England dominated Australia in the 80s Using Sir Ian Botham to the End.
In’Ashes in the 80s’ – that you can observe in ON DEMAND – we bring you the stories on the great Ashes tussles of the decade from the players directly in the thick of the action.
Relive the drama, tension and excitement of the battle for the urn at a time when the nation was in turmoil – from 1981 to the tale of things turned around to this point where they would dominate through the 90s’ Ashes.
It would rarely get like this for England from Australia as the team of Mike Gatting withdrew a’Grand Slam’ – a 2-1 win to keep the Ashes, and two ODI trophies.
Charles Colvile recalls the 1986-87 excursion, where England stirred their critics – and also the Aussies – in style, winning the Melbourne Test by an innings inside three days to clinch the show with you to play.
Micky and gatting Stewart, appointed as England’s first-ever cricket manager for the excursion, reflect on the motives behind their success and the way they got the best out of Ian Botham.
England opener Chris Broad looks back in the three decades which relaunched his Test career, while the key is explained by Allan Lamb to his unforgettable last-over blitz of Bruce Reid that sealed a gorgeous ODI win.
In the Australian side, Merv Hughes and conquered skipper Allan Border put in their recollections, for example, event of mistaken identity at Sydney that began their fightback.
Against the backdrop of the conclusion of a miners’ strike and a split country under Margaret Thatcher’s government, England captain David Gower had his greatest summer as he turned into the darling of the nation.
Sir Ian Botham and Tim Robinson starred in Leeds in the opening Test, which England won by five wickets, before Australia inspired to victory from the second at Lord’s.
With some players feeling skipper Border was overly friendly, still , there remained fractions from the Australia group.
The series was first level at 1-1 with 2 matches to play with draws that are following at Trent Bridge and Old Trafford, throughout which Gower, Mike Gatting and Border were at the runs.
However, England won back the urn, at The Oval and Birmingham following innings strikes, and triumphed 3-1 – whilst seamer Richard Ellison picked up 17 wickets across the 2 games Gower struck on a double century in Edgbaston.
Crowd hooliganism, missed chances, bad umpiring and one of the Test finishes. The 1982/83 Ashes was not for the faint-hearted.
Captain Bob Willis headed with a group overlooking the’ rebel’ players who went to South Africa to the excursion.
The defence of the Ashes started with a draw however, it was hooliganism that stole the headlines, Terry Alderman coming off worst after being struck on the back of your head.
A costly drop in the next Test at Brisbane, which allowed Kepler Wessels to score his maiden Test century on debut, would haunt another defeat followed Adelaide later Willis put Australia in on a flat wicket along with England.
But the show sparked back into life where a last-wicket stand between Jeff Thomson and Allan Border took Australia to the brink of an outstanding win.
Umpiring jeopardized their chances although it supposed that England travelled to Sydney wanting to win to draw on the series and keep the urn.
Has there been an Ashes series which has more of an impact?
Charles looks back on the 1981 Ashes, which generated one of the greatest sporting legends of England who would haunt Australia for many years to come.
But it wasn’t all one-time visitors because England lost the first Test.
Featuring Bob Willis, Allan Border and Botham’s expressions himself we chart how the return of Mike Brearley revived England’s fortunes in dramatic fashion.
The Headingley Test set the tone and also is the stuff of legend – and things did not get far better than at Edgbaston as Botham produced among the most memorable bowling charms of his livelihood.
Watch every episode of’Ashes at the 80s’ ON DEMAND now or catch one episode per Test.
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