The Ultimate 2005 Ashes Quiz

The 2005 Ashes Series: England's victory over Australia after 16 years

• The 2005 Ashes series was a cricket rivalry between England and Australia consisting of five Tests.

• The Ashes were held by Australia as the most recent victors.

• England won the series 2-1, succeeding in their biennial attempt to win the urn for the first time since 1986-87.

• Australia had dominated since 1989, winning all but one series against England.

• Before the series, Australia were still top-ranked, but England had improved and were second before the series.

• The series was hailed as the most thrilling ever, with three closely fought matches.

• The second Test at Edgbaston, considered one of the greatest of all time, saw England level the series with a two-run victory, the narrowest win in Ashes history.

• The fifth and final Test started with England batting in their second innings, 40 runs ahead with nine wickets in hand.

• After a day of fluctuating fortunes, England established a lead of 341 after Kevin Pietersen's maiden century of 158 runs.

• The match was declared a draw due to bad light, ensuring the return of the Ashes to England after 16 years and eight series of Australian dominance.

• The Australian team missed Glenn McGrath's superior control and wicket-taking abilities after he sustained an injury before the second Test.

• England became the first team to hit 400 runs in a first day of Test cricket against Australia since 1938 in the second Test.Summary of 2005 Ashes Series, 2nd and 3rd Tests

• The 2nd Test saw Australia start the day at 116/2, but England bowlers intervened and took the last five wickets for 199 runs, with Langer scoring 82.

• England got a 99-run lead and built on it before stumps were drawn. On the 3rd day, 17 wickets fell, with Warne and Flintoff leading their sides.

• Flintoff took four wickets in nine balls, reducing Australia from 47/0 to 48/2. Australia lost three more wickets before the scheduled close of play, with Giles getting two.

• On the 4th day, Australia made two partnerships worth more than 40 runs, bringing them within three runs of victory. Harmison bowled a slower ball that missed Clarke's bat, ending the match.

• The 2nd Test saw England win by two runs, the narrowest win in Ashes cricket history, and the second narrowest margin of victory in Test cricket history.

• The 3rd Test began with England winning the toss and choosing to bat first. Vaughan made 166 runs, and Bell made 59. England declared on 444.

• Australia started their innings tentatively, and after day 2, they were at 214/7. Rain delayed the start of day 3, and only eight overs were possible before play was again suspended.

• Australia added 50 runs without loss on day 3, passing the follow-on target. On day 4, they were bowled out for 302, with Jones taking six wickets.

• England declared on 280, giving Australia a target of 423 to win. Australia saw out the last 10 overs without losing a wicket and put on 24 runs, leaving 399.

• On the final day, Langer fell for 14, and Australia lost three quick wickets. Ponting narrowly survived being run out early on.

• Australia made two more partnerships worth more than 40 runs, but England won by 3 wickets, with Warne failing to take a wicket in the 2nd innings.

• The 3rd Test ended in a draw, leaving the series tied at 1-1. Vaughan was named player of the match in the 3rd Test.The 2005 Ashes Series: A Detailed Recap

• The 2005 Ashes Series was a Test cricket competition between England and Australia.

• The series was played over five matches, with each team winning two matches and the final match ending in a draw.

• In the first Test, England won by two runs in a thrilling finish.

• Australia won the second Test by 239 runs, with Shane Warne taking 6 wickets in the second innings.

• The third Test ended in a draw, with Ricky Ponting scoring a century for Australia.

• England won the fourth Test by 3 wickets, with Simon Jones taking 5 wickets in the first innings.

• The fifth Test was won by England by 2 runs, with Andrew Flintoff being named Man of the Series.

• The series is considered to be one of the greatest Test series of all time.

• The series was played in England, with the final Test taking place at The Oval in London.

• The series saw many memorable moments, including the famous 'Freddie Flintoff' moment where he consoled Brett Lee after the end of the second Test.

• The series was watched by millions of people around the world and helped to revive interest in Test cricket.

• The series marked the end of an era for Australian cricket, as many of their star players retired in the following years.The Ashes 2005: England's Triumph

• England won the Ashes series against Australia 2-1 for the first time since 1987.

• The final Test at The Oval saw Kevin Pietersen score his maiden Test century, with support from Collingwood and Giles.

• Australia was offered the light, and both teams had to wait for a formal finish, resulting in a farcical situation.

• England won the series, and Pietersen was voted Man of the Match.

• The Compton-Miller Medal for the overall man of the series was presented to Flintoff.

• Political leaders like Tony Blair, Michael Howard, and Charles Kennedy congratulated the team.

• Thousands of Londoners and cricket fans celebrated England's victory with a bus tour from Mansion House to Trafalgar Square on 13 September.

• Following the victory, criticism began in Australia, with former fast bowler Dennis Lillee calling for the sacking of the team.

• Three members of the Ashes-losing side were dropped for the ICC Super Series, and Lillee once again called for the replacement of Ponting as captain with Warne.

• Following their performances in the series, Andrew Flintoff and Michael Vaughan were given the Freedom of the City in their home towns of Preston and Sheffield.

• The Royal Mail issued a set of stamps commemorating the Ashes victory, and in the 2006 New Year Honours, 11 of the 12 playing members of the England team were awarded the MBE.

• The celebrations of the previous year were criticised by the English public after Australia regained the Ashes in a 5-0 whitewash.