The Magellan Ashes Test Series has taken full flight once more, with Australia having a commanding 2-0 lead so far within this five match test series. This series has reminded me of why I fell in love with test cricket. In all honesty, I am an ardent Proteas supporter but there is no test series that trumps the Ashes series. These duels between these arch rivals always produce spellbinding match-ups and amazing subplots.
My love for the Ashes emanates from the 2002-2003 series in Australia when the hosts trashed England 4-1. What was evident during that series was, there were players who were heading for the retirement booth, players such as Steve Waugh and Alec Stewart played their last Ashes series. Secondly, what was worth noticing during the 2002 series was, how Australia were so dominant over England, that one would wonder if England wrestle the urn back during the 2005 battle. I still remember how Steve Waugh played one of his gritty and courageous innings 2002-03 series in Sydney, when he scored a patient century. Australia at that time was filled with players that illustrated why they had a dominant period in world cricket for over 10 years.
On the other hand, England was riddled with the pain and demanding Barmy Army crowd to return the urn for the first time since 1987. Most cricket pundits before the 2005 series in England felt Australia still possessed a stronger squad that would blow away a fragile England squad. Boy were those pundits wrong, instead the 2005 series was filled with surprises, interesting matchups and England exemplifying steel and guile in returning the urn back home after 18 years.
The 2005 Ashes clashes between Australia and England will go down as one of the best test matches in the history of world cricket. When I was entering my teenage period, my love for this series proliferated. I still remember the best bowling spell produced during an Ashes series, that spell was produced by the lanky, legendary Glenn McGrath at Lords, London, in the first test. This spell came after Australia were bundled out cheaply by England for 190 but McGrath’s spell was one of the best bowling spells I have ever seen in test cricket. The manner in which he swung the ball and bamboozled the English batsman coupled with him reaching 500 wickets during that game, it made you realise what a special attack Australia had during that period. This bowling spell propelled Australia to victory in the first test in July 2005, and ominous signs rang out for England but my word did England bounce back or what!
Under the leadership of Michael Vaughan, England resurrected their dreams of earning the urn back by securing a nail-biting two run victory in the second test in Edgbaston, Birmingham. Furthermore, as the series wore on, a South African born hero was lighting up the Ashes series with his marauding, match winning and composed innings. And that South African batsman was none other than Kevin Pietersen. Pietersen made the whole cricketing world sit up, and sadly made South Africa to rue the fact they had lost a talented batsman at their disposal after he opted to play for England. England’s character and fight during that 2005 series illustrated how Michael Vaughan’s leadership contributed in winning the urn back for England which signalled that Australia are beatable, if you play rough and tumble cricket towards them.
In the 2006-07 series in Australia, this series would see several Baggy Green legends indicating they would retire after this series. Players such as Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Damien Martyn and Justin Langer were heading for their swansong during this series. The biggest psychological victory for Australia during this series was when England bowler, Steve Harmison bowled a wayward delivery on the first ball of the 2006-07 Ashes series in the first test, in Brisbane. Several pundits and former players saw that moment that surely granted Australia the initiative to win back the urn they lost in England, in September 2005 at The Oval, London.
As the test series carried on, you could see England was psychologically damaged in all aspects of the game. Australia feasted on England’s fragility like a vulture waiting to devour a dead carcass. And Australia rightly feasted on England’s woes when they gave them a humiliating 5-0 whitewash, which was a perfect goodbye to the legendary spine of the Australian team.
After that 5-0 loss in Australia during 2006-07 season, England has gained the upper hand against Australia within the Ashes series. What we mean by this is, England have won four out of the last five Ashes series against their rivals, which included a 3-1 series win for them in Australia during 2010-11. Currently England have been blighted by controversies such as the Ben Stokes saga and other issues such as, the team is ageing and that a transition process is about to be in full swing for them. Whilst Australia have good players coming through, players such as Matt Renshaw, Peter Handscomb and Patt Cummins who is regaining form after a long spell in the sidelines.
With Australia looking a sure bet to pummel Joe Root and Co during the rest of the series in the 2017-18 Ashes series, the Proteas need to start planning on how they need to beat Australia when they arrive early next year.
In closing, it is a joy to watch this series, and yes 20-20 cricket is dominating world cricket, but it will never take away the bread and butter of cricket, which is test cricket. Cricket began with these rivals on 15 March 1877 in Melbourne, Australia, and 140 years later, these teams still produce riveting, exciting and enthralling cricket.
Mvuyisi Tyiwani is an MA Journalism student at the University of Stellenbosch. He is an ardent Proteas fan with a deep longing to see South Africa win the ICC Cricket World Cup someday. Furthermore this longing spills over to football, where he still desires to see Liverpool win the league for the first time since 1990.
