Former England bowler Simon Jones has opened up about the electric atmosphere and unique team spirit that defined England’s historic 2005 Ashes victory over arch-rivals Australia.
Reliving the Lord’s Roar
It’s been two decades since Michael Vaughan’s England squad made history by winning the Ashes 2-1, marking their first series victory against Australia since 1987. Simon Jones, a key pace bowler who took 18 wickets in three Tests before injury, recalls the incredible energy surrounding that series.
Ahead of the opening Test at Lord’s, Jones remembers the famous Long Room erupting. “It almost shocked us really,” he told BBC Sport, noting the normally subdued members were passionately urging them to “take these down.”
The intensity quickly became clear on the field. After Steve Harmison hit Ricky Ponting, no Australian player went to check on their captain. Jones recounted the Australians’ observation: “The Australians said this was a different team, like a pack of wolves coming in for the kill. And it was. We wanted to take them down.”
A Pivotal Performance
Despite losing the Lord’s Test, England bounced back with Andrew Flintoff’s heroics securing a two-run victory at Edgbaston. Jones contributed with three wickets in both the Lord’s and Edgbaston Tests.
His performance escalated in the third Test at Manchester, where he claimed seven wickets, including a six-wicket haul in the first innings. It was here that Jones bowled one of the most memorable deliveries of his career, an inswinging ball that uprooted Michael Clarke’s off-stump.
Jones described the sound of the stumps being shattered as “the best noise in cricket.” He cherishes the moment, noting that fans still consider it one of the best balls ever bowled.
The Bittersweet End
The fourth Test in Nottingham saw Jones continue his dominant form, taking five wickets in the first innings. However, an ankle injury during Australia’s second innings limited him to just four overs, effectively ending his Ashes series and, unknowingly at the time, his Test career for England.
England went on to win that Test by three wickets, setting up the historic 2-1 series victory with a draw in the final Test at The Oval. Jones reflects on the unexpected conclusion to his time in the England whites.
“At the time, I didn’t realise that would be my last Test for England. It was like going from the penthouse to the outhouse,” he shared. Despite the abrupt end, he remains grateful for the experience.
“Would you rather play 100 Tests and not have 2005, or would you rather play the 18 you played and have 2005? It would be the 18 Tests with 2005 included every day of the week. It didn’t get better than that.”
- The 2005 Ashes marked England’s first series win against Australia since 1987.
- Simon Jones took 18 wickets in three Tests before an ankle injury ended his series.
- Australian players described the English team as “a pack of wolves coming in for the kill.”
- Jones’s delivery to Michael Clarke, famously uprooting the off-stump, is still celebrated.
- Despite his career-ending injury in the series, Jones cherishes the historic 2005 victory above all.
The 2005 Ashes remains a legendary chapter in cricket history, forever etched in the memories of players and fans alike.
