Ashes
Greatest Ashes comebacks of all time
With the current Ashes series hanging in the balance after three incredible tests, and England looking to make a historic comeback after trailing 2-0 in this series, we take a look back at some of the greatest Ashes comebacks of all time.
1936/37 – Ashes series
The oldest comeback on our list could well be considered the greatest. Although it will not be in the memory of many current cricket fans, this is in fact the only example of a team coming back from 2-0 down to win the series, at the time of writing that is.
Heading into the 1936/37 Ashes the last thing the Aussies would have been expecting is to be 2-0 down after the first two tests in their own back yard, not to mention that the winning margins were a whopping 322 runs, and an innings and 22 runs.
The great Don Bradman had been dismissed three times in four balls after the first two tests, but only a player of his quality could have produced such an amazing comeback. The man considered by many to be the greatest batman of all time would go on to score 283 runs in the third Test as Australia clawed back to 2-1 in Melbourne.
The fourth Test provided much of the same with Bradman once again scoring a double century in the second innings of the match to finish the Test with 238 runs to his name as well as another win for his side. The series stood at 2-2 with everything to play for in the fifth Test and momentum firmly with the home side.
Momentum proved key in the fifth Test as the Aussies embarrassed England in a similar manner to which they had been beaten in the first two tests. Australia won the fifth Test in Melbourne by an innings and 200 runs, one of the biggest winning margins in Ashes history. Three of Australia’s batsmen scored centuries with Bradman yet again the standout player as he scored 169 runs from 191 balls. No team before or after has managed to come back to win an Ashes series from 2-0 down, but that may not be the case for long.
1981 – Headingley, Third Test
The first of the Headingly Tests in this list saw an England side captained by Mike Brearley come back from a forced follow on to win the test by a mere 18 runs.
Following a miserable first innings from England, including a follow on, Australia took to the field for their second innings with just 129 runs needed for victory with some bookmakers making England 500/1 to win the match.
Some may recall that the 1981 Ashes are known as ‘Botham’s Ashes’ and this test cemented that name. Before the final innings Botham had already made his mark on the third Test, taking six wickets in the first innings and scoring 199 of England’s 530 runs in the match.
Botham and fellow fast bowler Bob Willis took no prisoners in the second innings with Botham’s high intensity pressure bowling taking the wicket of opener Graeme Wood.
Although Botham had been the star of the match so far it was the late great Bob Willis who terrorised the Aussie batsmen and ultimately won the test for England. Willis steamed in for 15.1 overs before he took his eighth and final wicket of the innings for just 43 runs in what is one of the greatest fast bowling performances in the history of test cricket.
2019 – Headingley, Third Test
The most recent memory of a great Ashes comeback comes from Headingly in 2019 when current England captain Ben Stokes put his country on his back to carry them to victory and keep the 2019 Ashes series alive.
England left the pitch seemingly on top after Australia’s first innings having skittled the visitors for just 179 runs, but England’s first innings score of 67 was nowhere near enough to keep the game in their hands and it appeared that they were destined to limp to another Ashes loss.
Australia struck 246 runs in their second innings to leave England with it all to do if they were to chase down the 359-run target. England’s run chase didn’t get off to a great start as they lost their first two wickets for just 15 runs. A 126-run partnership between Joe Root and Joe Denly put England in a better position but they still had over 200 runs to chase as Ben Stokes entered the frame.
He and Jonny Bairstow managed to put on almost 100 more runs before his partner would fall to the bowling of Josh Hazelwood with England still needing over 100 runs. This was the beginning of the collapse for England as they lost another four wickets for just 41 runs, 286-9 the scoreboard read.
One man who had watched wicket after wicket fall at the other end was Ben Stokes as he remained at the crease with number 11 batsman Jack Leach. What was to follow will go down in Ashes history as one of the greatest individual innings and last wicket partnerships.
Leach did his job, holding up one end as he saw out 17 balls for just one run, one of the greatest single run innings cricket fans are ever likely to see. Stokes on the other hand took the bull by the horns, and the ball over the rope, with the powerful all-rounder hitting eight sixes and 11 fours, with the 11th of those providing one of the most memorable moments in recent Ashes history as England’s saviour slapped the ball through the covers for four, securing the test victory for England as Stokes let out a roar equivalent to that of the entirety of Headingly stadium.
