OTD 2009: England’s famous Ashes win at Lord’s

England were walking into the second Test of the 2009 Ashes at Lord’s in an attempt to rewrite history. They had not beaten their great rivals at the ‘Home of Cricket’ since 1934. The Three Lions were facing 75 years of history and the follow-up of the enigmatic Andrew Flintoff announcing his retirement from international cricket on the eve of the match. The series was at 0-0 coming into this match after a draw in the first Test in Cardiff.

England, electing to bat first, piled the misery on the Aussies with a 196-run opening stand between Skipper Andrew Strauss and Alistair Cook. Cook fell for 95, but Strauss motored along, finishing with a mammoth 161 off 268 balls, a knock laced with 22 fours. The rest of the team were unable to add significant contributions, but the skipper’s innings ensured the Three Lions finished with a score of 425.

England once more started on the front foot as James Anderson dismissed Phil Hughes and Australian skipper Ricky Ponting in the first spell. Simon Katich and Michael Hussey repaired the innings with a 93-run stand for the third wicket, but Graham Onions broke the partnership with Katich’s wicket, and Flintoff had Hussey bowled for 51. Anderson returned to pick up two more wickets to finish the innings with figures of 4 for 55 in 21 overs. Late runs from Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz and Peter Siddle took the Aussies to 215, still 210 runs behind England’s score.

England’s objective in its second inning was to score quickly to leave enough time to bowl Australia out. The openers once more raced to a 61-run stand before both fell with the score at 72 for 2. Kevin Pietersen and Ravi Bopara established the innings with a 73-run stand. With the platform set, Paul Collingwood and Matt Prior took the attack to the Aussie bowlers, racing to half-centuries. Flintoff’s late 27-ball 30 was the final act as England declared at a score of 311 for 6, leaving the Aussies a mammoth 522 to chase.

As he has done for England on various occasions throughout his career, Flintoff, taking the new ball, caught the game by the scruff of its neck, dismissing openers Katich and Hughes early. Graeme Swann picked up two wickets, and Stuart Broad added one more to leave the Aussies reeling at 128 for 5, with the hosts looking certain for a historic victory.

It was then that Michael Clarke joined Brad Haddin to put up a staunch rearguard. The pair were stoic in defence and took the attack to the England bowlers on their way to a 185-run stand off 296 balls. Clarke reached his century off 159 balls and looked in complete control. But, once more, cometh the hour, cometh Flintoff, as Haddin nicked one to Collingwood at second slip. Clarke was then joined by Mitchell Johnson, but soon fell for 137 as Swann got one through his astute defence. Flintoff then had Hauritz and Siddle bowled to finish with figures of 5 for 92 in 27 overs. Swann finally got one through Johnson’s defence, who was batting at 63, to wrap up the Aussie innings at 406 and complete a historic 116-run win.

Flintoff was adjudged Player of the Match in a symbolic match where he once again turned an entire innings on its head, in what was the first act of his final swansong. England finally put to bed the ghosts of the past to seal an emphatic victory and make the first move in the series.

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