‘We felt like Premier League footballers’ – Jones relives 2005 Ashes

“We had a Premier League vibe,” we said. 10,000 people had been turned away because there was a sizable crowd. The number of people who wanted to watch was incredible.

It was like, “Wow, this is something to behold.” I don’t believe it will ever occur again.

Former England bowler Simon Jones can still recall every moment in his mind despite the fact that it has been 20 years since the most famous Ashes Test series.

Given the larger picture, Jones’ 20-20 vision is not surprising given that it was England’s first Ashes series victory since 1987. The Ashes narrative was flipped after an 18-year, eight-series losing streak was ended thanks to this.

Since that summer, England teams have a memory of that legendary series somewhere. They believe that winning is once more an option.

Jones’ story echoes that expansive narrative.

The 2005 series marked the end of a career that was cruelly shortened by injury, as recounted in a BBC Sport documentary on iPlayer.

Despite only playing three and a half Tests due to an ankle injury, Jones took 18 wickets, including a career-best 6-53 at Trent Bridge.

The former Glamorgan fast bowler recalls the summer as a once-in-a-lifetime blur of front-and-back-page news and Downing Street garden parties despite that setback.

A febrile Lord’s, which was a more stag party than a traditional tea party, was where it all began.

Cricket’s home is renowned for its serenity. Champagne corks should be popping rather than falling off.

Before a ball was bowled, 2005 felt different, Jones recalls.

He says, “When we went through that Long Room, and we went down the stairs and through the pavilion, it erupted.”

What is happening here, Kev [Kevin Pietersen] said to me as he turned around and said, “What’s going on? “

“It almost shocked us, really. The members are typically all together, but they are occasionally quiet. a little sluggish. a little posh

Nobody went to check on him when Steve Harmison hit Ponting, which is never the case, Jones claims.

The Australians claimed that this was a different team, similar to a pack of wolves arriving in a battle.

“And it was,” We desired to destroy them.

The second Test at Edgbaston is considered to be one of the best individual matches of any series, if it was one of the most iconic series of all time in 2005.

Andrew Flintoff won seven wickets, including an iconic second-innings over that saw him dismiss Justin Langer and Ponting, at his absolute best with bat (make 68, 73, and ball).

After Harmison dismissed Michael Kasprowicz, his ashes heroism, which included commiserating with Australia’s Brett Lee when England had won by two runs and when he had already squandered a two-run lead, is etched into Ashes history.

If Jones’ career at its pinnacle was in 2005, then his second-innings dismissal of Michael Clarke was the most notable.

Clarke had a good chance of winning the 39-pound lead before Jones, who had repeatedly outswinged the Australian, delivered the perfect inswinger.

The iconic sound of off stump being upended and Clarke’s painful “oh no” realization that there was no way he could reverse-engineer Jones’ flawless reverse-swing ruse have both been credited in folklore.

A turning point was made by Clarke’s dismissal and Australia’s forced backs-to-the-wall against a draw, which was not the result of England’s defeat in that Old Trafford Test. According to Jones, “It sounds like music” in Clarke’s delivery.

There are many similarities between England and Jones in the 2005 stories.

However, there is a major, painful error where they diverge.

In the 20 years since, Jones has written a number of well-known Ashes victory stories using that series as a springboard.

The fast bowler from Glamorgan never played for his country again after suffering a broken foot in the fourth Test at Trent Bridge.

It’s true that Jones might feel bitter, but it is exactly the opposite.

When asked if he would have abandoned the dreaded 2005 Ashes summer in favor of a more extensive Test career, Jones responded with the phrase “it’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”

Jones, who played 18 Tests for England, said, “I didn’t realize that would be my last Test for England.”

“It felt like I was going from the penthouse to the outhouse.”

I spent the summer wearing an England shirt, but I never played again, despite my best efforts. It would be preferable to have witnessed it. Which would you prefer: playing the 18 Tests you played and having 2005 or playing 100 and not the one you did?

“The 18 Tests, with every day of the week ending in 2005, would be included.”