Are these the greatest Ashes moments of all time?

England and Australia have been cricketing rivals for well over a century, with the first edition taking place way back in 1882. It has become a series where legends are made and match-winning performances are remembered forever. So let’s take a look at some of the very best.

Way back in 1930 at Headingley (not the last time you’ll see this ground mentioned) a 21-year-old Donald Bradman, on his first away Ashes tour, scored 309 not out on the first day. This remains the only time someone has scored a triple-century in a day.

Jim Laker had a remarkable career, taking nearly 2000 first-class wickets at 18.41, but his most significant achievement was certainly his 19 wickets in the match is a market no other bowler has achieved and were it not for Tony Lock’s solitary scalp, there is a very good chance he’d have taken all 20.

England were rolled for just 67 in the first innings of the legendary 2019 Headingley test and the target of 358 seemed an impossible task. Enter Ben Stokes. Stokes barely scored for his first 100 balls at the crease for taking the Aussie attack apart on his way to a match-winning 135* from 219 balls. A truly legendary moment.

There are very few moments in cricketing history where everyone watching knew a star had been born. 30 years ago, the cricketing world saw exactly that. Shane Warne’s first ball in Ashes cricket drifted beyond Mike Gatting’s leg stump before viciously turning clipping the top of off leaving the Englishman looking shocked. Warne never looked back.

Ricky Ponting is one of the greatest batters of all time, so when Australia were touring in 2005, England decided to make his life as difficult as possible. During the first day of the opening test, Harmison unleashed a barrage of hostile bowling, striking Ponting on the cheek and drawing blood. Everyone knew from then on, this series was going to be tough contested.

Australia came to England in 2009 a much weaker side than they had been previously but still were well on their way to victory in the opening test in Cardiff. That was until James Anderson and Monty Panesar, not exactly noted batters, were able to block out 40 minutes of ever more frustrated Aussie bowling to save the draw, and possibly the series.

Ashton Agar has been playing club cricket for Lymington in Hampshire when he got his test call-up as a 19-year-old. Batting down at number 11, the youngster was able to compile an unfathomable 98 batting with Phil Hughes to drag Australia from 117-9 to a competitive 280.

Stuart Broad was in the zone for the opening day of the 2015 Trent Bridge test, using his local knowledge to skittle the Aussie batters for just 60. Finishing with 8-15, this was truly one of the greatest spells of fast bowling we have ever seen.

The 1981 Ashes were dominated by Ian Botham, but no match more so than the Headingley test. Following on after being dismissed for just 174 in their first innings, England were in trouble again, until Botham stepped up and scored 149* from just 148 balls to give England a slender lead. Bob Willis finished the job, taking 8-43 to see England home by just 18 runs.

The 2005 Ashes is generally thought of as the best test series of all time, and the 2005 Edgbaston test is a big part of why. Needing 282 to win, Australia were in all sorts of trouble before the tail came together to give them a chance. Brett Lee was left stranded on 43* as Michael Kasprowicz gloved the ball behind to give England a two-run win.

Scott Boland was a relatively unheralded first-class cricketer back in the 2021/22 Ashes, selected for the MCG test given his track record there as a Victorian player. By the end of the test, he had become a national hero, taking 6-7 in the second innings to win the match and the series.

The 06/07 Ashes series was a chance for Australia to get revenge after losing in 2005 and England were adamant not to give them a sniff. Unfortunately, this backfired with the very first ball as Steve Harmison somehow bowled it straight to Andrew Flintoff at second slip. It somehow all went downhill from there for England, eventually losing 5-0.

Test match hattricks are rare enough, but to take one on your birthday is pretty special. That is exactly what Peter Siddle did at the Gabba in 2010, taking the wickets of Alistair Cook, Matt Prior and Stuart Broad in consecutive balls to put England in a spot of bother. England would score 517/1 in the second innings to save the test. Remarkable.

Another moment from the incredible 2005 series, with Simon Jones off the field, Gary Pratt was being used as a substitute fielder who ran out the furious Ricky Ponting. Ponting was as angry about England’s use of specialist fielders as subs as much as Damien Martyn’s questionable decision to call him through for a run, but it’s a moment no one will forget.

Steve Smith was coming back from his year-long ban due to his part in ‘Sandpaper-gate’ when he came out to bat at Edgbaston with his side in trouble. With the crowd booing and roaring at Smith, he was able to drag Australia to a respectable 284 with an incredible 144 in the first innings, before returning and scoring another 142 in the second to set the Aussies up for the win and silence the crowd.