March 15, 1877. A team of English professional cricketers faced a combined eleven comprising of Victoria and New South Wales cricketers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. It has gone down as the first ever Test match. Arunabha Sengupta relates the story of the birth of Test cricket.
Read MoreThe Hobbs-Bradman show
March 8, 1929. Start of eight days of Test action that saw Jack Hobbs score his last century and Don Bradman his second. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the Melbourne match which saw giants of two different generations play contrasting gems.
Read MoreJoe Darling leads chase with the fastest Ashes hundred by an Australian
Joe Darling scored a 100 in 91 minutes to pull off an amazing chase against England on March 2, 1898. Abhishek Mukherjee looks at Australia’s fastest Ashes hundred.
Read MoreAshes 1970-71: John Snow fells Terry Jenner
On February 13, 1971, England bowler John Snow’s nasty bouncer hit Australia’s Terry Jenner on the head. The events that followed almost brought the England-Australia rivalry on the verge of a crisis. Arunabha Sengupta goes through the events of an otherwise excellent Test match that almost got ruined because of a couple of controversies.
Read MoreAshes 1907-08: England lose to Warwick Armstrong and rain
February 8, 1908. With the series locked in a titanic tussle, the skies opened up and the spirited challenge of the visiting England side drowned in the deluge. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the fourth Test of the 1907-08 Ashes, which saw an epic by Warwick Armstrong as well as the first great Test innings of Jack Hobbs.
Read MoreOval 1968: Basil D'Oliveira and Derek Underwood create history and magic amidst untold drama
It was a drama in many acts at The Oval for the fifth Test in 1968. Basil D’Oliveira changed the course of history by scoring 158 — his runs as much against Australia as against the forces of apartheid. And then on the final day Derek Underwood beat the rains and a stubborn Australian resistance to square the series. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at one of the most impactful Tests in history.
Jack Gregory and Ted McDonald blow England away in the 1921 Ashes
May 30, 1921. A war-hit England were further bombarded by the thunderbolts of Jack Gregory and Ted McDonald as Australia won within a couple of days at Trent Bridge. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at a forgettable two days of English cricket.
Read MoreThe first use of Bodyline during the infamous tour
November 19, 1932. England resorted to Bodyline bowling for the first time on that infamous Ashes series. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the day the first thunderbolts made for the heads of the Australian batsmen even as Douglas Jardine was far away from the scene.
Read MoreColin Cowdrey hauled out of retirement to take on Lillee and Thomson
December 1974, Perth. Responding to an SOS from the England team management, retired stalwart Colin Cowdrey flew across the world at the age of 41 to face two terrifying fast bowlers on the quickest wicket in Australia. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the battles of the aging master against the hostile pace of Lillee and Thomson.
Read MoreBodyline: The infamous cables
January 18, 1933. After captain Bill Woodfull had been struck on the heart, wicketkeeper Bert Oldfield hit on the temple in a near fatal blow, and several other batsmen battered and bruised, the Australian Board of Control finally sent a cable to lodge its protest to the Marylebone Cricket Club. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the incidents that led to the missive, followed by the diplomatic blunders that resulted in continued bad blood.
Read MoreAshes 1936-37 - Don Bradman and the best innings of the century
January 5, 1937. Don Bradman was under enormous pressure after losing his first two Tests as captain. He was plagued by a rare loss of form, discontent among players, press and public and a devastating personal tragedy. Yet, at Melbourne, he turned the series around with a blemish-less innings of 270. Arunabha Sengupta recalls the innings that had been ranked by Wisden as the best of all time.
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Ashes 1899 - WG Grace's Last Test
June 1, 1899. The start of the last ever Test played by WG Grace. Curiously, it was the debut of another supreme batsman Victor Trumper. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the match that convinced the father of modern cricket that his days for England were over.
Read MoreAshes 1893 - when WG Grace treated Charlie Turner on the field
August 26, 1893. On the final day of the Old Trafford Test, WG Grace used his medical skills to allow Charlie Turner of Australia to continue his innings. Arunabha Sengupta recalls the day when a painful finger dislocation was treated by the doctor on the field.
Read MoreJim Laker's 19 wickets at Manchester 1956
Jully 31, 1956. Manchester. Jim Laker singlehandedly routed the Australians, taking 10 wickets in the second innings, making it 19 for the match. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the day that can be bettered by no bowler however hard he tries.
Read MoreBy 3 runs - The Ashes thriller at Melbourne 1982
December 30, 1982. The Ashes Test at Melbourne saw the closest of finishes. Arunabha Sengupta recalls the match and the final few heart-stopping moments.
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