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OTD In 2005: Flintoff Humbled Langer, Haunted Ricky Ponting And Fired Up The Ashes

Aakash Saini

Andrew Flintoff celebrating Ricky Ponting's wicket [Source: @englandcricket/x]Andrew Flintoff celebrating Ricky Ponting's wicket [Source: @englandcricket/x]

The 2005 Ashes series in England had everything – drama, grit and a rivalry between two century-old opponents at full boil. At the heart of the chaos stood Andrew Flintoff, a fiery all-rounder who tilted England’s momentum with both bat and ball throughout the series.

His opening over in the decisive innings of the second Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham still lives on as one of the most spine-tingling bursts of fast bowling in Ashes history. Australia’s hitherto composed pursuit of 282 runs unravelled within just seven Flintoff deliveries, during which he knocked over well-set opener Justin Langer and then Australian captain Ricky Ponting.

When Andrew Flintoff Scripted Ashes Turnaround With One Over

Chasing 282 to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the 2005 Ashes series, Australia cruised to 47-0 in just 12 overs with both openers, Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden rampaging at the crease. With England on the ropes, home captain Michael Vaughan employed Andrew Flintoff for a short burst of fast bowling.

Flintoff, fresh from his three-fer in the first Australian innings of the match, started off his over by castling Justin Langer off just his second ball. Captain and then number three Ricky Ponting survived a few close LBW calls upon his arrival, had a few play-and-misses, before his agony sustained for an extra delivery courtesy of Flintoff’s no-ball towards the end.

The legendary English all-rounder made the most of his own extended over by getting Ponting to nick one towards wicketkeeper Geraint Jones for a five-ball duck. In the space of seven deliveries, the momentum of the Ashes shifted violently, dragging England back into a contest that had begun to slip away.

England eventually won the match by mere two runs to bring the series to levelling terms. The outcome set the tone for a historic Ashes series, one which England would go on to claim by a 2-1 margin.