Remembering the 2005 Ashes series, when cricket ruled the nation, ahead of England and Australia clash

Oh, and cricket briefly became the biggest sport in the country too.

As the start of The Ashes nears, fans are readying themselves for another blockbuster series between England and Australia. Fireworks are, typically, to be expected.

But the five Test matches will need to be pretty spectacular to gazump the 2005 series, which still lives long in the memory and is widely regarded as the moment cricket peaked on these shores in the 2000s.

For context, few gave Michael Vaughan's side even a remote chance of securing glory. They had been emphatically beaten Down Under less than two years previously and Australia boasted world-beaters such as Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist and Glenn McGrath.

When the Aussies dominated the first Test at Lord's, the Three Lions had a mountain to climb.

McGrath was sensational that Test, with the bowler's blistering speed too much for England's frontline. He took nine wickets out of a possible 20, conceding just 82 runs in the process.

But then came the miracle of Edgebaston, the moment where everything changed and the pendulum swung firmly England's way.

They were outstanding in Birmingham but, on the final day, Australia's pairing of Michael Kasprowicz and Brett Lee nearly did the impossible. They whittled down England's lead and, with two runs needed, England needed something special.

Andrew Flintoff was the player of the Test, taking seven wickets and scoring 86 runs. But it was Steve Harmison who stepped up to produce the magic, with Kasprowicz removed via a spectacular catch from Geraint Jones.

Flintoff, ever the class act, consoled Lee while his teammates celebrated jubilantly. It is an image that, 20 years on, still lives long in the memory.

On to Old Trafford, then. Supporters didn't know what to expect. England had the momentum. But Australia had the A-listers.

But it was indeed the hosts who played the better cricket in that Test. Flintoff, once again, led from the front. Vaughan, having struggled with the bat during the opening two Tests, scored a monumental 166 from just 215 balls. Simon Jones, capitalising on the cloudy grey skies to cause chaos with his swinging deliveries, was impressive as well.

In the end, however, the Mancunian rain ended England's hopes of glory.

They simply ran out of time. The heavens opened and the visitors were given a reprieve. England, needing just one more wicket, simply ran out of time.

The weather couldn't save Australia at Trent Bridge, however.

Flintoff and Jones flourished again, with Harmison also doing his part.

It was unlikely hero Ashley Giles who scored the runs needed to give England victory, however, despite the away side threatening a comeback.

At this point, interest in cricket was reaching fever-pitch. Youngsters all over the country, including this very author, were picking up their bats and balls and flooding to their local parks to get their fix.

The fifth Test at The Oval had everything riding on it. Would England be able to cope with the pressure? Would Australia, uncharacteristically second best, be able to get a draw that would see them retain the urn?

In truth, they couldn't have done much differently. Especially Warne, who capitalised on the conditions to spin the Aussies back into contention.

But two England players stood tallest amid the heat of the battle: Andrew Strauss and Kevin Pietersen.

The duo, who would clash years later, amassed 287 runs between them.

It was Pietersen's innings that stands out, however. He clocked up a remarkable 158 to deny Australia a draw, eventually making way with his bat aloft and black and blonde mohawk glinting in the evening sun.

England, ultimately, got the job done.

The celebrations were remarkable. Thousands packed out the streets of London to greet their heroes in the days that followed. Flintoff, Pietersen and many others were certainly left worse for wear.

That was 2005. How 2025 plays out is something only time will tell.