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Throwback to Ponting’s infamous run out by Gary Pratt that rocked the 2005 Ashes

Poulomi Chakraborty

Ponting lashes out England after run out (Source: @theanalyst/x.com)Ponting lashes out England after run out (Source: @theanalyst/x.com)

Whenever a Test series arrives, the excitement is inevitable, but the Ashes take it to another level, blending nail-biting tension with unforgettable shocks. Over the years, the series never had a dull moment as the fans enjoyed every bit of it.

As the Ashes delivered some unreal moments of bravery, some of the heated moments grabbed attention, just like Ricky Ponting’s fiery outburst grabbed the headlines. In the Ashes 2005, Gary Pratt’s runout of Ponting angered the Australian captain, and the dramatic moment grabbed the attention.

Though the series eventually drew to a close, this moment has only grown more iconic with time. Let’s relive the Australian captain’s fiery face-off with their arch-rivals.

Gary Pratt comes under Ponting’s fiery onslaught

The sports world recognizes cricket as a gentleman’s game; sometimes it walks on a different path. Among all the stories of bravery, determination, and grit, those moments remained standouts. If the stage becomes the historic Ashes, every second of a match becomes unmissable, as if not cricket, the fiery confrontation between the players creates history.

In the Ashes 2005, when England and Australia locked horns in the fourth Test at Nottingham, the English crowd witnessed Ricky Ponting’s fire. After the first innings saw a deadly battle between the arch-rivals, the real drama ignited when Australia was forced to follow on.

Tackling Australia’s innings, Ricky Ponting was fighting from one end. As he was just two runs away from a well-deserved half-century, the thrills arrived on the 22 yards. After Damien Martyn took a quick single, English substitute fielder Gary Pratt threw the ball to the stumps of Ponting’s end.

Without missing the aim, it was a clear dismissal. As his English teammates hailed Pratt for securing the massive breakthrough, the Australian skipper didn’t hold back. The world is well aware of Ponting’s aggression but on that day, England faced the fiercer side of it.

Boiling with rage, Ponting marched off the field, venting sharp words at the England's balcony. He signaled out coach Duncan Fletcher for using a substitute fielder to shield his main bowlers. In the Ashes history, that has been an iconic moment.

As the moment was the biggest highlight of the game, Australia ended up with a heartbreak. After Ponting’s dismissal, Michael Clarke and Simon Katich tried to turn the tide but while batting in the last innings, the home side took away the win as Australia faced a heartbreaking defeat.