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cricinfoThe match in which an Australian side overthrew the full might of England for the first time. In a pulsating game, England needed only 85 to win - but the "Demon" Spofforth shook the home batsmen with 7 for 44, and they were all out for 77. Such was the tension that one spectator died of a heart attack, while another apparently chewed through the handle of his umbrella. Shortly afterwards a newspaper published a mock obituary lamenting the death of English cricket, and joked that the body would be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia... and the greatest of all sporting contests was born. v England, Old Trafford,
1902
An otherwise wet summer was enlivened by two thrilling Tests. In this one, the fourth of the series, England needed only 124 to square the rubber at 1-1 after bowling the Aussies out for 86. But from 68 for 1 - and later 107 for 5 - wickets tumbled regularly, and it was eventually left to the last pair. But it was all too much for Sussex's Fred "Chubby" Tate, playing his only Test: with just four runs needed the No. 11 swished at left-armer Jack Saunders, was bowled, and departed in tears. England hit back with an equally exciting one-wicket victory at The Oval - the last pair George Hirst and Wilfred Rhodes, two canny Yorkshiremen, supposedly said they'd get the winning runs in singles - but it was too late to salvage the Ashes.

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