2005 - Second Test, Edgbaston 4,5,6 & 7 August England won by two runs

England 407 all out Marcus Trescothick 90 Andrew Flintoff 68 Australia 308 all out Justin Langer 82 Ricky Ponting 61 England 182 all out Andrew Flintoff 73 Shane Warne 6-46 Australia 279 all out Brett Lee 43 Andrew Flintoff 4-79

England had gone 25 years without being able to come from behind and level an Ashes series, but they did it in style.

Andrew Flintoff contributed vital runs in both innings and took seven vital wickets to gain cult hero status.

In a nail-biting finish, the home side secured for the tightest ever victory by a runs margin in Ashes history.

Michael Kasprowicz and Brett Lee put on 59 for the last wicket but Steve Harmison had Kasprowicz caught off his glove to spark the celebrations.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting gave England the advantage from the off with his surprising decision to bowl first.

He must have been regretting the call for every ball of the 112-run stand between openers Andrew Strauss and Marcus Trescothick as the hosts made their way to a first innings 407.

Flintoff rubbed salt into the wounds with an astounding 62-ball assault, with brought 68 runs, six fours and five sixes.

Relive England's 2005 Ashes glory

Australia stayed in touch, just, with 308 in reply, although Justin Langer and Ponting were the only batsmen to pass 50.

However, the game was back in the balance as soon as Aussie spinner Shane Warne took the ball on the second evening, dismissing Andrew Strauss with a ripping leg-break from out of the rough.

Warne went on to take 6-46 and were it not for another astounding innings from Flintoff, England could have been bowled out for under 100.

The all-rounder came in at 72-5 and helped add a further 110. In a six-over last-wicket stand of 51 with Simon Jones he contributed 39.

Flintoff finish with six fours and four sixes - breaking Ian Botham's record for sixes in a match - but his work was not done there.

Flintoff took three of the subsequent eight Australian wickets to fall on day three and on 175-8 at stumps the tourists looked finished.

Warne and Lee had other ideas, sharing a partnership of 45 in just nine overs and Pakistan's 12-year-old record of 79 runs made for the last two wickets to win a Test was in serious jeopardy.

England missed a chance to clinch victory when Simon Jones put down a difficult catch at third man from a Kasprowicz upper-cut off Flintoff with Australia 15 runs short.

Harmison finished the job but the image of Flintoff consoling the unbeaten Lee as the England team celebrated was one of the most enduring of the series.

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