The Ashes is the most legendary of all cricket competitions- it is not just sport, but a war in culture between Australia and England. This brutal rivalry has been going on since 1882 and in the process, there have been moments of electric brilliance, disappointment and heroic moments that have not been forgotten. These are no simple innings, but legacies of the sixteenth century stamped on the folklore of cricket. Since dominance of Bradman to the miraculous rescue of Stokes, both the performances are narratives of heroism when faced with pressure. The most significant Ashes performances are those in which ability and chance come together to suit the occasion-when players come up when their countries require them most. Headingley has been a witness to miracles. Redemption has taken place in the Oval. These epic knocks have characterized what constitutes the final proving ground of Ashes in the history of cricket; a history spanning 140+ years. Top 10 Greatest Ashes Innings That Defined the Rivalry Rank Player Name Country Runs Year Venue 1 Sir Donald Bradman Australia 334 1930 Headingley, Leeds 2 Ian Botham England 149* 1981 Headingley, Leeds 3 Ben Stokes England 135* 2019 Headingley, Leeds 4 Kevin Pietersen England 158 2005 The Oval, London 5 Mark Butcher England 173* 2001 Headingley, Leeds 6 Steve Waugh Australia 157* 1997 The Oval, London 7 Ricky Ponting Australia 156 2005 Old Trafford, Manchester 8 Alastair Cook England 235* 2010 Gabba, Brisbane 9 Stan McCabe Australia 232 1938 Trent Bridge, Nottingham 10 Steve Smith Australia 144 2019 Edgbaston, Birmingham Top 10 Greatest Ashes Innings That Defined the Rivalry Detailed Analysis 1. Sir Donald Bradman -334 Runs (Headingley,1930) Image Source : ESPN The highest ever Ashes score was contributed by the supreme genius of cricketing Sir Donald Bradman at Headingley in 1930- 334. This was not mere batting, but systematic murrah. The Don ruined the bowling of the English as he pleased, and in one day he had made 309 runs-a record which continues gloriously in the books. His masterpiece of 448 balls amazed a technical perfection and never stopped scoring, bringing Australia to 566 and destroying the hopes of English people to the end. The impact of this innings was psychological this made it a transcendent one because Bradman was coming out in a statement that he was the best in cricket. England made all attempts; all to no avail. This knock made The Don legendary Ashes average of 89.78 and set the standard by which all future Ashes performances would be measured eternally. Also Read | Fastest Centuries in Ashes History: Updated List 2. Ian Botham – 149* Runs (Headingley, 1981) Image Source : Getty Images The most unlikely resurrection of cricketing occurred when Ian Botham exploded in 1981 with a 149 with the Headingley 1981. England humiliatingly was led-doomed to go behind, apparently to lose. Then Botham changed the despair to glory using 148 balls of pure aggression and defiance. His undefeated stroke did not only save England, it changed a certain inevitable defeat into a miracle victory. The Australian bowlers, previously dominant, suddenly looked helpless against Botham's fearless assault. Boundaries flew everywhere as England reached 356, setting Australia just 130. They fell in 111 - Botham making the miracle with the ball as well. It was a dead ball superseding cricket as a folklore. The Ashes of Botham became the adage of never giving up and it was the individual genius that can turn the narrative that appears to happen to people totally upside down. 3. Ben Stokes – 135* Runs (Headingley, 2019) Image Source : Getty Images Magical tradition In 2019, the tradition of Headingley was carried on by Ben Stokes who gave a performance that is arguably the greatest pursuit in Test history. At 359, England was at 286/9-defeat certain. Then Stokes poured 135* of sheer manliness, simultaneously going against both logic and odds. His masterpiece of a 219 ball ball did not only possess cruel strength but also a smart positioning that ensured the bowlers and fielders of Australia were always frustrated. The assist of Jack Leach became a legend also-1* with 17 balls saving the other end heroically. Stokes played the strike like a genius and calculated all the risks. The winning line caused riots-Stokes had given the impossible. This knock made his name known as the ultimate clutch performer in the game of cricket, one who feels comfortable in the presence of pressure which could destroy others. Headingley had witnessed one more miracle. 4. Kevin Pietersen -158 Runs (The Oval, 2005) Image Source : Getty Images In the Oval 2005, Kevin Pietersen made his maiden Test century, an uninhibited 158 that saw England win the Ashes in 18 years. Against the mythical three of Warne, McGrath, and Lee, Pietersen attacked with the audacious stroke play which reshaped the modern batting. His 187-ball innings were rich in reverse-sweeps on Warne, which were viewed as lunacy and yet were played brilliantly. Accustomed to intimidation of their opponents, bowlers in Australia turned out to be the dominated ones. It was not careless aggression on the part of Pietersen, but calculated courage. The boundaries brought England nearer to achieving the draw and winning the Ashes urn. It was the sound of a knock that was announcing Pietersen as one of the most dangerous match-winners in the history of cricket, a person who loved to be under pressure and did not crumble under it. The Oval erupted—England's Ashes drought finally ended. 5. Mark Butcher -173 Runs (Headingley, 2001) Image Source : ESPN Mark Butcher made the best fourth-innings pursuit in England over Australia, who had a strong attack in Headingley 2001. It did not appear possible to chase 315 against Warne, McGrath and Gillespie- bowlers who had caused havoc to batsmen all over the world. Butcher took control of the situation grandly after losing opener at a cheap rate and posted a remarkable mark of 173 out of 227 balls of determined aggression and hardship. His innings involved fine timing and not heavy hitting and he would always find an opening and credit quality hits. They were all variants, and not an experiment had the Australian bowlers not tried them—nothing disturbed the sublime touch of Butcher. Tension was building up as England neared the target. Butcher was as cold as ice and he led England home with borders that ignited boundless tranquility. This knock was the testament that even the finest bowling charges of Australia could be overcome by use of skill, patience and self-belief when under pressure. 6. Steve Waugh – 157* Runs (The Oval, 1997) Image Source : ESPN The Oval 1997 saw the ultimate display of grit when Steve Waugh tried to play a match with a calf injury which had crippled his movements. The captain of Australia was not giving up and continued battling in pain with typical determination and mental strength. His 256 ball innings had the defensive sturdiness with an attacking intent on any chance that presented itself. The injury affected Waugh, as it made running hard; he made up for this by being more precise in boundary hitting. The other members united around their stricken chief, but Waugh shouldered the innings splendidly. Australia scored 641-a figure which England could not possibly equal in two innings. This knock represented the leadership philosophy of Waugh that was to lead in front in spite of personal discomfort. His unbeaten century secured Australia's 3-2 series victory and demonstrated why he's revered as one of cricket's toughest, most resilient competitors ever. 7. Ricky Ponting -156 Runs (Old Trafford, 2005) Image Source : Getty Images The masterpiece of rearguard defense by Ricky Ponting was witnessed at Old Trafford 2005. Australia had 423 runs to do on the last day- an impossible task. The crickets were falling like flies in England as they felt like winning. Ponting then batted 275 balls of pure concentration and made 156 runs that became the savior of Australia. His innings showcased technical perfection against England's varied attack—Flintoff's pace, Harmison's bounce, and Giles' spin. Defense by Ponting was perfect; his attacks were only made at the right moment. The tension was too strong as the last session went on. It was one wicket Australia had survived with- Ponting keeping the series against the two remaining matches as a draw. This innings showed the strength of Ponting when he is under tremendous pressure and that nowadays, great players suit their game to match conditions perfectly. 8. Alastair Cook – 235* Runs (Gabba, 2010) Image Source : Getty Images In the Gabba 2010, Alastair Cook recorded a 235* - a 10 hour, 43-minute long innings of unbelievable concentration. England was 221 behind; defeat was busy staring down upon it. Cook made a masterpiece, which was not beaten, of 428 balls, and defensive discipline and boundaries here and there. His innings wasn't spectacular—it was effective. Bowlers of Australia did everything; Cook was not moved. It was an ordeal to the mind, rather than to skill--hour after hour of undivided concentration. The match was made due to the patience of Cook who saw England finally prevail in the series by 3-1, the first time in 24 years since England won the Ashes in Australia. This knock was typical of the philosophy of batting that was practiced by Cook; his ability to be at the crease all the time, and to frustrate the opposition with pure stubbornness. The best art of batting is survival and not domination at times. 9. Stan McCabe -232 Runs (Trent Bridge, 1938) Trent Bridge 1938 saw one of the greatest exhibits ever by a cricketer: the 232 of Stan McCabe - an innings which was reckoned by Don Bradman as one of the greatest ever seen in the history of cricket. It was a 277 ball masterpiece by McCabe where he played aggressively leaving the audience stunned and his opponents helpless. His attacks were tireless, having hit a record 127 runs in a single session, which is an Ashes record that shows how brilliant he was. McCabe didn't just accumulate runs; he dominated completely, treating quality bowlers with disdain through exquisite timing and placement. Bradman had made the now-famous comment to the teammates about watching it, as he would never see it again. It was grace and violence, an old-fashioned art with new aggressiveness, which was the result of McCabe's innings. This knock came to the folklore of the Australian crickets, as the symbol of the aggressiveness that is the hallmark of the Australian batting through the generations. McCabe demonstrated that it is domination, not survival, which wins Test matches and leaves a long-lasting legacy of Test matches. 10. Steve Smith – 144 Runs (Edgbaston, 2019) Image Source : Getty Images The redemption of Steve Smith came at Edgbaston 2019, when he came back after being banned last year with 144 runs which glorified the critics. This was his starting point of rehabilitation; his reputation had been tainted by the sandpaper scandals. Bowlers of England tore apart the Australian line-up on a regular basis; Smith remained, batted 122/8 to 284 on his personal strength and technical genius. His masterpiece, which consisted of 219 balls, demonstrated the reason why he is regarded as the best Test batsman of this generation. Smith contributed 142 in the second innings as well, and it took him single-handedly to victory in Australia. This show was not about the runs but about character, strength, and demonstrating that class is here to stay. The news that Smith was going back to Edgbaston was trumpet-tongued by Smith himself, and told everyone that great players rise to the occasion, rather than talking about it. Also Read | Top 10 Best Bowling Figures in an Innings in Ashes History Conclusion The best performance of the Ashes, however, is above statistics, it is the time when a personal genius changed the course of the history entirely. Since the rule of Bradman has made its mark in creating timeless dominance until the miracle of Stokes that could not have happened under any other circumstances, these are the performances that characterize the supreme rivalry in cricket. What stands out distinctly is the diversity patient buildup as Cook in the marathon, explosive violence as Botham in the rampage, wounded discretion as Waugh in the defiance. Nowadays heroes are made by each era, and they know what the Ashes requires--it needs not talent, but character. Such performances show that the biggest scene in cricket is either a great stage or a failure; there is no in between. This is one of the legacies that will be pursued by the players as future Ashes matches occur, as they would be aware that their performances will be evaluated against the most challenging of rivalries in the game of cricket.