England vs Australia: Edgbaston 2005, the Two-Run Ashes Classic
England went into the second Test 1-0 down and had not won the Ashes since 1986-87. Four days at Edgbaston changed the series and, many would say, English cricket.
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Match facts
| Competition | The Ashes, second Test |
|---|---|
| Date | 4 to 7 August 2005 |
| Venue | Edgbaston, Birmingham |
| Result | England won by 2 runs |
The story of the match
Glenn McGrath stepped on a ball in the warm-up and missed the match, and England made 407 on the first day. Australia replied with 308, and Shane Warne’s six wickets bowled England out for 182 in their second innings, with Andrew Flintoff making 73.
Flintoff then produced one of the great overs, dismissing Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting. Australia needed 282 and were 175 for 8 at the end of the third day. On the fourth morning Warne, Brett Lee and Michael Kasprowicz took them to within three runs of victory, before Kasprowicz gloved a Steve Harmison bouncer to Geraint Jones.
Key moments to watch for
- England score 407 on the first day
- Flintoff’s over to Langer and Ponting
- Harmison’s slower ball to Michael Clarke
- Australia’s last-wicket fightback
- Flintoff consoles Brett Lee
Why it’s one of the greatest cricket matches ever
It is still the narrowest win by runs in Ashes history. The series finished 2-1 to England, and the image of Flintoff crouching to console Lee is one of the great pictures of sportsmanship.
More classic cricket matches
- South Africa vs Australia: The 438 Game, 2006
- Australia vs South Africa: The 1999 World Cup Semi-Final Tie
- Ben Stokes 135*: The Headingley Miracle, 2019 Ashes
See all 40 on our list of the greatest matches ever, or catch up on this season on the latest highlights page.
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