The Ashes - Summer 2005

Being a personal and very biased record of the much-anticipated Australian tour of England, Summer 2005.

Review

God is an Englishman (the moments that swung it)
The Aussie Aftermath (Aussie player ratings)
England Heroes (England player ratings)
Funnies from the series
Weird science: key series statistics
Nobody told me there'd be days like these (the joy of victory)
Flintoff's Ashes (after Edgbaston)
A commemorative set of stamps is issued

Features

The Aussies and sledging
Poms versus convicts: great Ashes quotes



The Ashes Test Series Results

England win the five match series 2-1

England Player of the Series: Andrew Flintoff
Australia Player of the Series: Shane Warne
Player of the Series: Andrew Flintoff

1st Test
Lord's, London
21-24 July 2005
Result: Australia won by 239 runs
Toss: Australia, elected to bat
Man of the Match: GD McGrath
Full scorecard

2nd Test
Edgbaston, Birmingham
4-7 August 2005
Result: England won by 2 runs
Toss: Australia, elected to bowl
Man of the Match: A Flintoff
Full scorecard

3rd Test
Old Trafford, Manchester
11- 15 August 2005
Result: Match Drawn
Toss: England, elected to bat
Man of the Match: RT Ponting
Full scorecard

4th Test
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
25-28 August 2005
Result: England won by 3 wickets
Toss: England, elected to bat
Man of the Match: A Flintoff
Full scorecard

5th Test
Kennington Oval, London
8-12 September 2005
Result: Match Drawn
Toss: England, elected to bat
Man of the Match: KP Pietersen
Full scorecard



Warm-ups and One-dayer highlights

England beat Australia in the first home international Twenty20 game. Rose Bowl, 13 June.
Somerset beat Australia. Taunton, 15 June
Bangladesh beat Australia. Cardiff, 18 June
Aussie all-rounder Andrew Symonds fined and suspended for naughty behaviour
England beat Australia. Bristol, 19 June

The Natwest Traingular Final is between England and Australia at Lords on 2 July and ends, absurdly, in a tie as Ashley Giles scrambles the required 2 off the last ball.

In the three-match Natwest Challenge series, with its supersubs etc, Australia jammily win the last two games, but England gloriously win the first by a record 9 wickets.


Ashes Links

Cricket365 Ashes special - tons of analysis, funnies, pics etc
Cricinfo - round-up, summary and stats - best for stats, plus a great photo archive
BBC News round-up
Channel 4 special report