Botham's Ashes, 1981.

                                            My list of greatest test series's of last 40 years-

1) 1981 Ashes- famously called as the 'Botham Ashes'. England captained by a young 24 year old Botham were 1-0 down when the third test at Headingly began. Beefy relinquished his captaincy. His form had dropped and according to David Gower when Beefy was out for naught in the second test at Lord's, almost sealing his fate as captain, even a hair strand dropping would have aroused them from the silence in the dressing room. English cricket had plummeted to a new low. Mike Bearley was appointed as the captain for the third test. England annihilated in the first innings, were asked to follow-on. At 130/7 with still some hundred runs short of making Aussies bat again, in a remarkable turn-around and back to the walls blitzkrieg, Botham and Graham Dilley added 130 odd for the 8th wicket. Bouncers from Lillee and co. were disdainfully smashed by the mercurial Botham to all corners on a cold July english afternoon. But even with such rear-guard action, all Australia required was 130 to win on the final day. By now clouds had given way to bright luminous sunshine. Sun-kissed bodies at Leed's ogled as Australia looked well on course at 56/1, when Mike Brearley in one stroke of brilliant astuteness changed Bob Willis's end and asked him to bowl down the hill. Result- Australia was bowled out for 111 and England had fashioned one of the most remarkable feats in cricketing history. 

With the momentum and impetus well rooted with the English, they went on to win the next test at Edbagston where Australia yet again failed to chase a low target. For now it was Botham's turn to light up the magic with the red cherry. In a hostile spell of fast bowling, Botham returned with figures of 5 for 1 and England went onto winning the test by 29 runs.

In the fifth test at Old Trafford Botham arguably hit the greatest century scored on English soil. Replete with marvelous square drives and swaggered hooks shots, Botham brought the Manchester crowd to its feet with a less than a ball century. England won the test and Ashes was regained with the final test at The Oval being a draw.

Thus 20th century's greatest test series came to an end giving Britain it's first sporting hero since Bobby Charlton, in Ian Terence Botham.

In continuation of the epic '81 Ashes, the moment which had perhaps historic consequences. Mike Brearley tosses the ball up to Bob Willis, on the final day at Headingley. Willis took 8 for 43!