The Ashes: Then & Now

This exciting programme looks at highlights from the most memorable Ashes
matches in Australia over the last 30 years. As we approach the 2010/11 series, we
look at why the battle for the Ashes continues to captivate the people of two nations
and arguably represents one of the oldest and grandest sporting contests anywhere
in the world.
Some of the featured moments include:
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Botham at his best

A statisticians delight 1982/83
Borders battles
Englands last triumph 1986/87
Warnes Ashes magic 1994/95
Headley & Gough clean up 1998/1999
The Waughs historic hundreds 1990/91, 2002/03
Vaughan & Caddick 2002/03
Pontings redemption 2006/07

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Greatest Moments:
Botham at his best 1986/87
No English player has given more Australian cricketers reason to doubt their ability
than the great Ian Botham. Always Englands fiercest competitor, when it comes to
the Ashes Botham reaches an even higher level of competiveness. Even on their
home turf Botham troubled the Aussies.
There was his bold 40 at the second test at the Gabba in 1982/83 that averted total
England humiliation or his 4/75 at the fifth test at the SCG that almost tied the
series. Perhaps his greatest effort was the first innings 138 scored off just 174 balls in
the first test of the 1986/87 Ashes series. Or was it his 5/41 in the fourth test in
Melbourne that helped rolls the Aussies in only three days. You be the judge.

A statisticians delight 1982/83

The 1982-83 Ashes test series was a statisticians delight. The first test saw Ian
Bothams 250th test wicket; his 3000th run; and Bruce Yardleys 100th wicket. In the
second test at the Rod Marsh notched up his 300th Test catch having taken 6 in one
innings. In fact 19 of Englands wickets fell to catches at the Gabba test match.
But it was the remarkable debut of South African born Kepler Wessels that really
rocked the record books. In his maiden test innings he would score a century, only
the 13th Australian to achieve such a feat. Wessels would go on to score 162 runs in
the first innings and a further 46 in the second innings a record Australian maiden
aggregate of 208 helping set up a 7 wicket win for Australia.
Borders battles
Courageous, resilient and intelligent, no Australian cricketer has fought tougher
Ashes battles then the great Allan Border. His first Ashes series was in 1982-83
where he batted gallantly to try and win the 4th test for Australia in Melbourne.
When the Ashes series returned to Australia in 1986/87 he was captain and Allan
Border would again find a way to unsettle the England side brimming with
confidence. Posting a century in two successive test matches, Border put in a brave
individual performance until the brilliance of Botham and the English side would take
the Ashes for England.
The defeats and lessons learnt in this series set Border up for the ultimate prize
winning the Ashes in England in 1989 before returning to captain Australia again in
the 1990/91 series where he defended the title convincingly on home soil. With the
likes of Taylor, Boon, the Waugh twins, Reid and McDermott firing, Australia become
the dominant force in world cricket winning the 90/91 Ashes series 3-0.
Englands last triumph 1986/87
Having won the Ashes in 1985, England pulled off the seemingly impossible when it
defended the Ashes in Australia in 1986/87. The team had been tagged by some
English media as the worst ever to leave England but the players would have none
of it. Ian Botham was commanding in the first test aided by fellow batsman Bill
Athey and Captain Mike Gatting. The English bowling line up DeFratis, Botham,
Small, Emburey and Edmunds also confounded the critics. No more so than in the
first innings of the fourth test when Small and Botham took five wickets each to
knock over the Aussies for 141 runs. Chris Broad was man of the series with some
sensational batting performances including three hundreds in three successive test
matches. The team that had been famously told it couldnt bowl, couldnt bat and
couldnt field, won the series 2-1, the last ever English team to win the Ashes on
Australian soil.

Warnes Ashes magic 1994/95

Shane Warne, arguably the worlds best leg spin bowler, showed no mercy against a
depleted England in the summer of 1994/95. Beginning with 8/71 in the second
innings of the first test match in Brisbane and following it up in Melbourne with
9/80. This included a remarkable hat trick in the second innings when Warne bowled
DeFreitas (lbw), Gough (caught Healy) and Malcolm (caught Boon).
The MCG crowd went wild with delight their home town boy demolishing the
England tail end. Whilst England lifted their game in the third and fourth test,
Australia went on to take the 1994/95 Ashes series 3-1.
Headley & Gough clean up 1998/1999
The result of the 1998/99 Ashes may not have been pleasing for England but they
were facing an Australian side that were at the height of their powers. Under the
leadership of Alec Stewart, England showed that they were never to be
underestimated. Facing the likes of McGrath and Warne they fought bravely. In the
fourth test in Melbourne they surprised everyone winning by 12 runs. Whilst their
captain would score 107 and 52 respectively, it was Dean Headleys six wickets on
the final day that won the match.
Headley also worried the Aussies in the fifth and final test with 4/40 in the second
innings but it was Darren Gough's remarkable hat trick that was the stand out
performance at the SCG. Bowling Healy, MacGill and Miller, the first time an
Englishman had achieved that feat against Australia since 1899.
The Waughs historic hundreds 1990/91, 2002/03
Two Waugh centuries will be best remembered in the history of Ashes cricket that
of Mark Waugh on debut and Steve Waugh on retirement.
Mark Waugh replaced his twin brother Steve in the 4th test of the 1990/91 Ashes
series. Batting at 6 and in front of an encouraging Adelaide crowd he made a
memorable 138 in his first test match in an innings that include 18 boundaries.
Steve Waugh had scored nine centuries against England going into his final Ashes
appearance for Australia at the SCG in 2002/03. With his form in a slump, Waugh
went out to prove he still had what it takes. His 102 off 135 balls pleased the packed
SCG crowd, cheering on their home town hero like never before. On the final ball of
the day Waugh brings up his century, the 29th of his career.

Vaughan & Caddick 2002/03

Whilst the final test match at the SCG in the 2002/03 series might be best
remembered for Steve Waughs heroic century, it was England who won thanks
mostly to the efforts of Michael Vaughan and Andy Caddick.
England got off to a great start with Mark Butcher scoring 124 in Englands opening
innings stance of 362. Comparatively, Australia was bowled out for 363. In the
second innings, Michael Vaughan batted courageously scoring 183, his highest score
outside of England, confirming his status as the worlds best batsman at the time. His
incredible efforts set up Englands impressive second innings total of 452 declared
before Andy Caddick took seven wickets to add to the three he achieved in the first
innings, and the Balmy Army in full voice, cheered England on to a momentous
victory.
Pontings Redemption 2006/07
In 2005, Australian cricket was shell shocked when England took the Ashes after 16
years without the title. England came to Australia in 2006/07 to try and accomplish
what their predecessors had not done in twenty years. The Australians were
unsympathetic at best as they crushed the resurgent visitors in a 5-0 whitewash.
Captain Ricky Ponting led from the front with an outstanding 196 runs in the first
test in Brisbane.
A double hundred by Paul Collingwood would not save England from successive
losses in Adelaide, and in Perth, Australia reclaims the Ashes in commanding style
winning by an innings and 99 runs. Australia did not let up there and with the
announcement of Shane Warne and Glenn McGraths retirements, a green and gold
celebration commenced with another two wins in Melbourne and Sydney.