August 12, 1890. If only the catches had been held or the run-out had been affected, the Australians of 1890 would have been hailed as heroes. However, they lost by two wickets and went down in the pages of history as one of the weaker sides to visit England. Arunabha Sengupta recalls the incredibly tense two days at The Oval.
Read MoreAshes 1981: Ian Botham's second miracle in 12 days
August 2, 1981. For the second consecutive Test, an Ian Botham miracle converted a certain victory into defeat for the Australians. Arunabha Sengupta recalls the day when the great all-rounder picked up 5 for 1 in 28 balls.
Read MoreAshes 1989: Mark Taylor and Geoff Marsh bat all day
August 10, 1989. For just the third time in the history of cricket did a pair of opening batsmen remain unseparated through a full first day’s play in a Test match. Arunabha Sengupta recalls the memorable feat of Geoff Marsh and Mark Taylor at Nottingham during the 1989 Ashes.
Read MoreAshes 1975: Vandals dig up Headingley pitch to ruin thrilling climax
August 19, 1975. Australia needed 225 to win on the final day with seven wickets remaining. And the spectators were robbed of a promising thriller when a group of vandals dug holes on the wicket and poured oil on the pitch. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the incident in Headingley which cost £8,000 in gate receipts and scorecard sales.
It had all the makings of a fifth day thriller. And instead of an epic climax unfolding on the pitch, what ensued was a curious tale of knives, holes and oil.
Ashes 1930: Don Bradman scores 309 in a day
July 11, 1930. Don Bradman walked out to bat after 11 balls on the first morning at Leeds, and walked back at the end of the day unbeaten on 309. Arunabha Sengupta relives the day when the entire cricketing world came to a standstill in awe of his relentless run making.
Read MoreAshes 1926: Charlie Macartney's century before lunch
July 24, 1926. After England captain Arthur Carr put Australia in to bat at Headingley, Maurice Tate dismissed Warren Bardsley with the very first ball; and then transpired a phase of play that remained a lifelong nightmare for the captain. Arunabha Sengupta writes about the day when Macartney was dropped by Carr off the fourth ball he faced and raced to a hundred before lunch.
Read More500:1 - The Headingley Miracle
July 21, 1981. For the very first time a Test match became uniquely and universally identifiable by the name of a suburb and two digits — Headingley ’81. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at that incredible heist pulled off by Ian Botham’s genius followed by the flop haired magic of Bob Willis.
Read MoreThe first ever Test at Lord's and the first ever catch by a substitute
July 21, 1884. The first-ever Test match was played at Lord’s which saw England triumphing by an innings, and also witnessed Billy Murdoch catch one of his own batsmen. Arunabha Sengupta revisits the game, including the misadventures of the Australians at sea and the incredible catch held by George Ulyett.
Read MoreTate's Test
July 26, 1902. Amidst heart-stopping excitement, Australia bowled out England for 120 to win the Old Trafford Test by three runs and secure the Ashes. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the immortal match which saw Victor Trumper score a century before lunch and Fred Tate become immortal for dropping a sitter. But it was Hugh Trumble’s six-wicket haul in the second innings — and 10 in the Test — that swung it in Australia’s favour after England needed just 32 runs with seven wickets in hand.
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