It has been hailed by many as the greatest Test series ever. We look back at every match of the the 2005 Ashes.
A look back at every match of the greatest series ever
It has been hailed by many as the greatest Test series ever played as England won back the Ashes for the first time in 18 years. We look back at every match of the 2005 series.
First Test, Lord's
England began their bid to win the Ashes for the first time in 18 years bristling with confidence after a prolonged run of form and landing the opening blows in the phoney war.
Series wins over New Zealand, West Indies and South Africa instilled belief and the excitement was cranked up by a handful of impressive limited-overs performances against the Aussies, who in turn suffered a shock loss to Bangladesh.
The inclusion of Kevin Pietersen in the England side for the first Ashes Test also added to the anticipation with the cocksure South African-born batsman having brashly announced his arrival on the international scene in one-day cricket.
England carried the momentum out onto the field and by mid-afternoon on day one Australia had been bowled out for just 190 after an inspirational performance by paceman Steve Harmison.
The Durham quickie ruffled the Australians with his speed and bounce and delivered a nasty blow to the side of captain Ricky Ponting's face on his way to figures of five for 43. Four of his wickets came in a ferocious 14-ball spell.
Supporters dared to dream, but by the close of play it seemed home hopes had again been shattered as, not for the first time, Glenn McGrath rose to the occasion.
England crashed to 92 for seven and were polished off for 155 the following morning, McGrath claiming five for 53 and predicting his side could go on to win the series 5-0. England's only comfort came in a battling 57 from Pietersen which proved he had the required temperament.
Pietersen, however, did not distinguish himself in the field and, having dropped two catches on day one, spilled another as Australia set the hosts a world record target of 420 after 91 from Michael Clarke.
Clarke's reprieve by Pietersen, after offering a straightforward chance off Simon Jones, and his 155-run stand with Damien Martyn (65) ended any hopes of an England fightback before the end of the third day.
In all, seven catches were grassed by England and Simon Katich added 67 before a late flurry of wickets merely had the effect of giving Australia's bowlers more time to win the match.
Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Strauss held up the tourists with an 80-run stand but the latter's dismissal to a fine caught and bowled by Brett Lee opened the door for Shane Warne.
The irrepressible Warne turned Ian Bell inside out before trapping him leg before and then quickly accounted for Trescothick and Andrew Flintoff.
Warne looked destined, finally, to get his name on the Lord's honours board for the first time in his final appearance at headquarters but despite continuing to bamboozle, he fell short.
He claimed just one more wicket, that of Harmison, while McGrath finished with another four for 29 to wrap up a convincing win still inside four days, despite the loss of two sessions to rain.
Pietersen enhanced his burgeoning reputation with another half-century (64 not out) but the cause was lost and the series already looked to be following an all-too-familiar pattern.
Second Test, Edgbaston
The Ashes suddenly came alive as England, inspired by the brilliant Flintoff, fought back to level the series in the most dramatic and nailbiting of circumstances.
Many thought England's bubble had burst after their Lord's defeat and that Australia were well on course for their usual victory.
Yet Michael Vaughan's team, despite the captain's own lack of form, were made of sterner stuff and their enthusiasm was undimmed.
They produced an heroic performance in one of the greatest Test matches ever played, although it is arguable the momentum of the series was really changed by a freak incident before a ball had been bowled.
McGrath, one of England's chief tormentors over the years and their nemesis in the first Test, turned his ankle when he trod on a stray cricket ball while playing touch rugby.
That was just hours before the scheduled start and the injury put him out of the match, meaning a surprise summons for Michael Kasprowicz.
Without McGrath, the Australian attack was blunted and Ponting made a huge mistake in putting England in as the hosts rattled along at 5.1 an over to 407 all out before the close.
It was England's highest first-day score since the Second World War, with 157 runs coming between lunch and tea.
Trescothick top-scored with 90 while there were also half-centuries for Pietersen (71) and, entertainingly, Flintoff (68).
Flintoff survived a close lbw appeal off Warne early in his innings to burst into life in a ferocious 62-ball onslaught that included six fours and five huge sixes.
The only downside was the regular loss of wickets, Warne taking four of them, that allowed Australia to begin their reply on day two but England's bowlers kept up the pressure.
Justin Langer was hit twice by Harmison in the first over and Matthew Hayden fell without a run on the board.
Langer eventually ground out 82 and outlasted four more partners before finally being undone by Jones' reverse swing. Ponting hit 61 and Adam Gilchrist an unbeaten 49 but Australia slumped from 262 for five to 308 all out.
That gave England a healthy first-innings lead but Warne reminded everyone of his enduring class before the close of day two by bowling Strauss with a vicious leg-break.
That gave Australia an opening and Warne and Lee soon reduced England to 131 for nine.
Fortunately Flintoff was still at the crease and, supported by Jones, he launched another attack by smashing four sixes on his way to an 86-ball 73.
It was enough to get England to 182 and set a target of 282 and Flintoff continued his heroics to remove Ponting in a spell of outstanding fast bowling.
With all the attack firing, Australia looked beaten at 175 for eight at the end of day three but there were still more twists to come.
Warne (42) dug in to frustrate England before Lee (43 not out) took Australia to the brink of victory.
When Jones dropped Kasprowicz with 15 needed England's last chance seemed to have gone but Harmison, with no room for error, wrapped up a sensational game by forcing him to glove a catch to Geraint Jones.
Third Test, Old Trafford
With just four days between Tests, there was little time for England and Australia to recover from the drama of Edgbaston before hostilities resumed in Manchester.
Yet the teams showed little lethargy as they roused themselves to produce another classic that left no-one in any doubt, despite the draw, that Vaughan's England had the substance to back up their Ashes ambition.
England had seized the initiative and Australia spent most of the build-up sweating over the fitness of two of their key bowlers.
McGrath was still struggling with the freak ankle injury suffered warming up at Edgbaston while Lee had been in hospital ill.
They gave the tourists a huge lift by both declaring themselves fit but England retained the upper hand as Vaughan made a welcome return to form.
In the first two Tests, Vaughan had been a shadow of the batsman that cracked three centuries in the 2002-03 Ashes but he blew all concerns away with a magnificent 166 on day one at Old Trafford.
Vaughan, despite being dropped twice and bowled off a no ball, looked back to his best as he hit the first century of the series by either team after putting on 137 with Trescothick (63).
By the close England were a healthy 341 for five with Australia having spilled five catches. Warne at least rose above the mediocrity by removing Trescothick to become the first man to reach 600 Test wickets.
Strong contributions from Flintoff and Geraint Jones then helped England to 444 while Warne and Lee both finished with four wickets.
Australia began their reply solidly but Giles removed three of the top four, including Martyn with a vicious turner.
Simon Jones then picked up middle and lower-order wickets at regular intervals to put England firmly in control, although they were frustrated by a battling Warne 90 and as Geraint Jones missed two stumpings.
Warne had looked on course for what would have been a popular maiden Test century but was well caught by Giles at deep square leg.
England claimed a first-innings lead of 142 and extended their advantage as Strauss, with one ear bloodied from a Lee bouncer, hitting a superb 106 and Bell scoring his second half-century of the match.
England declared on 280 for six to set Australia an unlikely target of 423 but the match was far from over as Ponting responded to the challenge magnificently.
With thousands locked out of the ground on the final day, Ponting hit one of his finest centuries to all but prevent Vaughan's men taking a series lead.
Ponting might even have entertained thoughts of winning the match until falling to Harmison for 156 after a brilliant 411-minute vigil.
His dismissal gave England a sniff and he left the field with the demeanour of a beaten man but last-wicket pair Lee and McGrath somehow managed to cling on and claim a draw.
Fourth Test, Trent Bridge
After two extraordinary Tests at Edgbaston and Old Trafford, the 2005 Ashes was well and truly alive and for the first time in a generation the country was gripped by cricket fever.
What followed at Trent Bridge was yet more drama as England, after years of suffering at the hands of the Aussies, remarkably edged themselves into a series lead in another thriller.
England received a fillip before the match as McGrath was ruled out again, this time with an elbow injury.
The veteran seamer had been hugely influential in the first and third Tests but was crucially missing when England won the second and his absence was again a blow for the Aussies.
With Jason Gillespie also dropped, Australia's attack looked less formidable than usual as Kasprowicz and Shaun Tait came in.
Enthusiasm was dampened by the weather on a stop-start first day as England made their way to 229 for four after half-centuries from Trescothick and Vaughan.
Australia looked to be getting on top as Pietersen fell early in the next morning but Flintoff continued his rapid rise to national hero status with a brilliant century.
Putting on 177 with Geraint Jones, the highest partnership of the whole series, Flintoff controlled his natural aggression to hit a mature 102 that put England in complete control.
Their total of 477 sent out a clear message and Hoggard pressed home the advantage by swinging his way to three early Australian wickets.
Simon Jones then got in on the act to claim five for 44 with a superb exhibition of reverse swing, one of his victims being the dangerous Gilchrist after a stunning Strauss slip catch.
Australia crashed to 218 all out and Vaughan had little hesitation in enforcing the follow on.
Vaughan wanted to go for the jugular and handed Simon Jones the new ball but that backfired as the Welsh paceman suffered an ankle injury and went off.
Australia capitalised to post 387 and after solid half-centuries from Clarke and Katich, plus another defiant 45 from Warne.
Pietersen dropped his sixth catch of the series and Geraint Jones grassed another and missed a stumping amid some lower-order resistance but with a target of 129, England were firm favourites.
There was some controversy along the way too as Ponting lost his temper after being run out for 45 by substitute Gary Pratt, complaining the use of specialist fielding 12th men was unethical.
It was an issue he claimed had bothered him throughout the series as it was also allowing bowlers unfair rest time, but in this instance Simon Jones was genuinely injured.
That England got into trouble in their chase should probably not have come as a surprise given the roller-coaster nature of the series.
Giles and Hoggard nervously carried them across the line, sparking huge celebrations, after Warne and Brett Lee had taken seven wickets.
Fifth Test, The Oval
England headed to The Oval for the final Test clutching a 2-1 lead and with the Ashes within their grasp for the first time in 16 years.
Anticipation around the country had reached fever pitch but, facing a wounded Australia, there was still much work to be done.
The Aussies could no longer win the series outright but victory in south London would be enough for them to retain the urn and they would not go down without a fight.
In keeping with the rest of the series, the match proved another highly dramatic affair with England eventually beating the weather to claim a most welcome draw and spark scenes of jubilation.
England were forced to make their first change of the series for the match as Simon Jones was ruled out with an ankle injury and Paul Collingwood was brought in.
McGrath returned from injury for Australia but it was his great partner, Warne, who initially kept England in check after a bright start.
England raced away to 82 without loss but Warne, the leading wicket-taker in the series, then struck four times in quick succession to turn the tide.
The hosts came back again as Strauss dug in and put on 143 with man of the series Flintoff (72) on his way to 129, his second ton of the series.
Warne finished with six for 122 as England posted 373 but Australia openers Langer and Hayden, subdued for most of the series, responded powerfully.
The pair had put on 112 when they accepted an offer of light 85 minutes before the end of the second day.
In a game they needed to win, it seemed a cautious decision as they were getting on top but they went on to put on 185 before Harmison broke through to remove Langer for 105.
Hayden completed his century as Australia advanced to 277 for two on a rain-hit third day before Flintoff and Hoggard took control the following day.
The fiery Flintoff finished with five for 78 and Hoggard's swing was just as unplayable, the Yorkshireman picking up four for 97 as Australia crashed to 367 all out.
England had a slender lead but their bowlers had proved the conditions were clearly seamer-friendly and their batsmen faced an early examination in the second innings.
The light was bad but Australia were keen to stay out and play and showed some humour amid the pressure by returning to the field wearing sunglasses. The partisan English crowd responded by putting up umbrellas.
England ended day four on 34 for one, facing a nervy final day.
Two McGrath wickets saw England slip to 67 for three and Pietersen nervously survived a caught behind chance off the hat-trick ball. He was then dropped by Hayden before scoring and by Warne on 15.
Warne hit back to remove Trescothick and went on to claim another six-wicket haul but Pietersen made the most of his luck to hit an Ashes-winning 158. A stand of 109 with dogged number nine Giles (59) proved crucial.
After England were finally bowled out for 335 the game was as good as up for Australia. There was insufficient time to chase 342 and bad light finally put them out of their misery.
