Battle of the Ashes Moments

[Noble One]

Got some sympathy with this view but there was something about that delivery from Harmison - despite England getting hammered in the match the incident signalled the fact that England's mindset had changed at long last so I will vote for that

It has become one of the iconic images of the 05 series. I don't think you can watch a YouTube montage without a clip of Harmison to Ponting. At the time, no it wasn't a great moment, but as the legacy of that legendary series moves on it gathers more and more significance. It's funny though, had Australia won at Edgbaston and the series result been different, we would probably never see the Ponting clip/video again. Cricket is a funny game.

 

[vic_orthdox]

I thought hitting Langer with the second pill of the day was a greater statement of intent, for what it's worth, and the huge delay caused by it. Was sort of surreal, remember watching it at the pub and just hanging around for ages while it was all sorted out.

Then again, Langer got hit more times than Rocky Balboa, so it probably wasn't that interesting.

 

[GIMH]

Chimpy getting hit will always be a good thing, +1 for that

 

[Jarquis]

I don't find either Ashes moment all that memorable. The Alderman one was a terrible moment that deprived Australia of one of the few good pace-bowlers we had in the 80's. The Ponting hit meant very little in the context of the game, Australia still won. Didn't Langer cop some blows too?

Abstain

Yeah but when didn't Langer cop some blows? Hayden took one flush on the badge of his helmet as well, Harmison and England meant business that day and I think the whole thing is epitomised by him cutting Ponting.

 

[four_or_six]

The other thing about cutting Ponting was that it was there for the whole series, really visible on his face, so it was like a constant reminder of what happened whenever you saw him.

 

[zaremba]

The other thing about cutting Ponting was that it was there for the whole series, really visible on his face, so it was like a constant reminder of what happened whenever you saw him.

Yep. And he took to wearing make up to mask it.

It has to be Chimpy on this one

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Has to be chimpy being hit but neither really float my boat.

 

[Jarquis]

(45)Harmison hitting Ponting in the face 7 vs 2 (55)Terry Alderman tackles a pitch invader

 

[Jarquis]

Battle #3

(10)Darren Gough's Hattrick
5th Test: Australia v England at Sydney, Jan 2-5, 1999 | Cricket Scorecard | Cricinfo.com
A fantastic comeback spell which saw Australia's final 5 wickets fall for 3 runs after a huge 190 run 4th wicket stand.
YouTube - Darren Gough Hat Trick, Ashes 1999

vs

(20)Andrew Strauss' One Handed Diving Catch
4th Test: England v Australia at Nottingham, Aug 25-28, 2005 | Cricket Scorecard | Cricinfo.com

42.2 just short of a good length, outside the off, the ball moves away after pitching, Gilchrist edges, Andrew Strauss dives full length to his left and takes a stunning one-handed catch! 163/8

YouTube - Andrew Strauss Catch

 

[Themer]

Goughy's hat trick. You don't see many hat tricks and especially not against the Aussies plus it completely changed that innings.

 

[zaremba]

Tough one. Strauss.

 

[tombarlow123]

Got to go for the hattrick, really. Rarely do we ever see them.

 

[fredfertang]

Strauss - I don't recall the Ashes being competed for in 1998/99

 

[GIMH]

Strauss. Best catch ever.

 

[Noble One]

Gough and his hattrick.

 

[four_or_six]

Strauss catch.

 

[Furball]

Yeah, not a fan of the Harmison moment myself, I don't think it's meaningful to claim that it "set the tone" when England got hammered.

Far more important was England responding by belting Australia for 5 rpo at Edgbaston.

 

[King Pietersen]

Strauss. Such an iconic catch, could watch it over and over again. That whole series was just stupidly good.

 

[Flyonthewall]

Gough's hat-trick, for sure. Hat-tricks are much rarer than spectacular catches, all things considered, so an Ashes hat-trick is extremely special. The stunning nature of the deliveries only heightens this for me. Strauss's catch was brilliant, certainly, but I can think of moments in that match that I enjoyed more. And great bowling >>> great catching as a spectacle.

 

[marc71178]

The catch - great picture of it there as well.