The Ashes is more than just a cricket series; it is a moment of pride, passion, and unforgettable moments between England and Australia. Began in 1882
after England’s shocking defeat at The Oval, a mock obituary claimed English cricket had died and its ashes would be taken to Australia. From then on, every contest became a fight for the iconic urn. Over the years, it has witnessed legendary spells, stunning centuries, and drama that ran over five days yet came down to the final ball.
5. Shane Warne hat-trick, Ashes 1994:
In the 1994 Ashes, England were chasing 388 at the iconic MCG and collapsed to 91/7 when Shane Warne finally joined the party. The legendary leg-spinner first dismissed Phil DeFreitas LBW. Following this, he got Darren Gough to edge on to Ian Healy. On the hat-trick ball, he got Devon Malcolm as the ball lobbed off the bat and glove to a diving David Boon at short leg. Notably, it was Warne's first hat-trick, the first Ashes treble in over a century. The home team won the game by a 295-run margin. Meanwhile, Warne ended with nine wickets in the match.
4. Andrew Flintoff-Brett Lee, Ashes 2005:
England had just snatched a two-run victory that put the Ashes into the history books. Andrew Flintoff sat beside Brett Lee, making it one of the wholesome moments of the rivalry. The match had been a four-day fight. England’s 407 was met with Australia’s 308, before the hosts set 282 to win. At 175/8, Lee and Michael Kasprowicz refused to give up, swinging and scrambling until the equation was down to three runs. Then, Kasprowicz gloved Harmison to Geraint Jones, and Edgbaston exploded. Amid the celebration, Flintoff crossed the pitch, knelt, and rested a hand on Lee’s shoulder.
3. Pat Cummins-Nathan Lyon pull off sensational win, Ashes 2023:
Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon produced one of the great Ashes chases at Edgbaston in 2023, snatching a two-wicket win from England’s hands. Asked to chase 281, the visitors were struggling at 227 for 8 after Usman Khawaja’s 65. Lyon, who walked in next, supported his skipper brilliantly. Cummins twice hit Joe Root into the stands, while Lyon punched gaps and tackled England’s short balls. Ben Stokes nearly pulled off a miracle catch, but the ball slipped through his hands.
The duo's 55-run stand played a big role. Notably, Cummins' winning shot came off Ollie Robinson's bowling, following which he tossed his bat in triumph and picked Lyon up. Khawaja, who faced 518 balls in the match, bagged the Player of the Match award, but it was the ninth-wicket pair’s brilliance that sealed Australia’s 1-0 series lead.
2. Ben Stokes' one-man show, Ashes 2019:
On August 25, 2019, England's current Test captain Ben Stokes produced one of cricket’s greatest innings to keep England’s Ashes hopes alive at Headingley. Chasing a target of 359, England were 286.9, still 73 short, when Stokes was joined by last man Jack Leach. Stokes, who was batting on 61 off 174 balls, began a counterattack, smashing four fours and seven sixes.
He guarded Leach, who finished unbeaten on 1, while Stokes hammered an unbeaten 135 from 219 deliveries. Their unbroken 76-run stand sealed England’s highest-ever fourth-innings chase and a famous one-wicket win. Stokes also contributed with the ball earlier in the match. Notably, this performance came just weeks after his World Cup heroics and was hailed by Australia’s Tim Paine as one of the great innings.
1. Kevin Pietersen vs Mitchell Johnson, Ashes 2013-14:
The 2013-14 Ashes Boxing Day Test at the MCG witnessed one of the most heated on-field clashes in cricket as Kevin Pietersen and Mitchell Johnson breathed fire. England were looking to save the match when Pietersen, batting on 39, repeatedly backed away from the crease during Johnson’s run-up, citing movement near the sightscreen. Johnson, who was frustrated by the repeated actions, threw the ball towards Pietersen and stormed down the pitch, triggering a verbal exchange.
Notably, umpires had to step in to separate the pair as tempers flared. Johnson later revealed he thrived on such confrontations, insisting Pietersen was too focused on the crowd rather than the game. This was not their first go at each other, as Johnson had previously admitted he once considered punching Pietersen during the 2009 Ashes after personal digs crossed the line. The left-arm pacer had a memorable 2013-14 Ashes as Australia not only whitewashed the series 5-0, but Johnson was named the Player of the Series for picking 37 wickets.
