Final Test: England v Australia .288.E2.80.9312 September.29 Test matches in England in 2005

1 final test: england v australia (8–12 september)

1.1 team changes
1.2 day one
1.3 day two
1.4 day three
1.5 day four
1.6 day five

final test: england v australia (8–12 september)

team changes

australia named glenn mcgrath, recovered elbow injury, replace michael kasprowicz. england s simon jones did not recover ankle injury previous test in time included in england team, , replaced after speculation all-rounder paul collingwood, in preference specialist fast bowler james anderson.

day one

the final match decide fate of legendary ashes urn began, , proverbial first blood drawn england michael vaughan won third toss of series (much delight of brit oval crowd). vaughan elected have english side bat first, , english first innings got underway. marcus trescothick , andrew strauss added 82 first wicket, england s batsmen looked take on australians, subtle spin variations bowled shane warne yielded 3 wickets england went lunch on 115 3.

shane warne continued after lunch taking wicket of kevin pietersen 14. andrew flintoff emerged form vital partnership of 143 andrew strauss, before falling glenn mcgrath 72 hour after tea. strauss made 2nd century of series, before being dismissed shane warne off acrobatic catch simon katich. day ended geraint jones , ashley giles @ crease, england 319 7. forecasts london called showers sometime during weekend, which, thought, might wipe day of action or more ledger.

day two

day 2 began positively australians, jones being bowled 25 off brett lee, , matthew hoggard managing meagre 2 before being dismissed mcgrath. however, ashley giles , steve harmison frustrated australians taking score past 370, before warne trapped giles lbw shortly before midday, leaving england out 373.

the australian first innings got off solid start, justin langer forging 100 partnership fellow opener matthew hayden — first opening-partnership century of series australian cricket team. langer played blistering strokes off giles bowling in particular, survived sharp chance marcus trescothick @ first slip. australians offered light after tea, despite english protesting , wanting bowl giles. australians accepted it, , light never improved, light rain coming down later. thus, day concluded australia 112/0, 261 runs behind england.

day three

after delay wet field conditions, third day began flurry of action, both justin langer , matthew hayden had close calls lbw appeals, replays suggested should have been out, , shies @ stumps missed. however, no batsman given out in morning session, 14 overs of play possible due rain. australia added 45 runs in time.

after lunch hayden , langer continued solid batting, frustrating england bowlers, langer reaching 22nd test century. shortly afterwards, england gained minor victory harmison dismissed justin langer, departed rapturous ovation. ricky ponting should have been dismissed bat-pad catch off giles, bowden turned down appeal. hayden achieved three-figure success later in day, while flintoff s hostile , accurate bowling rewarded wicket of ricky ponting, caught @ slip strauss. wicket, andrew flintoff equalled ian botham s hitherto unique achievement of 300 runs , 20 wickets in ashes series. flintoff had later appeal catch behind turned down rudi koertzen, despite hitting bat.

the australian batsmen once again ended day accepting offer of bad light, bringing much-interrupted day close after 45.4 overs. dogged batting , @ least 4 umpiring decisions in favour on third day, finished 96 runs behind 8 wickets of first innings intact.

day four

the fourth day started brightly england, damien martyn hooking short ball flintoff straight hands of collingwood, in third on of day, having added 1 overnight score of nine. further wickets fell, excellent knock matthew hayden been brought end andrew flintoff. flintoff continued impetus , trapped simon katich lbw 1, before hoggard had adam gilchrist lbw inswinger @ stroke of lunch. gilchrist, however, had added quick 23 vital, australia went pavilion 17 runs behind 4 wickets in hand.

however, took 6 post-lunch overs england end australian effort. geraint jones dropped catch off michael clarke s bat, did not prove crucial, clarke lbw hoggard in next over. warne , mcgrath both went ducks, caught off mistimed hook , in slips respectively. hoggard had brett lee (6) caught in deep , australia bowled out 367. flintoff finished 5 wickets, second five-for of career, while hoggard s 4 97 best return of series.

thus england, had expected begin second innings chasing hundred runs or more, leading 6 took bats in mid-afternoon. australia took quick wicket, of andrew strauss, dismissed again shane warne, caught bat-and-pad katich solitary run. wicket warne s 167th against england, equalling dennis lillee s ashes bowling record. 11 balls after dismissal, umpires rudi koertzen , billy bowden judged unfair continue play due inadequate light. 1 additional session of play subsequently possible, taking england 40-run lead without further loss, before poor light ended day.

bbc day 4 synopsis

day five

the fifth day began game still finely balanced. ponting put trust in 2 proven wicket takers – mcgrath , warne. england batted forty minutes, vaughan taking game australian bowlers, mcgrath produced 2 beautiful outswingers dismiss him , ian bell consecutive deliveries. australian charge diminished couple of uncharacteristic dropped catches, warne , mcgrath combined take 4 wickets before lunch, leaving england 133 runs ahead 5 wickets remaining.

the afternoon session anchored pietersen, beneficiary of 3 dropped catches, scored maiden test century, obdurate support collingwood , giles. session saw 2 wickets fall, collingwood caught acrobatically silly mid-off ponting 10, , geraint jones (1) decisively bowled when deceived rapid tait delivery. pietersen dismissed 158, superlative innings including 15 fours , 7 sixes, while ashley giles added 59 , steve harmison dismissed duck bring australia bat less 19 overs remaining.

as australians began innings, clear not enough time remained them make 341 runs trailed. offered light; , having accepted it, both teams had return dressing-rooms wait formal finish. situation became farcical. match over, crowd eager ashes presented england, , celebrations begin. after period of uncertainty , confusion, @ 18:17 bst umpires koertzen , bowden removed bails , pulled stumps signal end of match. no result in fifth , final test, england took series 2–1, regaining ashes first time since 1987.

kevin pietersen, having scored maiden test century @ crucial point, voted man of match channel 4 viewers. andrew flintoff chosen australian coach john buchanan english man of series while english coach duncan fletcher selected shane warne australian man of series. new compton-miller award overall man of series (as selected each side s chairman of selectors trevor hohns , david graveney) presented andrew flintoff. finally, replica urn presented jubilant english skipper michael vaughan, ending series in favour of home side.

the next series, scheduled 2006–2007, played in australia england defending ashes.

(cricinfo scorecard)