The wild ride of the Ashes 2005 took its last turn today. After a tense morning in which Australia looked like they had the edge, England's batting in the afternoon defied, demoralized and defeated Australia to bring on a well-earned draw and series victory. Kevein Pieterson, who rode his luck early on, became a dominant force with the help of partners Collingwood and Giles.
There was an odd, anticlimactic conclusion as Australia took the light with at least a half hour left with no intention of ever batting again, but ultimately the umpires, like our own Supreme Courrt in the U.S., basically made up a new rule to suit the situation, and the epic contest was ended.
There was overall a great atmosphere with fans on their feet and cheering and singing, and people (including construction workers, who no doubt should have been working) sitting on rooftops to watch. There were Richie Benaud fans saying a fond farewell with signs. There was also a streaker caught by police. And as the England victory became inevitable there were conga lines in the stands.
Awards went to Pieterson for Man of the Match, Flintoff for England Player of the Series and Compton-Miller player of the series, and Shane Warne (who averaged taking 4 wickets per innings and did well with the bat, too) for Australia player of the series.
I took a bunch of screen captures to remember the event:
The Oval was packed and ready for action.
At first the action went against England. Here Gilchrist catches Vaughan off McGrath's bowling.
Here Warne catches Ian Bell for a duck the very next ball.
And then what looked like a potentially fatal blow - Flintoff falls c & b to Warne for just 8.
Then fate intervened. Here Warne drops a routine slip catch to give Kevin Pieterson life. This little mistake probably cost Australia the Ashes. We can't be too hard on Warne, though. Without him Australia would probably have lost every match of the series.
Cricket legend Richie Benaud was doing his last broadcast, and fans said a fond farewell.
Collingwood scored only 10 runs, but he was part of a crucial 60-run partnership which extracted England from serious peril. Here he blocks for a single.
Most of that partnership's runs came from KP. Here he hits a 6.
And here's KP celebrating his 50.
Collingwood gave a catch off his glove to Warne's bowling.
It's hard to see, but here police are closing in on a streaker.
After Collingwood came Jones, who did not last long. Here we see Tait bowling him out.
Jones's departure brought in Ashley Giles, A.K.A. the King of Spain. If you don't know the story, the nickname comes from a mis-print on some mugs which were supposed to say "Ashley Giles, the King of Spin"!
KP kept on hitting. This one went for 4.
Giles got into the act, too. Here he cuts late for 4.
The problem with fielding Shane Warne's bowling, is that sometimes you have to get pretty close to the batsman. Here the helmeted Simon Katich is nailed in the ribs at close range.
An amazing baseball-style line drive pull shot, as seen from the wicket cam. You can see the ball heading right at the camera. Fortunately, it missed the stumps and went for 4.
Fans were risking their lives sitting on rooftops. Here we see about 30 people on rooftops, and a close-up of some construction workers way up high.
The sixes kept coming.
Things started to get away from Australia, as symbolized here by Michael Clarke laid out after trying to stop a 4 by KP.
At one point there was an appeal for a catch, but the ball bounced off the ground and not KP's foot, as the Aussies hoped.
So more sixes...
...And finally KP reached his century.
And with Giles they reached a 100 partnership.
And Giles reached his 50.
Australia tried their best to break through. Here KP has to duck a McGrath bouncer.
But he kept hitting. This drive went for 6.
England fans could sense that the Ashes would be theirs.
Australia could sense that all was lost.
Finally McGrath bowled out KP.
KP got a rousing ovation for an amazing innings.
Soon Giles was out, too, but his teammates were not unhappy to welcome him back to the pavillion.
Hoggard tried to keep things going a bit longer...
... As KP looked on. Notice here KP's tattoo on his arm of the 3 lions (the emblem of his cricket jersey).
Fans outside the stadium wanted to get in on the fun, too.
And inside, the victory party was already starting. Here we see a conga line.
Finally, Harmison was caught by Hayden off Warne's bowling for a duck, ending England's batting.
Warne left the field having taken 40 wickets in this series, a stunning average of 4 per innings.
After a ball went off his helmet for 4 leg byes, Langer was offered the light by the umpires. Langer here appeals to Hayden for guidance. He decides to take the light, bringing on a major anticlimax.
So the crowd and the players had to wait for the inevitable celebration.
Then after a few minutes the umpires entered some uncharted territory by basically making an extralegal decision to end the match, rather than wait for good light.
...and the celebration began in earnest:
