2009 Ashes series

2009 Ashes series
Part of Australian cricket team in England in 2009
The npower Ashes Series 2009 logo
Date8 July – 23 August
LocationEngland and Wales
ResultEngland won the five-Test series 2–1
Player of the seriesAndrew Strauss (Eng) and Michael Clarke (Aus)
Compton–Miller Medal:
Andrew Strauss (Eng)
Teams
 England  Australia
Captains
Andrew Strauss Ricky Ponting
Most runs
Andrew Strauss (474)
Matt Prior (261)
Paul Collingwood (251)		 Michael Clarke (448)
Ricky Ponting (385)
Marcus North (367)
Most wickets
Stuart Broad (18)
Graeme Swann (14)
James Anderson (12)		 Ben Hilfenhaus (22)
Peter Siddle (20)
Mitchell Johnson (20)

The 2009 Ashes series was that year's edition of the long-standing and storied cricket rivalry between England and Australia, and was part of the Australian cricket tour of England in 2009. Starting on 8 July 2009, England and Australia played five Tests, with England winning the series 2–1. England thus reclaimed The Ashes from Australia, who had won the previous series in 2006–07. Andrew Strauss became just the second England captain in 20 years, alongside Michael Vaughan in 2005, to win the Ashes.

The first Test was held at the SWALEC Stadium in Cardiff, the first Test match ever to be held at the ground,[1] and resulted in England saving a draw with one wicket to spare,[2] and Ricky Ponting surpassing 11,000 Test runs, becoming Australia's leading Test run scorer as the series progressed.[3] The second Test at Lord's was preceded by the announcement that Andrew Flintoff would be retiring from Test cricket at the end of the series.[4] The England all-rounder then took his first Lord's five-for to seal a 115-run victory, England's first against Australia at the ground in 75 years.[5] Rain prevented play for large amounts of the Third Test at Edgbaston, including the entire third day,[6] making the draw an inevitable result.[7] Australia pegged the score back to 1–1 with an innings victory at Headingley after bowling out England for 102, their lowest Ashes total since they were bowled out for 77 at Lord's in 1997.[8][9] This left the Fifth Test at The Oval to decide the series.

Australia began the match needing only a draw to retain the Ashes, but an inspired bowling performance from Stuart Broad to remove Australia for just 160 runs, and a maiden Test century for Jonathan Trott in England's second innings left Australia chasing 546 with two days left to play. An innings of 121 from Michael Hussey gave the Australians hope, but he gradually ran out of partners before losing his own wicket to give England a 197-run win in the match and a 2–1 series victory.[10]

  1. ^ "Cardiff to host Ashes Test match". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 20 April 2006. Retrieved 23 August 2009.
  2. ^ Brett, Oliver (12 July 2009). "Defiant England cling on for draw". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 13 July 2009. Retrieved 23 August 2009.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference T1_D2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Flintoff quits Tests after Ashes". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 15 July 2009. Archived from the original on 15 July 2009. Retrieved 23 August 2009.
  5. ^ Brett, Oliver (20 July 2009). "Flintoff inspires England victory". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 20 July 2009.
  6. ^ "England 'can still win' - Flower". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 1 August 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  7. ^ Brett, Oliver (3 August 2009). "Aussies defy England to earn draw". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 4 August 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
  8. ^ Dirs, Ben (7 August 2009). "England v Australia 4th Test day one as it happened". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 7 August 2009. Retrieved 23 August 2009.
  9. ^ Lillywhite, Jamie (9 August 2009). "Aussies win to level Ashes series". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 23 August 2009.
  10. ^ Lillywhite, Jamie (23 August 2009). "Victorious England regain Ashes". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 23 August 2009.