Fourth Test, Headingley 1948

Don Bradman's 'Invincible' Australian team secured the Ashes by completing a remarkable run chase as time threatened to run out in a match England had held the edge in until the final day.

England posted 496 with Cyril Washbrook (143) and Bill Edrich (111) reaching three figures and Len Hutton (89) and nightwatchman Alec Bedser, with his highest Test score of 79, making significant contributions.

Australia slipped to 68 for three in response but the 19-year-old Neil Harvey (112) and Sam Loxton (93) helped them get within 38.

England appeared to take control as Washbrook (65) and Hutton (57) made their second century opening stand of the game and Denis Compton and Edrich added half-centuries.

They declared early on the final day but the Aussies, led by Arthur Morris (182) and the magnificent Bradman (173no), wanted to win and they successfully reached their 404-run target with seven wickets and 15 minutes to spare.

Fourth Test, Old Trafford 1956

A match forever remembered for the incredible feats of Jim Laker, who took an unparalleled 19 wickets as England routed Australia by an innings and 170 runs.

There was little hint of the sensation to come as Australia's spinners struggled in England's innings.

Peter Richardson (104) and Colin Cowdrey (80) put on 174 for the first wicket in just three hours and the Rev David Sheppard (113) added another century.

Australia's reply began in the afternoon session of the second day but they could not handle the combination of wet wicket and Laker's spin.

By the close they were already following on. Rain affected the next two days but Laker finished them off on the final day.

He recorded figures of 9-37 and 10-53.

Third Test, Headingley 1981

The 500/1 miracle. Only once had a side ever won a Test from following on and such was England's position at one point a number of players checked out of their hotel on the fourth morning.

At that point they were already one wicket down in their second innings and still needed another 221 more to make Australia bat again.

Enter a certain Ian Botham. Botham had endured a miserable first two Tests and resigned as captain prior to Headingley.

He made something of a point with 50 in England's poor response to Australia's 401 for nine and by taking six Wickets, but that was nothing compared to what followed.

He smashed a remarkable 149no and shared in a vital 117-run stand with tail-ender Graham Dilley as England at least posted a target of 130.

The odds were still against them but Bob Willis bowled like a man possessed to take 8-43 and win the match by 18 runs.

Fourth Test, Melbourne 1998

England had seemed down and out after an abject defeat in the third Test and a humbling loss to an Australian second string side. Yet, cheered on by the Barmy Army, they somehow managed to defy the odds and secure an unexpected morale-boosting victory that briefly brought the series back to life.

Skipper Alec Stewart hit a century but Steve Waugh (122no) responded with one of his own to give Australia a first innings lead of 70.

Stewart, Nasser Hussain and Graeme Hick scored fifties as England forged back ahead and Alan Mullally added a few lower-order swishes but a target of 175 was still well within the hosts' capabilities.

At 103 for two Australia were well on the way but Dean Headley then produced the performance of his short career, six for 60 including a spell of four for four in 13 balls, as England won by 13 runs.

Fourth Test, Headingley 2001

This time the series had already gone. Australia were superior in all departments and comfortably won the opening three Tests to retain the Ashes.

They were in control at Headingley too, Ricky Ponting (144) and Damien Martyn (118), and then Glenn McGrath (7- 76) helping them to a first-innings lead of 138.

Ponting again (72) got the second innings off to a good start but with time running out stand-in skipper Adam Gilchrist decided to declare, preferring to push for another win rather than settle for a draw.

England had a final day target of 315 to chase but after losing two early wickets it seemed unlikely.

It was then that Mark Butcher, who came close to being dropped after a late night out during the Nottingham Test, played the innings of his life.

Batting like he never had before, he cracked a remarkable 173 not out to lead England home by six wickets.

Second Test, Edgbaston 2005

England had a new confidence last year that not even defeat in the first Test could quell.

They responded magnificently at Birmingham to win one of the mosT nail-biting Test matches ever.

The drama started before the game as England's nemesis Glenn McGrath trod on a loose ball during the warm-up and ended up on crutches.

Without him to face, England posted 407 and claimed a first-innings lead of 99.

Shane Warne took six second-innings wickets, but Andrew Flintoff's explosive 73 looked to have put the game beyond Australia.

The game looked over as the Aussies resumed on 175 for eight on the fourth morning, still needing 107 to win - but Warne, Brett Lee and Michael Kasprowicz produced an extraordinary display of defiance to take the tourists to within two runs of victory.

Yet it was England who snatched it when Geraint Jones clung on to a gloved chance off Kasprowicz from the bowling of Stephen Harmison - although television replays later showed the batsman's bottom hand was no longer in contact with the handle, and therefore technically he should have been given not out.