Sipu Jha
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.
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