This is the fifth part in a series recounting the 2005 Ashes, as it occurred a decade ago.

To the chagrin of Australian fans – and neutrals who want to see if Pietersen & Geraint Jones can put England on the cusp of an improbable win – rain in the area delays play until 3:45 PM, essentially meaning only one session.

Evening

Not long after the resumption, the visitors strike, McGrath getting Jones before Giles goes for a duck two balls later. It’s just the kind of start to the shortened Australia wanted, but the English weather intervenes again, causing a brief delay. The rain doesn’t disrupt McGrath’s rhythm, however, as he continues to use that Lord’s slope to his advantage, trapping Hoggard lbw. The one positive of the day for England is Pietersen getting a critical half-century, showing the selectors that they were right to pick him for the series. Two balls after the 50, Warne gets Harmison, prompting Pietersen to take charge, taking the spin bowler for six off the first ball of one over and four off the last ball of that over. That’s the last action of the Test in England’s favor, as the very next over, Simon Jones edges to Warne at slip, McGrath finishing the job he started three days earlier. A series that began with hope and an unpredictable start sees the first Test close with an all-too-familiar ending. England will have more than a week to prepare for the next meeting at Edgbaston, but the consensus feeling is that 2005 will end with another comfortable Australian victory.

England finish their second innings 180 all out.

Australia win the first Test by 239 runs. They lead the series 1-0.

This is the fourth part in a series recounting the 2005 Ashes, as it occurred a decade ago.

Morning

With Shane Warne’s dismissal proving to be the last ball of the second day, Brett Lee joins Katich at bat, and smashes the very first delivery for four. He is unable to add much more to that, as Giles runs him out in the fourth full over of the day. Gillespie’s blocking technique comes in handy, allowing Katich to play multiple boundaries as he closes in on a 50. That half-century comes, but not before Simon Jones bowls Gillespie. McGrath is able to survive until lunch, more than happy to let Katich play the majority of deliveries until then. Australia go into the break 372/9 with a lead of 407.

Afternoon

In the first over back, McGrath hits a rare boundary, putting him in double digits. The man nicknamed “Pigeon” eventually reaches 20, as Australia reach 100 overs, before Katich tries a daring shot to third man. Simon Jones is there to make the catch, though, and England can take solace that they managed 20 wickets without having Ponting declare. They will, however, require a much stronger batting performance than their first innings.

Australia finish their second innings 384 all out. England need 420 runs to win.

As is the norm with Test cricket, Trescothick & Strauss begin patiently, averaging less than a run per over to start. Neither shows signs of panic, but a calm temperament, capitalizing on occasional mistakes from the Aussie bowlers. McGrath is limiting the runs, but failing to take the early wickets he enjoyed in the first innings. Warne is brought in on the stroke of tea, nearly getting Trescothick lbw, but umpire Aleem Dar doesn’t raise his finger. England get to 65 without a wicket lost.

Evening

England still have over 350 to chase, but the longer their opening pair stays at bat, the more hope they get. But Strauss pops one in the air, taken on a superb catch by Lee. Warne strikes minutes later, when Trescothick edges to Hayden, falling agonizingly short of 50. Vaughan and Bell adopt an attitude of wanting to stay not out as long as possible, even if it means a poor strike rate. Warne, though, shows that he is still the greatest spin bowler in the game, even at age 35. Bell goes lbw, followed by Lee bowling Vaughan onto the stumps. Flintoff gets three off the first ball he faces, but only sees nine more dot balls before edging behind to Gilchrist. Pietersen & Geraint Jones bring the target down to under 300, with KP memorably sending a Lee delivery into the stands with a massive six. The South African-born sends a Warne ball to the boundary to end the day. England still have a glimmer of hope as long as Pietersen remains at the crease, but they’re growing desperate.

After Day 3, England are 156/5 in the second innings. They need 264 to win; Australia need five wickets.

This is the third part in a series recounting the 2005 Ashes, as it occurred a decade ago.

Morning

Kevin Pietersen, who did very well to stay not out overnight despite the chaos around him, starts the second day slow but steady. Hoggard doesn’t fare as well, becoming Warne’s first wicket of the summer. The very next over, though, Pietersen takes McGrath for 4-6-4 in successive deliveries, bringing up a half-century in his debut Test innings. The South African-born batsman gets one more six off Warne before directing a ball straight to Damien Martyn for wicket number nine. Simon Jones and Steve Harmison put on a determined partnership for the final wicket, but Lee eventually finishes the job that McGrath started.

England finish their first innings 155 all out.

Australia’s second innings begins without the rocky situations they endured the previous day, Hayden playing patiently. England do get a wicket before lunch, Pietersen getting Langer in a runout. Ponting provides enough stability to take the Australians to 47/1 at lunch.

Afternoon

Hayden doesn’t last long in the second session, as Flintoff bowls him in the third over following the break. Ponting & Martyn continue their patient play, taking Australia past the 100 mark. The captain comes up just short of a half-century when he finds substitute James Hildreth at point. Clarke adopts Martyn’s style of play, not looking for boundaries, but simple singles that add to the Aussies’ lead. In the final over of the session, Clarke finds Pietersen at cover, who drops an opportunity to put the visitors under pressure. The two batsmen manage just one single in the remaining deliveries, getting to 140/3 at tea.

Evening

England’s bowling troubles continue, as Ashley Giles is brought on for spin, but is unable to produce the sort of chaos that Warne is notorious for. Clarke gets 50 as the Aussies get to 50 overs, something neither side did in their opening innings. Another critical dropped catch follows, as Hoggard fails to hold on to a shot from Clarke, and Martyn gets his half-century as well. Those in the dressing rooms and the stands get a feeling of “normal service resumed” as the hosts grow timid and anxious of making more errors. Clarke is the first player to reach the “Nervous Nineties,” but deflects a Hoggard delivery onto the stumps. The very next ball, Harmison traps Martyn lbw, and England have a glimmer of hope. Gilchrist begins perhaps too slowly, and is out for only 10, bowled by Flintoff. Katich remains unfazed, his primary goal to stay not out by the end of the day. This is the same goal for Warne, but he finds Giles at gully, who doesn’t make a mess of the opportunity. England end the day with a wicket, but are behind the eight-ball.

After Day 2, Australia are 279/7 in the second innings. They lead by 314 runs.

This is the second part in a series recounting the 2005 Ashes, as it occurred a decade ago.

It’s a day cricket fans, particularly those from England & Australia, have been waiting for: the start of a brand new Ashes series! Both teams arrive in North London at Lord’s, the “Home of Cricket,” knowing victory here can very easily lead to more success down the road.

Australia win the toss and choose to bat.

Australia – Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting (c), Damien Martyn, Michael Clarke, Simon Katich, Adam Gilchrist (wk), Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath

England – Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Strauss, Michael Vaughan (c), Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff, Geraint Jones (wk), Ashley Giles, Matthew Hoggard, Steve Harmison, Simon Jones

Morning

Australia’s veteran openers, Langer & Hayden, largely cruise through the first eight overs, until the 48th delivery of the series sees Hayden misjudge a ball from Hoggard, who directs it into the stumps for the first wicket. Captain Ponting tries to provide a steady presence, but early in his innings is hit by a Harmison delivery so hard that he begins bleeding from the cheek. There is a noticeable lack of concern from the English players about Ponting’s well-being. He puts on a brave face and continues, but edges to Strauss after only scoring 9. Two overs later, Flintoff’s fourth delivery in an Ashes Test claims the wicket of Langer, shortly followed by Martyn’s departure, courtesy of the Joneses (no relation). Clarke and Katich do well to stay at the crease, but aren’t able to add many runs to the innings, and Simon Jones traps Clarke for the first lbw of the series. Adam Gilchrist contributes a pair of boundaries in the final over before lunch as Australia end the morning session 97/5.

Afternoon

Katich & Gilchrist use the break to settle down, and begin the second session comfortably, playing patient boundaries. That is, until the Aussie keeper edges Flintoff to a waiting Geraint Jones. Katich, now joined by Warne, remains defiant, as the two slowly build a partnership for roughly seven overs. Harmison responds by getting both batsman out in a span of three balls, followed by Lee in his next over. Harmison gets his fifth wicket of the innings by trapping Gillespie lbw, and the Australians’ first innings comes to an end before tea on the first day.

Australia finish their first innings 190 all out.

England begin their first innings patiently, getting to 10 runs without a wicket lost at the tea break.

Evening

The hosts’ conservative play doesn’t pay off, as Trescothick is dismissed via McGrath after scoring just one boundary. It’s the Australian’s 500th Test wicket, many of coming at Lord’s thanks to the infamous slope. Strauss follows his fellow opener back into the dressing room four balls later, as Vaughan departs not long after with a strike rate of only 15. McGrath wastes little time getting the wickets of Bell & Flintoff, the latter only at the crease for a four-ball duck. Pietersen slowly gains confidence at bat, as does Geraint Jones, and the two – batting fifth and seventh in the lineup – become the first to score double digits. Warne’s crafty spin creates a few nervous moments, but Lee baits Jones to pop up to Gilchrist, before getting Giles to edge with the last ball of the day. A thrilling end to a thrilling day!

After Day 1, England are 92/7 in the first innings. Australia lead by 98 runs.

This is the first part in a series recounting the 2005 Ashes, as it occurred a decade ago.

2015 marks a decade since England and Australia met in arguably the most dramatic series of their historic Ashes rivalry. England are often considered the founders of cricket as we know it, and have historically not been humble about this. Australia, meanwhile, have relished the chance to not just get the better of their “big brother” in meetings, they would rout England if the opportunity arose.

From 1989 to 2003, those opportunities came more often than not. After England lifted the urn in 1987, Australia went on a tear over the next decade-plus. They were unquestionably the greatest team in the world, putting up merciless performances against all opponents, but it was the Ashes they wanted to win the most. Against their bitter archrivals, the Aussies were relentless in their pursuit of victory, often clinching a series long before the final Test. By the mid-2000s, England fans became almost accustomed to the regular losses every two years or so.

When Australia arrived in England for the 2005 series, very few predicted a change from prior series. The visitors had a battle-tested, veteran squad, many of them hoping for one last Ashes win abroad before their individual careers came to an end. England, meanwhile, had a rather young squad, most of them untested against the greatest cricket team in a generation. What followed over the next month-and-a-half was a magical experience that no one associated with the sport – player, coach, or fan – will forget anytime soon.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be posting summaries on the events of those 22 days, from July 21 to September 12. From England’s magnificent first day at Lord’s; to Geraint Jones’ dive at Edgbaston; to Ricky Ponting’s defiant century at Old Trafford; to Ponting’s rant at Trent Bridge; climaxing with Kevin Pietersen’s ton at the Oval, ending nearly two decades of heartache for England.

Welcome to Ashes Rewind! Enjoy reliving the greatest Test cricket series in the sport’s modern history!