The victory that tipped the thrilling 2005 series in the home side’s favour.
In 2005 Ashes cricket had a whole different face to it compared to the current England grasp, with Australia having held the famous urn for 16 years previously through dominant performances from a legendary side.
A side that included greats such as Adam Gilchrist, Glenn McGrath, Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne were heading to British shores having terrorised Three Lions teams for over a decade.
Following a crushing victory over the English at Lords in the first Test of the five-match series it looked like business as usual for the Aussies – yet something changed in the second fixture at Edgbaston.
Following good opening innings from both sides, England’s talisman Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff hit an inspired 73 in the second innings for the home side to post a ground-record target of 282 for an Australian victory.
Although famous for his genius with the ball, Warne smashed the England bowlers all over the park to score 42 runs after the top order had failed to impress.
Yet when pressure from Flintoff forced the great spinner to step onto his own wicket, England required just one more dismissal for victory.
However, Brett Lee and Michael Kasprowicz clearly hadn’t read the script as the numbers 10 and 11 took the game to the hosts and edged Australia ever nearer to their target.
What looked like an inevitable win for England was slowly becoming a nail-biting tie that could go either way, with Lee and Kasprowicz batting the Aussies to three runs for victory.
Then English paceman Steve Harmison, who had not bowled well for some time, sent a swinging bouncer down at Kasprowicz.
The speed with which the ball rose took the Aussie by surprise and he flayed his bat at leather whilst turning his head away from the danger.
A nick off the batsman’s glove sent the ball spinning into the air as 25,000 fans in Birmingham simultaneously held their breath, with wicketkeeper Geraint Jones desperately trying to reach his target.
In a moment that will forever remain in Ashes folklore, Jones leapt forward and took the ball in two grateful, gloved hands.
Cue manic celebrations from the England players and fans alike, as the Australians felt the wind taken from their sales with a cruel two-run defeat – the closest ever margin in Ashes history.
In a moment of superb sportsmanship not often seen in contests between such fierce rivals, Flintoff bent down to console a weary Lee – who’s 43 not-out was a valiant effort from someone not considered to be a batsman.
It was the turning point for England in what would turn out to be one of the greatest Ashes series ever played.
Watch again the thrilling climax as Harmison bowls Kasprowicz for a two-run victory.
COMMENTS