Already feeling nostalgic?
The past six weeks have been filled with high-octane drama as England and Australia faced off, reaching a crescendo on the series’ final day.
Let’s journey back to the unforgettable moments that shaped the men’s Ashes summer…
‘Stuart Broad’s thrilling farewell’
‘Pure elation and delight’ – Broad’s dreamlike sendoff
Broad’s bowling leads England to tie the series
McCullum applauds England’s ‘polished’ approach
Crawley smacks series’ opening delivery for a four
Doesn’t it seem like a lifetime ago?
Zak Crawley, amidst the intense anticipation of a series that saw more hype than any in recent memory, shot the very first ball through the covers.
Ben Stokes’ expression was priceless in the dressing room, and the crowd at Edgbaston erupted.
It set the stage for a sensational series and was a bold declaration of England’s playing style.
Stokes’ unprecedented early declaration
In a surprise move, Ben Stokes declared at 393-8 after 78 overs with Joe Root still not out on 118, the earliest ever in Ashes history.
Regrettably, it did not reap rewards. David Warner and Usman Khawaja weathered the last four overs of the day, resulting in a first Test victory for the visitors.
Despite this, the declaration is etched as a memorable moment in the series.
Australia’s dramatic victory at Edgbaston
It’s easy to overlook that the series began with an unforgettable classic, as Australia chased 281 deep into the final day.
With Alex Carey caught out by Joe Root, Australia were teetering at 227-8, making England the likely winners.
At 37 runs needed, a potential miraculous catch by Stokes to out Nathan Lyon slipped away, keeping the suspense alive.
The thrilling finale saw Lyon and Pat Cummins defy England and the deafening Birmingham crowd, putting together an unbeaten stand of 55.
Bairstow escorts protestor off the field
One can’t help but ask, “did that really happen?”
The second Test at Lord’s started with a couple of Just Stop Oil protestors invading the pitch.
They made for the centre but were halted by the players, with one protestor escorted off by England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow.
Such a scene was unprecedented at the Home of Cricket.
Carey controversially stumps Bairstow at Lord’s
A day that will forever be remembered in Ashes history and added more fire to an already hot series.
This was all triggered by Alex Carey’s debatable stumping of Jonny Bairstow.
Was it unsportsmanlike or sharp work from the Australian wicketkeeper? By now, you likely have your opinion.
The incident led to a highly charged atmosphere at Lord’s, with the Australians met with boos and jeers, leading to some unsavoury scenes.
Stokes nearly played what could have been the greatest Test innings ever, scoring 155 as Stuart Broad backed him with a 108-run partnership for the seventh wicket.
However, Stokes fell to Josh Hazlewood, and England succumbed to a 43-run loss, with Australia leading 2-0.
Wood & Woakes’ series debut
As the debate over Carey’s actions persisted, the series moved to Headingley, where Mark Wood made a thrilling entry.
He achieved a spectacular 5-34 on the first day, even reaching 96.5mph in a spell of fast bowling that mesmerised the Leeds crowd.
Chris Woakes also made his series debut, and it was Wood and Woakes who helped England pull off a nail-biting three-wicket victory.
Crawley’s memorable century
The highest run of the series belonged to Zak Crawley with a magnificent 189 in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, which ended in a draw.
He overpowered the Australian attack on the second day, hitting 21 fours and three sixes, marking England’s best day of Bazballing in the series.
They piled on 384-4 in 72 overs, with Crawley and Root putting together a double-century stand at more than a run per ball.
Rain ruins England’s chances
Unfortunately, Manchester in 2023 will be remembered for the downpours.
England were poised to draw the series at 2-2, but relentless rain on the last two days led to a drawn match.
This ensured that England couldn’t win the series, and Australia held onto the Ashes.
The Wizard’s final day heroics
Following the rain in Manchester, England needed a win in the final Test to level the series.
Although they performed well in the initial three days, there was concern when Usman Khawaja and David Warner achieved a 140-0 opening stand, putting Australia in an excellent position to chase 384.
Woakes stepped up, sending both openers back.
Australia seemed to be back on track later in the day at 264-3, but a thrilling session at The Oval saw Woakes and spinner Moeen Ali claim four wickets for just 11 runs, giving England hope.
Woakes dismissed the crucial Steve Smith, and despite playing only three matches, ended with 19 wickets and the player of the series award.
Broad’s magical send-off
What other way to conclude?
Rumours started circulating on Saturday afternoon, but it still came as a shock when England bowler Stuart Broad announced his retirement following the final Test.
This paved the way for a fairy-tale ending, with the crowd cheering Broad wherever he went.
Being one for the big moments, Broad took the final two wickets, even replaying his famous bail-switching act for good luck, before making his final walk off the field with the series drawn at 2-2.
What an unforgettable series!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Men’s Ashes 2023
Who were some of the standout players in the Men’s Ashes 2023?
Ben Stokes, Zak Crawley, Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes, and Mark Wood from England, and David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, and Steve Smith from Australia all had notable performances in the series.
Which was the highest score of the series?
The highest score of the series was Zak Crawley’s sublime 189 in the fourth Test at Old Trafford.
Was there any controversy in the series?
Yes, there was controversy over Alex Carey’s stumping of Jonny Bairstow. The incident led to a highly charged atmosphere and has sparked debates over whether it was against the spirit of cricket or smart wicketkeeping.
Who was named the player of the series in Men’s Ashes 2023?
Chris Woakes, despite playing only three matches, was awarded the player of the series after ending with 19 wickets.
How did the series end?
The series ended in a draw at 2-2, with a memorable finale that included the retirement of England bowler Stuart Broad. Despite the draw, Australia retained the Ashes.
What caused England’s chances to win the series to be ruined?
Heavy rain in Manchester on the final two days of the fourth Test washed out nearly all play, leading to a drawn match. This ensured that England couldn’t win the series, and Australia retained the Ashes.
More about Men’s Ashes 2023
- Ashes History
- International Cricket Council
- England Cricket
- Australia Cricket
- Cricket Rules and Regulations
- Stuart Broad’s Career
5 comments
Haha, we keep the Ashes…again! 😉 But seriously, incredible cricket from both teams. This’ll be remembered for a long time.
Broad retiring… end of an era. He was one of the greats. Go well, Stuart.
dont understand all the fuss about Careys stumping… its not like he broke any rules, right? Anyway, fantastic series. can’t wait for the next one!
Great recap. It brought back all the drama and excitement. But you missed the part where Lyon made that great catch. It was a game-changer!
Wow what a series! Heartbreaking as an England fan to see us come so close, but kudos to the Aussies for hanging on. And Broad, what a legend!