England 2, Australia 1, 2005
One of the greatest Test series. England had not held the Ashes since 1986. But under Michael Vaughan’s leadership had become a formidable side. Australia were the best side in the world and one of the greatest in history. Somehow, euphorically, England toppled them, hinging on a remarkable two-run win at Edgbaston. Much of their success was because of Andrew Flintoff, who had one of the great all-round series and helped overcome the continuing genius of Shane Warne.
England 2, West Indies 2, 1995
A long hot summer, two well-matched rivals, sprinkled with greats. What more could you want? The visiting West Indies had dominated England for two decades but were a side in decline. England were not as bad as in the 1980s but not as good as in the 2000s. Brian Lara was dazzling, Graeme Hick promising, but it was the bowling of Dominic Cork (a hat-trick included) and of Curtly Ambrose, Ian Bishop and Courtney Walsh that lit up the series.
Pakistan 2, England 1, 1992
Pakistan distilled the essence of an entire existence through the series: rowdily led, obscenely gifted, as likely to implode as explode. The headliners were Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and reverse swing, which swept through an obdurate England side. The close finish at Lord’s was the highlight, but every Test had enough to merit a book: umpiring dust-ups, hounding from the tabloids, player antipathy and revenge. It was the most lucrative series in England until then.
West Indies 2, Australia 1, 1992/93
There was the one great Test, which West Indies won by one run. The context made it gripping – one team on the way down meeting another on the way up. Australia’s dominance over the first half was a rehearsal for their eventual wresting of the crown, but the series turned on the arrival of Lara and his 277 at Sydney. Looming over a star cast was the moody Ambrose, the man most responsible for West Indies’ victory.
England 2, South Africa 1, 1998
This was either a grand heist or a long-drawn choke. South Africa were not the best side in the world, but only Australia were better. England were less bad than they had been and could conceivably have lost every Test. It was apt that Mike Atherton was the leading scorer, dragging England away from lost causes to improbable non-defeats. The leading wicket-taker was Allan Donald, and it was the electric duel between the two at Trent Bridge that formed the centrepiece of a classic.
osamiuddin@thenational.ae
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