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

Morning

Plenty of fans are in attendance for Day 4, even though the match could be over in the first two deliveries. Brett Lee survives the rest of the over, prompting him and Warne to bring the target under 100.  A Warne boundary off Flintoff brings up Australia’s 200, and a task that seemed almost impossible at the start of the day is slowly becoming possible. Flintoff concedes several more fours, while Giles is unable to make an impact. Then a full delivery from delivery forces Warne into his stumps, out hit wicket for 42. Australia are down to their final wicket, and still need 62 to win. However, Kasprowicz & Lee refuse to go down, using the cliche that the word “quit” is not in either man’s vocabulary. Giles’ struggles continue, forcing Vaughan to bring Harmison back into the attack. After 59 overs in the innings, Australia are just 20 runs from a victory. More boundaries and patient singles follow. After 62 overs, the target is only 6.

Simon Hughes describes the tension eloquently in his book Cricket’s Greatest Rivalry: “15,000 people in the ground, and millions on TV and radio were glued to the action, barely able to believe what was happening. With Australia now favorites to go 2-0 up in the series, England’s obituary writers were poised. The Premiership was due to start the following weekend and English cricket’s shop window would close – with its imminent transfer to satellite TV – possibly forever. British sport was about to become a monoculture dominated by Wayne Rooney, Wenger-bashing and the WAGs.”

However, Hughes also notes the change in emotion for the batsmen: “With possibility comes pressure…Caution and responsibility suppress a free spirit. They start leaving wider balls they would previously had a dart at…Anxiety transfers from bowlers to batsmen.”

At the start of the 65th over, Australia only need 4 to win. Brett Lee finds Simon Jones just short of the boundary for a single; either side of the Englishman and the match is over. But Kasprowicz is on strike, facing a dot ball. Then he deflects a Harmison delivery behind to a waiting Geraint Jones…

England have done it! Amid fears that 2005 would be another cakewalk of a series, England get a result that keeps their summer (and perhaps future summers in terms of popularity) alive. In one of the images of the series, Flintoff quickly offers commiserations to Lee, but the message has been sent to Australia: this series is going to be a battle.

Australia finish their second innings 279 all out.

England win the second Test by 2 runs. The series is tied 1-1.