by Arunabha Sengupta
Seven days before the match a freak tornado roared in to rip nearby suburbs, tearing off roofs, smashing garden sheds. It missed Edgbaston by a whisker. This grandest of Test matches came close to being cancelled.
But another freak incident does influence the Test. McGrath steps on the rugby ball during practice. He knows he is out of the game even before he hits the ground.
Ponting puts England in, perhaps to underline he is not unduly worried about McGrath’s absence. England cruise to 132 for one at lunch. The hosts get 407 in a day, 103 added in just over 17 overs by Pietersen and Flintoff. On the second day Harmison strikes Langer on the elbow, then the helmet, but he gets 82. Australia respond with 308.
And then 17 wickets go down on Day 3.
Flintoff 68 in the first innings, 73 in the second, nine sixes in all. Pulling England from 75 for 6 to 182, ensuring a target of 282 rather than something around 200.
The last ball of the day, delivered at 65mph by Harmison off the middle finger. Michael Clarke sees it too late. It hits the off. Australia slump to 175 for 8.
It can be over in two balls. But people roll up for the fourth day. And they are blessed.
Brett Lee takes two off the first ball. Warne moves to the leg and cuts Harmison, Bradman-style, for four. Then he steps across to the off and squirts the ball backward of square.
Boundaries flow thick and fast. English smiles, on field and in the crowd, become a bit uncertain, a bit forced. No sideways movement this morning.
And then Warne performs a jig as he tries to play Flintoff down the leg. His boot kicks the off stump. 220 for 9. Surely all over.
But Kasprowicz is no mug. Vaughan places himself in leg gully, setting the trap. The ball is directed on leg. The No 11 flicks it square for four. He digs out Flintoff yorkers, lofts and edges fours.
Lee drives handsomely. .
Drinks at 252 for 9. 30 to win.
Runs come after that as well, some confident, some streaky. Lee struck by Flintoff on the glove. Physio Errol Alcott, already overworked by McGrath’s leg, runs out. No damage.
Inside edge for four, edge to gully does not carry.
Kasprowicz steers to third man in a looping high stroke. Simon Jones sights it, but it drops on him. The catch is spilt. Flintoff’s wild no ball gets five to Australia. Nine needed now.
A few singles. A scrambled short run. Four required.
Harmison sends in a full toss. Lee slams it to cow corner. Five metres on either side, and Australia would have won. But it goes straight to the fielder. One run.
Kasprowicz keeps one ball out. The next one kicks up. He tries to parry, falling towards off. Geriant Jones plunges forward. Catch is made.
Victory for England by two runs. Vaughan runs around madly, arms outstretched. Lee down on his haunches, comforted by Flintoff. One of the most stirring images of cricket.
Flintoff later disclosed what he had actually said to Lee.
"I said, ‘Mate, this is embarrassing … you’ve lost, it’s cricket, nobody cares, the trophy’s (tiny), f***ing get over it – it really does not matter’." Takes a sheen off the poignancy of the moment, but underlines that they are professional cricketers doing a job ...
Video replays tell us Kasprowicz was struck on the bottom hand, and it had separated from the bat handle as the ball brushed the glove. Would Australia have won if television replays been scrutinised?
Perhaps. Perhaps not. Bowden had no way of knowing. Even Kasprowicz did not.
Those final few minutes took place on 7 August 2005.