4. Ian Botham at Headingley
An out-of-sorts Ian Botham had resigned as England captain after two Tests of the 1981 series, with Australia leading 1-0, but the all-rounder returned to form in the third Test at Headingley, ripping through the Baggy Greens with the ball and bat, claiming six wickets and a half-century in the first innings. With an Aussie victory still looking certain, Botham stepped up to score a gung-ho and dramatic 149 in the second innings and Bob Willis ripped through to Aussie order to hand England an unlikely win.
England won the series, which came to be known as ‘Botham’s Ashes’.
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