From its captivating origins to its unyielding intensity in the present day, the Ashes stand as the pinnacle of the sport, representing the epitome of excellence in the realm of Test match cricket. As excitement fills the air and the flames of iconic rivalry ignite, here’s what Ashes winner, Kevin Pietersen recalls in his chat with Betway.
The highly anticipated men’s Ashes commence on the 16th of June, 2023, and while the cricketing world is abuzz with chatter about ‘BazBall,’ England’s bold and daring approach to Test cricket, English great Kevin Pietersen recalled playing BazBall during the iconic 2005 Ashes series.
Kevin said, “We almost played Bazball back in 2005 in this Test match. Every single Test match was iconic. The Australians that turned up that final morning, they got louder and louder. Then they started screaming, five runs, three runs, and then Harmy bowled that full toss to Lee and he smacked it out to Simon Jones. As he hit it, I thought ‘game over’. But he fielded it, and then what happened next was, for the series, for what people still talk about, it was just meant to be.”
Undoubtedly, in the history of Test match cricket, no series compares to the Ashes ’05. From Glenn McGrath’s remarkable 9-wicket haul at Lord’s to England’s spirited fightback, resulting in a 2-1 lead in the fourth Test, and culminating in Kevin Pietersen’s maiden Test century, which helped England recapture the urn after 18 long years, the series had all the elements.
The late, great Shane Warne, the biggest superstar of them all, shared a captivating love story with Ashes Cricket. From off-field controversies to on-field banter, nothing came in the way of his mesmerizing spin bowling and unwavering determination, which left an indelible mark on the historic rivalry between Australia and England.
Kevin, on Warne, said, “He had aura, Shane.
He was just such a fun guy to be around and somebody who, if he was in this room now, you’d want to sit next to him. I know what he did to get me into that England team and the stuff that he was saying in the media, probably undeserved, some of how nice he was being about me. But we also had some unbelievable battles. I’ll never forget the first Test at the Gabba, when he kept throwing the ball at me and we had one of the biggest ding-dongs. It’s almost impossible to believe that Warnie’s still not here. Just a legend.”
The Women’s Ashes is equally intriguing. Australia’s dominance in the Women’s Ashes series has been evident with comfortable victories in the past two contests, and they have maintained an undefeated record against England since 2014. However, the upcoming series poses a significant challenge for the reigning 50-over and T20 world cup champions, as they face the major setback of not having their captain, Meg Lanning, available.
The Women’s Ashes series, taking on a multi-format structure, promises a thrilling and historic spectacle. It comprises a five-day Test match to be held at Trent Bridge, adding an extra layer of excitement and significance to the contest. Alongside the Test, the series includes three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and as many Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).
With the series set to get underway on the 22nd of June, the stage is set for this highly anticipated clash, all eyes will be on Australia to see if they can maintain their winning streak and defend their title. However, the absence of their influential captain adds an element of uncertainty to the series, potentially providing an opportunity for England to capitalize and reclaim the coveted Women’s Ashes crown.
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