Former England cricketer
Kevin Pietersen on Saturday summed up the 2005 Ashes victory on X, calling it both the best team he ever played in and the best Test series ever.
His succinct tribute speaks volumes: it was more than just cricket; it was a defining moment in the sport’s modern era.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The 2005 Ashes stands immortal in cricketing lore. It captivated audiences in England and beyond with razor-thin margins, dramatic scenes, and electric performances on both sides.
For Pietersen, it was the stage of his breakthrough. His maiden Test century, a blistering 158 at The Oval, was pure instinct. In one memorable session, he exploded from 35 to 76 in just 13 balls, hammering
Brett Lee and sending the crowd into raptures.
The match and the series thrummed with tension: England clawing back from a heavy first-Test defeat, narrowly claiming the second by just two runs (still an Ashes record), and finally wresting victory in the fourth Test after forcing Australia to follow-on, a feat unachieved in 191 Tests. England won the five-match series 2-1.
At The Oval, Pietersen’s innings teamed with a gritty 59 from Ashley Giles to seal the urn and spark jubilant celebrations.
Looking back years later, Pietersen still rates that side more highly than later ones, including the 2015 team.
He argued the 2005 squad combined stronger batting with a ferocious pace and seam attack, featuring Simon Jones, Steve Harmison, and Andrew Flintoff, against one of Australia’s most formidable lineups ever.
Ultimately, KP’s unforgettable words, “Best team I ever played in! Best Test series ever played!”, sum up why the 2005 Ashes remains so deeply etched in cricketing memory.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the ...
Read MoreThe TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide.
From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more.
The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics.
We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects.
We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.
Read Less
Start a Conversation
Post comment