. He had a lucky escape with his first ball, TV replays show he was out, but luckily the umpire did not give the decision. A few balls later he should have been out again, but was dropped at first slip by Shane Warne.
Pieterson played a few very poor shots and was almost out a few times. It was the first time I had ever heard a crowd rapturously cheer a sensible defensive blocking shot, such was the tension in the ground. Pieterson and Tresothick added 40 runs before Trescothick fell to Warne. Now we're in trouble. In was barely lunchtime, England led only by about 110 runs and four of their best batsmen were out.
Then came Freddie Flintoff, England's cricket superstar. He lasts only twenty minutes and puts on only 8 runs. I think I'm going to be sick. People all around shuffle on their seats and hold their faces in their hands. There are finger nail cuttings all over the floor.
Next is Paul Collingwood. A late replacement for the injured Simon Jones. Its his first taste of ashes action and he'd only made 7 in the first innings. He makes 10 runs, but more importantly, he lasts 72 minutes. And while he played defensively, Pietersen at the other end is flourishing smashing the ball everywhere.
At this point, if Australia get the final wickets cheaply, they still had enough time to win. In comes Geraint Jones. Normally reliable, he's out for 1 - oh my god. Then its Ashley Giles, sometimes he bats well sometimes he doesn't. This was the day to be a hero - he was. 59 runs in support of the greatest hero of the day, Kevin Pietersen, who scores 158. By the time Pietersen was out, the game was just about out of reach of Australia. The crowd mood had changed again, the singing started, every stroke was cheered, there was a huge feeling of relief around the stadium. And everyone was now sensing the history they were viewing. Hoggard added 4 runs in 45 minutes and Giles and Harmison were the final wickets to fall.
England were just about there. Australia came out to bat they needed 342 to win, with a couple of hours left and light fading - impossible. Harmison steamed in at full pace with a couple of hefty boucers. The umpires didn't like the look of it in the conditions and asked the batsmen if they wanted to carry on playing in the bad light. They didn't and that was it. It took a while for the official result to be announced, but when it was the crowd went bananas. The greatest party in British sport since England won the football world cup in 1966.
The streets around the stadium were filled with people dancing and singing. Strangers were hugging and shaking each other by the hand. It was the greatest sporting day of my life and a few million other Englishmen.
