Ashes is the oldest and most prominent text series played in the cricket circuit and it is held every two years in England and Australia. Since 1882 , both these proud cricketing nations fight for Five text matches for an urn and the pride that comes along with being Ashes Champions. There have been a lot of test matches played between these two nations as one can tell.
There have been many great Ashes test matches between England and Australia and the cricket fans have enjoyed watching it everytime It happens and it is currently on in Australia but England are not doing very well. So, let’s look at the top 10 Ashes test matches ever.
1. Headingley (1981):
This is not just Considered the greatest Ashes test match of all time but one of the greatest test matches of all time. England did the impossible in this test. Australia made England follow on and all looked lost for England but then came Ian Botham and Bob Willis who turned the test around and Botham did it with bat and ball and England won that test match by 18 runs and etched their names in history forever.
2. Edgbaston (2005):
If there was a test match filled with twists and turns and a winner was not certain until the end , it was this one in 2005. Once it looked England then Australia , Australia had a target of 282 to chase and England were close to winning but Shane Warne, Brett Lee and Michael Kasprowicz had other plans but when it was just two runs required to win Andrew Flintoff snatched it for England in one of the most dramatic finishes to a test match.
3. Headingley (2019):
This was the Ben Stokes test match throughout and he single handedly won England that test match. That innings of 135 was one of the greatest innings ever in test cricket. It looked Australia all the way on the 5th day but Ben Stokes had other plans, Wickets were falling from the other end but the number 11 Jack Leach stood there with him and Ben Stokes won England the match with 1 wicket left and it was amazing to see.
4. Sophia Gardens (2009):
If one wishes to see what a compelling drawn test match looks like then look no further than this great escape by England in this match. It again looked like Australia all the way but the last wicket pair of James Anderson and Monty Panesar fought against everything Australia had to offer and saved that test match miraculously.
5. The Oval (1948):
This test match is remembered for thing the most, it was the last test match of the greatest batsman the world has ever seen , Sir Don Bradman. He was only four runs away from achieving something that is unheard of , a 100 average in test cricket but he got out for 0 and his average was still an unattainable 99.94. Australia gave the Don the perfect farewell though winning this match quite easily thus ending the greatest career in cricket history.
6. Old Trafford (1993):
Shane Warne to Mike Gatting, The Ball of the century, it happened in this test match which will be remembered as the Shane Warne test match. Australia won the test match easily by 179 runs but it wasn’t about that . Sometimes the bigger story is the performance of one player and the ball which he bowled to Gatting stunned the world and gave Mike a memory which he wouldn’t want.
7. Headingley (1948):
It looks like Headingley has a knack of producing the best Ashes tests and this one was no different. England were in control for most of this test match setting Australia a target of 404 in the last innings and it looked like England would win but The Don Bradman and Arthur Morris had other plans as they both hit centuries and guided Australia to the Highest ever chase in an Ashes test match.
8. Trent Bridge (2013):
This was another great Ashes test match between these two great nations and both teams gave it their all. England looked like they would get a huge first innings lead but the last wicket partnership of Australia had other plans, Ashton Agar made 98 but England got the lead and gave Australia a target of 311 in the last innings but Australia cane short by just 14 runs.
9. MCG (1982-83):
This was a stunning test match at the iconic MCG where it looked like either team would win as both the teams didn’t cross 3// in this test match. England had set a target of 292 fir Australia to win and it seemed like Australia would win but they lost their way in the end and lost this close test match by just 3 Runs.
10. Old Trafford (2005):
This was another classic case of where a drawn test match would rank amongst the greatest in history. The great escape by the Aussies was remarkable to see as the English set a target of a Massive 413 runs to win and Ricky Ponting led the way with an incredible 156 but then it was down to the last pair and both Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath survived for 5 overs and secured a famous draw .
