England’s 2005 Ashes triumph over Australia is regarded as one of the great series of all time, but early optimism for victory over the old enemy came to a halt at Lord’s, despite Steve Harmison’s excellent 5 for 43 in the visitors’ first innings.
Harmison, operating from the Pavilion End, gave the Aussies a fright as they chose to bat, striking Justin Langer on the arm, Matthew Hayden on the helmet and so too Ricky Ponting from a rising ball.
With England 97 for 5 at lunch, and Harmison having accounted for Ponting, he cleaned up the innings in the afternoon session, taking four wickets in fourteen balls as Australia were all out for 190.
England couldn’t capitalise though as Glenn McGrath took a five-wicket haul of his own as they were bowled out for 155. Australia racked up 384 second time around and again England couldn’t live with McGrath, or indeed Shane Warne, and lost the match by 239 runs.