'This 2023 series has been equivalent in intensity to 2005 and 2019' - Justin Langer analyses intensity of ongoing Ashes series

Former Australian player and coach Justin Langer believes that England's Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Strauss played their own version of Bazball in the 2005 Ashes. Langer has stated that the intensity of the 2023 and 2019 series was the same as the 2005 Ashes. 

In the 2005 England vs Australia battle, the English side clinched the series by a scoreline of 2-1. Now in Ashes 2023, the Ben Stokes-led England is trailing in the five-Test series by 1-2 after winning the third game by three wickets. 

Riding on Mark Wood's phenomenal spell in the 3rd Ashes Test, the hosts made a much-anticipated comeback in the ongoing series and it now hangs in fine balance with the scoreline reading 2-1 and two Tests to follow.

Justin Langer recalls his 2005 Ashes memories

"This 2023 series has been equivalent in intensity to 2005 and 2019. As a player, and coach in the latter, the pressure is enormous. In 2005, after winning the first Test at Lord’s, momentum shifted, and was hard to claw back," wrote Langer in a column for The Telegraph. 

"We tried, but England triumphed. Glenn McGrath standing on the ball in the warm-up before the second Test at Edgbaston was the starting point in the swing. England seized the opportunity after Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Strauss played their own version of Bazball," his column further read.

However, the Michael Vaughan-led side broke Australia's 18-year-long winning streak by claiming the Ashes in 2005, having last won in 1986-87. In the context of the current Ashes, the home side last won the Ashes in 2015, and since then, Australia have kept the prestigious urn.

The 2005 series was so memorable because Australia had the best opening pair with Matthew Hayden and Langer. Ricky Ponting at that time was the best number three and was leading the side, their bowling attack consisted of Brett Lee, Shane Warne, and Glenn McGrath, but the England side clinched victory with the help of a brilliant all-round performance by Andrew Flintoff, including Kevin Pietersen and Marcus Trescothick's attacking batting. 

“Who could ever forget the result of that Test match? Michael Kasprowicz caught down the legside by Geraint Jones. A thriller. The series was alive. We knew we were in for a fight,” read the column.