The Ashes series between England and Australia is set to begin on June 16th, with both teams eager to emerge victorious. England will be looking to avenge their 4-0 loss in the 2021-22 series, while Australia will be aiming to win their first Ashes series in England in over 20 years.
Under the leadership of skipper Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum, England is poised to take on their opponents with an attacking and positive cricket strategy that aims for victory. They have won 11 of their last 13 Tests, dominating their opponents and creating a revolution known as Bazball.
As we approach this highly anticipated match, let’s take a look back at some iconic moments from the traditional rivals.
The first one dates back to 1930 when Australian legend Don Bradman batted like a modern-day ODI/T20 batter, scoring 309* at Headingley, a record that still stands to this day.
In the 1932-33 season, the infamous Bodyline series occurred. England bowled their deliveries right at their opponents’ bodies in an aggressive and unsportsmanlike tactic to combat Australia’s batting skills. The tactic worked, and England sealed the series win.
In 1948, Bradman’s legendary career was coming to an end, and he needed four runs to achieve a Test average of 100 runs. He was dismissed for a duck, missing out on the milestone by just 0.04.
In 1956, England’s Jim Laker took 19 wickets in one match, a feat that is unlikely to be repeated. The off-spinner took 10 wickets in the second innings and became the first bowler to do so, taking 9/37 in the first innings.
The 1981 Ashes will always be remembered as Botham’s Ashes. England’s legendary all-rounder Ian Botham smashed 149 in 148 balls, with 27 fours and a six, and Bob Willis’s spell of 8/43 helped England win the third match by 18 runs.
Another iconic moment in Ashes history was Shane Warne’s Ball of the Century in 1993 against Mike Gatting, which announced to the world that Warne was a prodigy.
In the 2005 season, England defeated Australia by just two runs in the second Test match, thanks to a spell from the series’s top player, Freddie Flintoff. After the final wicket fell, Flintoff consoled Brett Lee, creating one of the best moments in the sport’s history, highlighting the respect that lies somewhere in this rivalry.
In 2011, England won their first Ashes series in Australia after a long 24 years, with an all-round performance from Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, James Anderson, Chris Tremlett, and Greame Swann.
Finally, in the last Ashes series held in 2019, Ben Stokes replicated Ian Botham’s heroics at Headingley, scoring 135* in 219 balls, with 11 fours and eight sixes to power England to a one-wicket win and level the series.
As we gear up for the 2021 Ashes series, we can expect even more iconic moments and records to be created. It will be an exciting match to watch for cricket fans worldwide.
