What a triumph.  Australia came with so much power and so much class. 

They were still in their prime, with a batting line-up boasting five men with averages in excess of 50. They fielded the greatest spin bowler the world has ever seen in Shane Warne and the finest line and length bowler in history in Glenn McGrath. 

Only India had dared to stand up to their might. Australia were simply the strongest cricket team the world had ever seen.

'Did they really believe that one series win – however incredible – would define them for years to come?'


But England did not think of that. Coach Duncan Fletcher and captain Michael Vaughan researched and planned the Ashes attack and implemented a simple plan to shut down the might of the Baggy Greens. 

In the first Test, it did not go to plan, with Australia winning the game comfortably. Still there were portents that this would be a great series. A total of 17 wickets fell in the first day and although McGrath took nine wickets in the match and looked in superb touch England’s pace attack also looked strong, with Steve Harmison looking like a genuine intimidator, with great support from Andrew Flintoff and Matthew Hoggard.

Before the second Test match, the omens began. McGrath was ruled out of the game with a freak ankle injury caused by tripping over a ball in training. England hit 400 on the first day and the final result was the closest in Ashes history with England winning by two runs. 

It was here that Andrew Flintoff heralded his dominance, being the highest scorer in England’s second innings, taking seven wickets and being named Man of the Match.

The third Test ended in a draw, reflecting an even contest.  The fourth Test proved to be the winning of the series for England, with no Australian batsmen passing 61 for the match – and Flintoff scoring an outstanding century. The fifth Test ended farcically with a no-result being declared and despite Warne's determination to single-handedly defeat England.

Perennial bête-noirs of England may argue the series win was fortuitous – with no Australian batsman dominating, McGrath missing key games, and England narrowly winning rather than dominating. But Australia as the world’s premier cricketing nation was allowed no excuses.

The win, England’s first Ashes triumph in 18 years was proclaimed around the sporting world. All English players received honours from the Queen and many boldly stated that Australia’s cricket dominance was at an end and a new epoch of England cricket was to begin.

The great test of all Test nations was to come, with the new Ashes champions travelling to play Pakistan and India on the sub-continent – a harsh scene where even the force of Stephen Waugh’s and Ricky Ponting’s teams had failed.

But England could never recover the verve of their greatest victory. They were humbled in Pakistan 2-0, and could only muster a drawn series with India. They then played host to Sri-Lanka, and again it showed they lacked the killer instinct needed to win a game of Test cricket. Their failure to close victory against Sri Lanka at Lord's after enforcing the follow on with a 359-run lead vindicated their fading star.

They then travelled to Australia to defend the Urn – to one of the most anticipated Test series of recent times. But Australia had been unbeatable between Ashes contests, and showed steel and menace to whitewash the English 5-0.

England then saved minimal face by beating a weak West Indian team 3-0, but then lost to both Sri Lanka and India. And there followed a terrible performance at the Cricket World Cup in which coach Duncan Fletcher fell on his sword.

Yes, England has been savaged with injuries, especially to key players such as Flintoff. But the emergence of young players like Monty Panesar and Alastair Cook and the development of veterans like Paul Collingwood disprove this theory.

Was it too much for England, to beat Australia?  Did they really believe that one series win – however incredible – would define them for years to come?  They have played without poise and purpose since the 2005 triumph, and must invigorate themselves and instill the same level of grit and sheer bloody-mindedness, which has been the key factor in Australia’s reign over the years.

If they cannot beat New Zealand at home in a few weeks they might as well abdicate the Ashes forever.