The England versus Australia Ashes encounters are always top-draw matches. The 2009 Series was famous for being the last time Andrew Flintoff took to the field. Aged just 32, the English all-rounder stunned the world by calling it quits at the peak of his career.
Before he retired, Andrew Flintoff was part of the team and played a huge role in England winning the Lord’s Test in 2009. This was the first time that England had won an Ashes Test at the iconic venue for 75 years.
The match was a high-scoring encounter, with Australia nearly coming close to a huge chase. England won the match by 115 runs, with Andrew Flintoff picking a fifer in his final-ever Test match at the home of cricket.
England end their wait for Ashes Test win at Lord’s
It was England who batted first after Andrew Strauss won the toss. The English skipper Andrew Strauss added 196 runs for the first wicket with Alastair Cook in just under 48 overs. Mitchell Johnson struck first when he had Cook out for 95, and then Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle got the scalps of Bopara and Kevin Pietersen.
The Aussies kept taking wickets at regular intervals, but Andrew Strauss soldiered on to score 161 off 268 balls with 22 fours. In the end, England were bowled out for 425 with Ben Hilfenhaus picking 4/103 from his 31.3 overs.
Australia were bowled out for 215 runs in their 1st innings with Michael Hussey top scoring with 51 while Simon Katich scored 48. James Anderson was the best bowler for the hosts, picking 4/55 as Graham Onions got three scalps. England decided to bat again and scored 311/6, which was declared from 71.2 overs. Matt Prior and Paul Collingwood scored half-centuries as Nathan Hauritz picked 3 wickets.
Needing 522 runs to win the game, the Aussies lost openers Simon Katich for 6 and Phil Hughes for 17. When Marcus North fell for 6, bowled by Graeme Swann, the score was reading 128/5 with the hosts firmly on top.
This is when Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin came together and added 185 runs for the 6th wicket in 49 overs. Brad Haddin was out for 80 off 130 balls with 10 fours. Michael Clarke was the 7th wicket to fall of 136 off 227 balls as Andrew Flintoff then did the demolition job and bowled with good speeds to end the game in England’s favor.