1989: The winds of change sweep through cricket - by Ralph Grayden Australia started as major underdogs for the return series in 1989. However things didn't go quite to plan for the home side, batting on a good batting pitch and playing against some poor English bowling, the Australian's took their first innings score past 600 before declaring. Mark Taylor made his debut against England in the match, and became the 16th Australian to score a century on debut with his knock of 136. Steve Waugh top scored with 177 not out, and with even Merv Hughes scoring his highest Test score of 71, it showed how easy the pitch was. During Merv Hughes's innings [in picture], he and Steve Waugh put on 147 for the 7th wicket, a record for Australia playing in England.

In reply, England avoided the follow-on scoring 430, Lamb played superbly for the only century in the England innings with 125. Terry Alderman took 5 wickets for 107, setting the standard for the rest of the match and series. Both Mark Taylor and Allan Border scored 60's in the second innings and Australia declared for the second time in the match on 3 for 230, leaving England an outside chance of saving the match. Alderman continued his first innings form and the English batsmen had no answer to his accuracy. Only Graham Gooch with 68 showed any signs of fighting spirit, the rest of the team falling for 191 and a 210 run defeat. Terry Alderman captured his 5th wicket of the innings and in so doing took 10 wickets in the match for 151 runs.

Australia continued their dominance in the second Test match held at Lord's with a comfortable 6-wicket win. Australia showing their stability only made one change, Trevor Hohns coming in for Campbell. England however made 4 changes including the return of Mike Gatting (previously injured) but still without the much needed services of Ian Botham. Gower won the toss and decided to bat, 4 players scored 50's including Jack Russell top scoring with 64 not out as England were bowled out on the first day scoring 286 runs. Merv Hughes was the best bowler taking 4 wickets for 71. Steve Waugh batted for 5 hours for his second successive big hundred (152 not out), David Boon scored 94 and with Geoff Lawson scoring 74, sealed a big first innings lead over England. At the end of the 3rd day's play, England found themselves starring defeat in the face on 3 for 58 and with two full days left to play, signs were not encouraging!

Gower came out a new man on the 4th morning and scored 106, along with Robin Smith who scored a majestic 96, falling 4 runs short of what would have been his maiden Test century. The home side was finally bowled out for 359, Terry Alderman taking 6 wickets for 128, leaving the Australian's to score 118 to win. Waugh again steered Australia to victory and his aggregate of 350 without loosing his wicket was another Australian record.

Rain and bad light were the only winners at Edgbaston, taking 10 hours of play away from the paying spectators during the match. Botham returned following his spinal surgery the previous year but unfortunately for the home side did little to help England's cause. Perhaps the surprise inclusion in the match was Chris Tavare who had not played for England in 5 years. Dean Jones scored a great 157 and Australia took control yet again with 424. In reply England scored 242, Ian Botham top scoring with only 46 and narrowly avoided the follow-on. Angus Fraser took his first Test wicket (Steve Waugh, finally out taking his aggregate to 393) during Australia's first innings. There was little time for the visitors to try and manufacture a result due to the time lost and ended the rubber on 2 for 158.

Australia regained the Ashes in England for the first time since 1934, after winning the 4th Test at Old Trafford with a comprehensive 9 wicket win. England were bowled out for only 260 runs in their first innings, with only Robin Smith saving them from a disaster with a maiden century knock of 143. Geoff Lawson was on target taking 6 wickets for 72 runs. Steve Waugh narrowly missed out on another century and with Taylor and Border scoring in the eighties, Australia ended their innings for 447. Jack Russell delayed the inevitable during his second innings with his maiden Test century, scoring 128 not out in 6 hours of determined batting. Terry Alderman took 5 second inning wickets including the break through wicket of Emburey, who together with Russell had put on a record 7th Ashes wicket partnership of 142 at Old Trafford. Australia only needed 78 runs to win when their time came and it was left to David Boon to hit the winning runs.

With the series won, Australia and England moved on to Trent Bridge for the 5th Test in the series. Australia batted first and the Nottingham crowd were treated to a display of superior batting from Marsh and Taylor. The pair put on 329 runs for the first wicket, the highest in any Test in England and 5th overall in all Tests anywhere. Both Marsh and Taylor [pictured here taking a well earned break during their mamoth innings] scored their then highest Test scores (Taylor scored 334 to equal Sir Donald Bradman when he played against Pakistan in 1998). Australia scored 301 on the first day (first time no wicket had fallen on the first day of a Test in England). Marsh was the first wicket to fall, and when he did he had batted for 7 hours for his 138. Mark Taylor was stumped for the third time in the series after being at the crease for just over 9 hours. His 219 was the first double century scored against England since 1970, and his aggregate for the series was now 720! Australia declared at 6 for 602, the second time that they had scored over 600 runs in an innings in the series.

Robin Smith scored a century but it wasn't enough, Terry Alderman took 5 wickets for 69 and England were forced to follow-on 347 runs behind. England were bowled out in their second innings for 167, Atherton top scored with 47. Australia won the test by an innings and 180 runs, it was the biggest margin of victory ever inflicted by Australia in England. The match ended on the 4th day and in so doing, Border's team became only the second Australian team to win 4 Tests in a series since Bradman's 1948 squad.

The final Test of the series played at The Oval ended in a draw. Dean Jones scored another century in Australia's first innings total of 468, and once again Australia held a first innings lead after England had failed again. Scoring only 285 runs, Gower top scored with 79 and the bowler Gladstone Small scored a priceless 39 to make sure England avoided the follow on. Australia's second innings was a mirror image of the previous 5 Tests, England failed to contain the batsmen and never looked like threatening their dominance. In what was possibly Border's only mistake as captain in the whole series, he decided to bat until Lunch on the final day, asking England to score 400 to win. The visitors never had enough time to complete the massacre, England finishing the day on 5 for 143.

Terry Alderman set a new Ashes record with his bowling, he was the first Australian bowler to take 40 or more wickets in a Test series on more than one occasion and his 6 5 wicket hauls in an Ashes series was also a record.