Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.
Venue- Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne [December 26-30, 1982].
It was the Summer of 1982. English Cricket Team toured Down Under to defend their Ashes title. However, after the conclusion of the third test, Hosts were 2-0 up in the series and were on the cusp of regaining the urn. As, a result the Boxing Day Test was a must win game for the visitors to stay alive.
The Australians needed 292 runs to win the 4th Test and at one stage were struggling at 218/9. The English were just a wicket away from securing a win, whereas the Aussies required 74 more runs. However, the game was far from over because the Charismatic Allan Border was still on the crease.
Allan Border and Jeff Thomson knew the value of their wickets and they decided to fight till the final moment. And Boy! The way they batted made everyone glued to the match. The duo shared a fine partnership and the Aussie Scorecard now read 288/9. Allan Border scored a gritty Half-Century, whereas Thomson too passed the 20 runs mark.
The game was on knife-edge and this is when Ian Botham came out to bowl. Aussies were just a boundary away from securing a famous win. However, the English won the game by the barest of margin as Thomson edged it into the slip. Interestingly the second slip failed to catch it, but Miller who was standing in the first slip completed the catch and the match was done. England have won the match by 3 runs.
It was agony for Australia. Ecstasy for England. The Ashes was well and truly alive because of one cricketer- Ian Botham. The legend has it that among the final day Melbourne Crowd was a 13 years old youngster who went on to change the fortunes of Australian Cricket. Yes you got it right. It was none other than the Great Shane Warne.
To watch the finals moments of the 4th Test, Click Here.
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