Stuart Broad not walking, Steve Harmison wide, Peter Siddle hat-trick and Amazing Adelaide relived, video

The 2025-26 Ashes is almost here — and our countdown of the rivalry’s greatest 25 moments of the 21st century is underway.

The countdown began this week with Australian aggression, acts of bravery and a row over the spirit of cricket.

Now, it continues with first ball shockers, an iconic image and a victory that came from nowhere.

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Our countdown consists of the top 25 moments since 2000.

Crucially, this means performances on this list are not ranked against each other based on their difficulty, but rather for how strongly they burn in the memory.

In fact, many spots on the countdown aren’t actually performances at all, but are moments that are otherwise iconic due to their natures.

Foxsports.com.au unveils its top 15-6 moments in Ashes cricket over the last 25 years.

PART 1: 25-16 — Truth about Poms’ ‘cheat’ tactic; sledge Aussies can’t forget

15. RYAN HARRIS BOWLS ALASTAIR COOK FIRST BALL — Perth 2013/14

In a year already dripping with iconic Ashes moments, few encapsulated Australia’s dominance under Michael Clarke quite like Ryan Harris’ first ball of England’s second innings in the third Test at Perth. With England 2-nil down and set 504 to win, their confidence was already shot. They needed not just a world-record chase, but a genuine miracle on a WACA pitch showing widening cracks and imminent deterioration. Australia’s own second innings had finished with an Ashes moment brutally unlucky not to make this list — George Bailey taking James Anderson for 28 runs in an over, which equalled the world record at the time. With nothing left to lose, England captain Alastair Cook and opener Michael Carberry walked to the crease, as Harris stood tall at the top of his mark. His opening delivery was perfection: a perfect seam position, angling in at middle and leg stump before nipping away just enough to beat Cook’s bat and clip the top of the left-hander’s off stump. “OHHHHHH, STRAIGHT AWAY!” cried commentator James Brayshaw — a line that still rings in the ears of anyone who watches the replay a dozen years on. The Australians converged from all corners of the ground to mob an ecstatic Harris. In a summer remembered for Mitchell Johnson’s carnage, Harris’ first-ball strike remains one of the purest exclamation points of Australia’s eventual 5-nil clean sweep.

THE FOLLOW-ON: Michael Vaughan runs over some of the great Ashes moments and touches on the key themes of the summer to come.

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14. STEVE HARMISON WIDE FIRST BALL OF THE ASHES — Brisbane 2006/07

If ever a ball summed up an entire Ashes campaign, this was it. Few, if any openings to a Test series have carried the same level of disbelief as Steve Harmison’s first ball of the 2006/07 Ashes in Brisbane. Fresh off his country’s epic Ashes victory only 14 months prior, morale in the England camp was as high as it had been for a long, long time coming to Australia. The home side won the toss and elected to bat on a flat Gabba wicket, with Justin Langer standing at the striker’s end as the Gabba crowd buzzed at the prospect of a series even half as exhilarating as last winter. What followed though, immediately became the stuff of legend — for all the wrong reasons. His first delivery of the series was a ball so far off target, that it found itself to Freddie Flintoff at second (!) slip. The mind-blowing error set the tone for what would be a brutal start for England, with Australia asserting dominance in all departments that innings to pile of 9/602 declared — going on to win the test by 277 runs, and the series 5-nil.

13. STUART BROAD’S 8/15 THAT LEFT AUSTRALIA ALL OUT FOR JUST 60 — Trent Bridge 2015

Far from the proudest Australian moment on this list, but credit has to be paid where due. This particular spell of bowling from Stuart Broad was up there with not only the best that Ashes cricket has ever seen, but the Test format as a whole. With Australia down 2-1 heading into the all-important fourth Test in Nottingham, the visitors were sent in on a ‘green monster’ by captain England captain Alastair Cook. The formidable duo of Chris Rogers and David Warner strode to the crease, with the former having never registered a duck in his first 23 Tests but that record evaporated quickly. Just as soon as the Australian batters arrived at the crease, they were trudging off. Mitchell Johnson (13) and captain Michael Clarke (10) were the only Australian batters to reach double figures. Extras top scored with 14 in an embarrassing display that somehow could have been worse at 7/33. Broad took five of the first six wickets, needing only 19 balls, an equal Test record at the time to register a five-wicket haul. He then took the last three wickets to finish the job. Australia were bowled out before lunch on day one in just 18.3 overs. “They’ve (Australia) been pathetic,” former England captain Michael Vaughan said on commentary after Broad’s fifth wicket, when Clarke was caught at first slip, edging a rash cover drive. The visitors lost the Test by an innings and 78 runs, and surrendered the Ashes in a series that finished 3-2.

12. ADAM GILCHRIST 57-BALL HUNDRED — Perth 2006/07

No one has come close to scoring an Ashes century as quickly as Adam Gilchrist did in the third Test in Perth. Walking to the crease on a scorching 38 degree afternoon at the WACA, the legendary wicketkeeper batter put England to the sword with a blistering knock that almost matched the then world record for the fastest ever Test hundred. Coming off a lean patch with the bat, which included a duck in Brisbane and another in the first innings in Perth, Gilchrist turned his form around by smashing 12 fours and four sixes in an unforgettable knock. The dashing left-hander launched three of those sixes over the long on fence from the bowling of left arm spinner Monty Panesar. The English were left with sore necks from watching the fireworks show as Gilchrist plundered 24 runs from one Panesar over. As the crowd ducked for cover, word quickly spread around the WACA that Gilchrist was a chance to break Viv Richards’ then record of 56 balls for the fastest Test century – Brendon McCullum holds the current record of 54 balls. Matthew Hoggard played the role of party pooper in the end, bowling a delivery wide of off stump that would have been a called a wide in white-ball cricket, but was marked down as a dot ball when Gilchrist had a chance to go for the West Indian master blaster’s record. He got to his century in the end with a two down the ground off Steve Harmison bringing up the milestone. It would prove to be his last century in Test cricket, but arguably his most memorable. Gilchrist later revealed he had been contemplating retirement before that innings, and that decision was shelved for a little more than a year. Skipper Ricky Ponting declared with Gilchrist 102 not out, Michael Clarke unbeaten on 135 at the other end and Australia boasting a 556-run lead. Victory was sealed by 206 runs, and the Ashes regained after the disappointment of 2005.

11. STUART BROAD DOESN’T WALK AFTER EDGING TO FIRST SLIP — Trent Bridge 2013

It was the outside edge that cemented a nation’s distaste for one of the Ashes greatest villains. Stuart Broad edged an attempted cut off an Ashton Agar delivery to Australian captain Michael Clarke at first slip, and after initially celebrating, horror came across the Australians faces. Broad refused to go anywhere, and umpire Aleem Dar stood still, not putting his finger up. It was a head-scratching decision that would rarely be seen at club level, even if the doubt may have been created by the ball flicking Brad Haddin’s gloves on the way though, but with Australia’s two reviews burned, they had to cop it.

“Who was the umpire?” Travis Head, who was playing club cricket in England at the time, asked when watching the footage in Brisbane in September. “What a moment. It is still talked about isn’t it? It is a crazy moment. It is crazy to think that he got given not out but it makes for a good story. It makes for a good headline and we are still talking about it. It is a pretty iconic moment.”

It was a very costly decision too. Broad was on 37 at the time. He went on to score 65 in a 138-run partnership with centurion Ian Bell that helped England set a tricky fourth innings target of 311. Australia lost by 14 runs in the end, with the 28 extra runs Broad added after his reprieve proving pivotal in the outcome of the game. As a result, there was no forgiving and forgetting from the Australian public. Most Australians will remember the first Test in Nottingham 12 years ago for Broad’s refusal to walk more than Agar’s 98 on debut, the highest ever score by a No.11 in Test cricket. Broad was then tormented as the English came to Australia later that year for the second leg of back-to-back Ashes series, relentlessly booed and heckled with chants of ‘Broad is a w*****’ ringing around stadiums across the country’ whenever he came onto bowl. Australian fans also took great pleasure in Mitchell Johnson troubling him with his thunderbolts as the hosts regained the urn in a whitewash. Twelve years on, many Australians are more accepting of Broad’s decision.

Asked whether Broad did the right thing by not walking, Mitchell Marsh said; “Yeah. He did.”

“Some people walk, some people don’t, but at that stage, the umpire is there to make a decision and whilst it was the wrong one, I don’t think many people are walking unless you are Gilly,” Marsh added.

“But that was incredible. It is the most blatant edge … that went to ‘Pup’ at slip and I remember just watching and thinking it was unbelievable.

“It is one of those things that happens in Ashes cricket. There are so many twists and turns throughout a five Test match series and that was a big one.”

Marnus Labuschagne, meanwhile, could see the irony in Broad’s behaviour.

“You know what makes me laugh about this is that, after we ran Jonny out at Lord’s, and I knew Broady – I did an appearance at Lord’s earlier, me, Jimmy and Broady, so I know Broady really well – and we had a lot of banter and it was very funny. But he was so angry (at Lord’s). So much red mist,” Labuschagne said.

“But that is good acting. I am happy with that. It is not his job to decide if he is out or not. I mean, he has obviously nicked it and slow mo footage shows that it is clearly out, but fair play to him. He kept a straight face and acted like it was not out, so fair play Stu.”

“I was not a fan of the result there (with England winning by 14 runs) but it is not his decision to make,” he added.

“Unfortunately, that is the way the cookie crumbled that day.”

10. MITCHELL STARC BOWLS RORY BURNS FIRST BALL OF THE ASHES — Brisbane 2021/22

Like Harmison’s shocker, the first ball of a series at the Gabba was indicative of what was to come for England. If a wicket is to fall first ball of a Test match, most would expect a regulation outside edge or perhaps the opening batter to be trapped on the pads. The fact Mitchell Starc’s first delivery to Rory Burns crashed into the base of leg stump was a major contributor to the massive celebrations by the Australians, and the shock felt by millions on their couches on either side of the globe.

“Oh bowled him first ball,” Adam Gilchrist roared on commentary for Fox Cricket. “The inswinger from Starc and the immediate breakthrough. Australia can’t believe the start they have got away to. And it is all happening at The Gabba.”

English and Australian fans alike were wondering how Burns could have possibly shuffled so far across to leave his leg stump exposed, while also being mesmerised by the late swing Starc was able to generate. It was the sort of crushing yorker he normally knocks a right-hander over with.

“Can you believe it?” the late Shane Warne said on Fox Cricket’s commentary. “All the predictions and everything going on. First rock. Starc comes in and bowls a thunderbolt. And Rory Burns too far across gets bowled leg peg.”

It was a nightmare start for the tourists as they were eventually skittled for just 147 after Joe Root won the toss and elected to bat. They were never able to create any momentum for the remainder series, going down 4-0 for a second straight trip down under.

9. ANDREW FLINTOFF AND BRETT LEE EMBRACE — Edgbaston 2005

One of the most iconic Ashes photos of all-time was born immediately following the closest Test match in Ashes history. England triumphed by two runs in an agonising finish at Edgbaston to square the 2005 Ashes at one-all. Australia’s last wicket pair of Brett Lee and Michael Kasprowicz combined for a 59-run stand in only an hour to almost pull off the unthinkable. England were nervous, and worried that they may blown their chance when Kasprowicz was dropped at third man by Simon Jones with 15 runs to win, but they received a stroke of good fortune with the game on the brink. Kasprowicz gloved a Steve Harmison short ball through to wicketkeeper Geraint Jones, and umpire Billy Bowden raised his famous crooked finger. The Australians were hard done by, in the modern era of DRS, Kasprowicz would have survived with replays showing his hand was off his bat when it made contact with the ball.

“Wouldn’t that have been electric if they had DRS there and he sent that up?” Marnus Labuschagne said when shown the footage in Brisbane in September. “I have watched that a lot in my time. It was an amazing innings by Lee. To be so close, it always hurts. It sucks you in.

“We were on the other end of a result like that at Edgbaston when ‘Cummo’ and Nathan got us over the line and it is obviously an amazing feeling when you are on the right end of it. “But the crowds in England are just electric. You watch the crowd there and the excitement, the energy, is just amazing.”

A distraught Lee, who finished unbeaten on 43 after surviving 99 minutes at the crease, slumped to the ground and England superstar Andrew Flintoff veered away from his side’s celebrations to shake hands and console the Australian No.10. The image captured of the pair became an instant classic, and is still used by the International Cricket Council to promote the spirit of cricket. Although, Flintoff has joked in the years since that his words were not so sincere, saying in multiple interviews he told Lee: “That’s one-all, you Aussie b*stard.” Lee, meanwhile, told Fox Cricket that his recollections were a little hazy.

“I’ve been asked so many times and I have tried to recall what was said, but it’s something on the lines of, you know, ‘Your little bugger. You almost got us. Well played. Bad luck. I’ll see you inside for cold beer.’ There were probably a couple of choice words in there as well,” Lee said.

“But it was along that style of dialogue and that just goes to show what a competitor, firstly, Andrew Flintoff was, and then there is the respect for the game that he has. “That was a moment where he could have been off celebrating, because that was a great win by them, and that changed, that won the series for them. “We had won at Lord’s and if we had won back-to-back, we would have won the series.”

8. STEVE SMITH’S BACK-TO-BACK TONS IN RETURN FROM BALL-TAMPERING — Edgbaston 2019

The ultimate act of redemption was delivered by Steve Smith in the 2019 series opener in Birmingham. In his first Test back after being stripped of the Australian captaincy and serving a 12-month suspension for ‘Sandpapergate’ in South Africa, Smith sent a reminder of his class with not one, but two backs against the wall tons. Smith walked to the crease at 2/17 with the notoriously rowdy Edgbaston crowd baying for blood. The locals were giddy after being able to sink the boot into openers David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, who had both already been and gone. Smith was the one they were really waiting for. Boos rung out around the ground as well as chants of ‘we saw you cry on the telly’. It was a hostile cauldron that would have rattled many a player, but not Smith. As his teammates tumbled around him on day one, the prolific right-hander went about his business. Australia fell to 8/122 before Smith found valuable allies in Peter Siddle (44) and Nathan Lyon (12*) to lift the team to 284 all out with his 144 contributing more than half of the total. Smith smacked 16 fours and two sixes in a breathtaking display, and he did it all over again across days three and four. Walking to the crease again with Warner and Bancroft dismissed cheaply and Australia still trailing by 63 runs, Smith picked up where he left off and although he never completely silenced the vocal crowd, he did at least quieten them. Smith carved 14 fours in his knock of 142, that along with a century from Matthew Wade helped Australia set England 398 to win. The visitors then went on to claim victory by a whopping 251 runs with Smith’s heroics going down in Ashes folklore – he went on to score a Bradman-like 774 runs at 110.57 in seven innings across the series.

7. PETER SIDDLE’S BIRTHDAY HAT-TRICK ON FIRST DAY OF THE SERIES — Brisbane 2010/11

Just about every cricket fan in Australia can recite Mark Taylor’s iconic commentary after Peter Siddle nailed Stuart Broad on the toe with a yorker at the Gabba on day one of the first Test of the 2010/11 series. “Oh, that’s close. He’s given him! He’s given him! Peter Siddle’s got a hat-trick on his birthday,” the former Australian captain yelled as the Gabba erupted for the ninth Ashes hat-trick ever taken. Unfortunately for Australia, there was very little joy to come from the remainder of that series as England romped to a 3-1 victory, but on November 25, 2010, Siddle created an unforgettable moment from a summer the nation wanted to remove from its memory. The 67-Test fast bowler was a fiery quick in his early years in the baggy green, and that was on show in Brisbane as he first found Alistair Cook’s outside edge and Shane Watson snaffled the chance at first slip. With the adrenaline pumping, Siddle then knocked over Matt Prior for a golden duck with a fast yorker before the big moment arrived. Broad seemingly took forever to emerge from the dressing rooms, presumably he did not even have his whites on minutes earlier. It was the worth wait however as Siddle went full and fast again to the seal hat-trick. He was only the ninth Australian to take a Test hat-trick with Scott Boland becoming the tenth in the West Indies earlier this year. There is just something about Victorians as hat-tricks as eighth of the ten Australians to achieve the feat have called the MCG home.

6. MICHAEL HUSSEY HITS THE WINNING RUNS — Adelaide 2006/07

One of the most unlikely victories in Ashes history was sealed by Michael Hussey’s glorious cover drive. Australia had no right win ‘Amazing Adelaide’ but such was the brilliance of the 2006/07 whitewash team that they somehow willed themselves to victory in a game that should have petered out to a draw. After England piled on 6/551 declared and the Australians responded with 513, the second Test seemed to be going nowhere fast. The visitors started the final have lost just one wicket in their second innings and boasting a 97-run lead, and many expected a few more sessions of run-making before skippers Ricky Ponting and Andrew Flintoff would shake hands. The Australians had other ideas however, with a four-wicket haul to Shane Warne triggering a collapse of 9/60. The spin king had implored his teammates in the dressing room the night before that hope was not lost, and then backed up his words with a superb spell, highlighted by bowling Kevin Pietersen around his legs. The Australians then needed 168 to win, a target they ran down in 32.5 overs with six wickets to spare after they switched to one-day mode. Hussey finished unbeaten on 61 and got the satisfaction of striking James Anderson through cover to bring up the winning moment. “In 140 Tests this was the greatest I have played in,” Warne remarked after the match.

ASHES GREATEST 25 — COUNTDOWN SO FAR

6. Michael Hussey winning runs, Amazing Adelaide 2006/07

7. Mitchell Starc bowls Rory Burns first ball of the Ashes, Brisbane 2021/22

8. Peter Siddle hat-trick on his birthday, Brisbane 2010/11

9. Steve Smith’s back-to-back tons after ball-tampering, Edgbaston 2019

10. Stuart Broad not walking, Trent Bridge 2013

11. Steve Harmison wide first ball of the Ashes, Brisbane 2006/07

12. Adam Gilchrist 48-ball hundred, Perth 2006/07

13. Stuart Broad’s 8/15, Trent Bridge 2015

14. Flintoff/Lee embrace, Edgbaston 2005

15. Ryan Harris gets Alastair Cook first ball, Perth 2013/14

16. Gary Pratt running out Ricky Ponting, Trent Bridge 2005

17. Steve Smith hit by Jofra Archer, Lord’s 2019

18. Ashton Agar 98 batting at 11 on debut, Trent Bridge 2013

20. Warne/McGrath/Langer retire, Sydney 2006/07

21. Monty Panesar/James Anderson 10th wicket partnership, Cardiff 2009

22. Mitchell Johnson bowls Stuart Broad, glares at Jimmy Anderson in 7-fa, 2013/14

23. Mitchell Starc’s unplayable ball to James Vince, Perth 2017/18

24. Steve Waugh century on the ground at The Oval, 2001

25. Nasser Hussain wins toss and bowls, Brisbane 2002/03

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