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Ashes 2013: Botham, Gower, Willis, Atherton & Hussain celebrate 2005

2005 Ashes
Image: Just like Botham: Flintoff celebrates in 2005 a la Beefy post-Headingley 1981

The 2005 Ashes series - one of the greatest clashes in cricket history - went England's way as Michael Vaughan's side regained the urn for the first time in 18 years.

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David Gower: second Test, Edgbaston - Eng win by two runs

This was an outstanding match both in terms of the quality of the play and the implications for the series. If Australia's last three - Shane Warne, Brett Lee and Michael Kasprowicz - had been able to marshal their side to victory England, already 1-0 down would not have come back in the series. Both sides played some awesome stuff, sparked by Marcus Trescothick's blistering innings on the first day. Andrew Flintoff followed up in the second innings by smashing four sixes in his 73 but it wasn't all one-way traffic as no-one else passed 21. Glenn McGrath standing on that cricket ball before the start of play on day one certainly didn't do England any harm, that's for sure! That was key as was Ricky Ponting misreading the pitch; there had been thunderstorms two or three days before that which probably confused the issue and I'm sure he thought that even without McGrath that it was going to do even more that it did on that first day. If it had, then he would have got the advantage he was seeking. McGrath was not really fit again until the final Test, which was important, but as we've found out to our cost in the past that's the luck of the draw.

Michael Atherton: third Test, Old Trafford - match drawn

This match was memorable for so many reasons but primarily because it was such a tense game; to see the Australians cheering a draw at the end of the match was astonishing given that in the past they and their captain had rather poo-poohed draws. But it was also very gratifying for me as a Lancastrian to see the huge crowds that flocked to Old Trafford. They came in their droves and some 20,000 had to be turned away on the fourth and the fifth days because their simply wasn't enough room in the ground. It proved that given good cricket the people of the North West will turn up to Test matches and are still captivated by the game. On the pitch I recall some majestic strokeplay from Michael Vaughan on his way to 166 in England's first innings and Ricky Ponting's match-saving hundred on the final day, which underlined what a great player he is. It was a thrilling finish as Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath held out on day five and, alas for England, it was just not meant to be this time around.

Bob Willis: fourth Test, Trent Bridge - Eng win by three wkts

Ricky Ponting's arrogance shone through at Edgbaston where he was outmanoeuvred by Michael Vaughan and his decision to open the bowling at Trent Bridge with Michael Kasprowicz in England's second innings instead of Shane Warne when England needed just 129 to win backfired as well. It was a terrible mistake: Kasprowicz's first two overs went for 19 and that was probably the difference between Australia winning and losing that match. England did get their usual shaky knees when chasing down the total and it was left to the bowlers to finish the job, which fortunately Ashley Giles and Matthew Hoggard were able to do. The highlight of England's first innings was undoubtedly Andrew Flintoff's 102 - how we'd like to see more of the same this summer - as well as a few wickets from Simon Jones, whose 5-44 helped to force Australia to follow-on. But my abiding memory of that match is of Ponting; he certainly wouldn't be in my top 10 captains of all time and the England fans certainly saw the funny side when he was run out by Gary Pratt, the substitute fielder, and stormed off in a huff.

Sir Ian Botham: fifth Test, the Oval - match drawn

The Ashes is what cricket's all about as far as I'm concerned so like everyone else I was elated after we won them back. It was one of the great moments in English cricket. But more than that, the English public needed some good news that summer after the attacks in London and the players delivered. As far as the cricket went it was a great time for everybody - unless you were Australian! The party went on long into the night and the next few nights, if I'm honest. But there's no such thing as a soft Ashes series, it just doesn't happen, and as usual the Aussies battled to the last with Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden hitting centuries after Andrew Strauss had made 129. It all helped to set up a great final day and for me the all-round performance of Kevin Pietersen stood out. That's why cricket is a unique game; yes, it's a team sport but it's one in which individuals can inspire through their own magnificent performances. Pietersen's battle with Shane Warne was enthralling. People talk about the moment when Warne dropped Pietersen on 15 as the key point but I thought we were the best side throughout the series, so although it was important in the context of the match I wasn't too worried. We could and should have won at Old Trafford, when the Aussies hung on and hung on, but at the end of the day it was the hard work of the four England seamers - Harmison, Hoggard, Flintoff and Jones - that won the series. What are your memories of 2005? Australian fans - are you fed up of hearing about it? England fans - will you ever forget it? Let us know by filling out the feedback form below. Sky Sports Ashes HD will show exclusively live ball-by-ball coverage of the Investec Ashes this summer. Find out more about our coverage and how you can tune in here.

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