LONDON, England, July 2, 2005: England needed three runs from Glenn McGrath’s final delivery to defeat Australia in the NatWest Series final at Lord’s. Ashley Giles missed the ball, it struck his pad, and he scrambled two leg-byes with Steve Harmison. The scores finished level at 196, leaving the Ashes rivals sharing the trophy after a remarkable contest in which England had earlier recovered from 33 for 5 while chasing Australia’s modest total.
Australia’s collapse from 50 without loss to 93 for 5 had initially given England control, before Michael Hussey’s unbeaten 62 rescued the visitors. Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee then dismantled England’s top order, only for Geraint Jones and Paul Collingwood to add 116 for the sixth wicket. Late Australian breakthroughs and a dramatic final over ensured that neither side could complete a victory, providing an extraordinary prelude to the Ashes series that would begin later that month.
The scoreboard recorded a tie. The match itself had been anything but evenly balanced.
Australia appeared headed for defeat during their first innings. England subsequently looked certain to lose within the opening ten overs of their chase. Jones and Collingwood restored the hosts’ chances, before the Australians reclaimed the advantage by exposing England’s lower order.
Even the final over delivered another reversal, with McGrath conceding a no-ball before running out Darren Gough on the penultimate delivery.
That relentless uncertainty earns the 2005 NatWest final its place as Match 54 in The Sports Encounter’s A Celebration of 5000 ODIs.
The match demonstrates why low-scoring ODIs can produce drama equal to contests featuring record-breaking totals. When wickets become more valuable than boundaries, a target below 200 can test even the strongest batting lineup.
England vs Australia 2005 NatWest Final: Match Summary
| Match detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Competition | 2005 NatWest Series |
| Match | Final |
| Date | July 2, 2005 |
| Venue | Lord’s Cricket Ground, London |
| Toss | England won and chose to field |
| Australia | 196 all out (48.5 overs) |
| England | 196/9 (50 overs) |
| Result | Match tied |
| Trophy | Shared between England and Australia |
| Player of the Match | Geraint Jones |
| Player of the Series | Andrew Symonds |
| Australia’s leading scorer | Michael Hussey, 62* |
| England’s leading scorer | Geraint Jones, 71 |
| Best bowling figures | Glenn McGrath, 3/25 |
| Defining partnership | Jones and Collingwood, 116 runs |
| Final delivery | Two leg-byes off McGrath |
Steve Harmison’s 3 for 27 Dismantles Australia’s Middle Order
Australia’s opening partnership had given England an immediate problem.
Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden added 50 runs in just 6.5 overs, scoring aggressively against Darren Gough and Simon Jones.
Gilchrist made 27 from 32 deliveries, striking five boundaries, while Hayden scored 17 from 19 balls.
At that stage, the visitors appeared capable of building a substantial total.
Gough dismissed Hayden, providing England with its first breakthrough. Andrew Flintoff then removed Gilchrist, leaving Australia 54 for 2.
Steve Harmison capitalized on those dismissals.
The tall fast bowler removed Ricky Ponting for seven and Damien Martyn for 11, disrupting Australia’s attempt to rebuild.
Simon Jones followed by trapping Michael Clarke lbw for two.
Australia were suddenly 93 for 5 after 24 overs.
The contrast was remarkable. A team that had raced to 50 without losing a wicket had added only 43 more runs while losing half its batting lineup.
Harmison’s control was central to the collapse.
He completed ten overs with two maidens, conceding just 27 runs and claiming three wickets.
His final victim was Brad Hogg, caught behind by Geraint Jones for 16.
Harmison’s spell ensured England remained in command despite Australia’s rapid start.
However, the hosts still needed to dismiss Michael Hussey.
That proved far more difficult.
Andrew Flintoff’s 3 for 23 Turns the Pressure Into Wickets
Andrew Flintoff produced the most economical wicket-taking spell of England’s innings.
He returned 3 for 23 from eight overs, including two maidens.
His first wicket removed Gilchrist, ending Australia’s aggressive opening phase.
Flintoff later dismissed Brett Lee for three and Jason Gillespie without scoring.
Those late wickets reduced Australia to 179 for 9 in the 46th over.
His bowling figures reflected an outstanding economy rate of 2.88 runs per over.
Flintoff and Harmison combined for six wickets while conceding just 50 runs from 18 overs.
That partnership between two fast bowlers was a major reason Australia failed to convert its opening position into a total above 250.
Nevertheless, England’s inability to dismiss Hussey allowed the tourists to reach a score that would eventually prove sufficient to avoid defeat.
Michael Hussey’s Unbeaten 62 Saves Australia From a Much Smaller Total
Michael Hussey entered a difficult situation and provided the innings Australia desperately needed.
The left-hander scored an unbeaten 62 from 81 deliveries, striking six boundaries.
He arrived with Australia’s innings under pressure and constructed his contribution around patience, strike rotation and partnerships.
His 54-run sixth-wicket stand with Andrew Symonds lifted Australia from 93 for 5 to 147 for 6.
Symonds scored 29 from 71 deliveries, providing support while Hussey gradually established control.
The partnership did not feature spectacular acceleration, but it prevented England from exposing Australia’s tail much earlier.
After Symonds departed, Hussey continued alongside Hogg.
Australia eventually slipped to 179 for 9, with Flintoff dismissing Lee and Gillespie in consecutive deliveries.
Hussey remained at the crease and helped add another 17 runs for the final wicket.
Gough eventually dismissed McGrath, leaving Australia 196 all out in 48.5 overs.
Hussey had contributed almost 32% of the total.
His innings was the most valuable Australian batting performance because it transformed a potentially inadequate total into one capable of supporting a competitive bowling defense.
It also illustrated the qualities that later made Hussey one of Australia’s most respected limited-overs and Test batters.
His ability to preserve his wicket, understand the match situation and extract runs from the lower order became a defining feature of his international career.
Glenn McGrath’s 3 for 25 Leaves England Reeling at 33 for 5
England’s chase began disastrously.
McGrath dismissed Marcus Trescothick for six, with Ponting completing the catch.
Brett Lee bowled Andrew Strauss for two.
McGrath then dismissed captain Michael Vaughan for a duck.
England were 19 for 3 after six overs.
The situation deteriorated when Lee removed Kevin Pietersen for six.
McGrath subsequently dismissed Flintoff for eight, leaving England 33 for 5 after 9.2 overs.
Australia had dismantled the hosts’ strongest batting resources while defending only 196.
The dismissals were particularly damaging because England’s top five had contributed just 22 runs.
McGrath’s accuracy made scoring exceptionally difficult.
He completed ten overs with four maidens, conceding only 25 runs and taking three wickets.
His economy rate was an outstanding 2.50.
The four maidens underline the extent of his control. Even with a modest target, England could not score freely against the Australian fast bowler.
Australia now had a clear opportunity to win.
England needed 164 runs with only five wickets remaining.
The responsibility fell to Geraint Jones and Paul Collingwood.
Brett Lee’s Two Early Wickets Complete Australia’s Opening Assault
Brett Lee’s contribution was essential to England’s collapse.
The fast bowler dismissed Strauss and Pietersen, preventing England from establishing even a brief recovery during McGrath’s opening spell.
Lee finished with 2 for 36 from ten overs.
His pace complemented McGrath’s accuracy, ensuring England could not simply survive one bowler and attack the other.
The partnership between Australia’s two leading fast bowlers produced all five early wickets.
Together, they reduced England to a position from which a routine Australian victory appeared likely.
Lee would also become involved in the match’s final moment, fielding the ball from which England completed two leg-byes to tie the scores.
His role at the beginning and conclusion reflected the strange symmetry of the final.
Australia had dominated England’s opening overs but could not quite complete the victory.
Geraint Jones’ 71 Gives England a Way Back From 33 for 5
Geraint Jones produced an innings of remarkable importance.
The wicketkeeper scored 71 from 100 deliveries, striking four boundaries and three sixes.
His arrival came with England under enormous pressure.
The team’s recognized top-order batters had failed, and Australia required only five additional wickets.
Jones immediately recognized that England needed a long partnership rather than reckless aggression.
Alongside Collingwood, he began rebuilding.
The pair absorbed Australia’s pressure, defended carefully and gradually restored the chase.
Jones showed greater willingness to attack than his partner, particularly when opportunities arose to clear the boundary.
His three sixes were especially valuable in a match where boundaries had become difficult to score.
As the partnership developed, England’s target became manageable.
The score moved from 33 for 5 to 149 for 6.
Jones and Collingwood had added 116 runs for the sixth wicket.
The partnership consumed 205 balls and fundamentally changed the contest.
Australia had been two-thirds of the way through England’s batting lineup. Now the hosts were within 48 runs of victory.
Jones eventually fell lbw to Brad Hogg for 71.
His contribution had brought England within reach, although victory remained far from certain.
His five catches during Australia’s innings further strengthened his claim to the Player of the Match award.
Paul Collingwood’s 53 Supplies the Patience That Makes the Recovery Possible
Paul Collingwood played the less glamorous role in England’s recovery.
His 53 came from 116 deliveries, including four boundaries.
A strike rate of 45.69 might appear unusually slow by modern ODI standards.
Within the context of England’s collapse, however, his approach was essential.
Collingwood recognized that the hosts could not afford another wicket.
Instead of attempting an immediate counterattack, he concentrated on preserving his wicket and allowing Jones to score more freely.
Their partnership was effective because the two players complemented each other.
Jones provided the occasional acceleration.
Collingwood provided stability.
Australia struggled to separate them throughout much of the middle overs.
The result was a 116-run partnership that took England back into contention.
Collingwood was eventually run out for 53 in the 44th over.
England were 149 for 6.
The dismissal was a major turning point because it interrupted the longest and most productive partnership of the chase.
Jones remained at the crease, but Australia’s bowlers had finally regained access to England’s lower order.
Brad Hogg Removes Jones as Australia Regain the Advantage
Brad Hogg’s dismissal of Jones for 71 changed the match again.
England had reached 161 for 7 after 44.5 overs.
The hosts still required 36 runs from 31 deliveries.
Hogg finished with 1 for 25 from six overs, but his wicket was among the most important of the innings.
Jones had been England’s leading scorer and remained their strongest hope of finishing the chase.
His dismissal left Ashley Giles to manage the lower order.
Michael Hussey then bowled Simon Jones for one.
England slipped to 162 for 8.
Australia needed only two wickets.
England required 35 runs.
A victory that had appeared possible during the Jones-Collingwood partnership was once again slipping away.
Ashley Giles and Darren Gough Take England to the Brink of Victory
Ashley Giles and Darren Gough produced another important recovery.
Giles scored an unbeaten 18 from 21 deliveries.
Gough contributed 12 from 13.
Together, they added 32 runs for the ninth wicket.
Their partnership carried England from 162 for 8 to 194 for 9.
The significance of the stand lay in its timing.
Australia had regained control after dismissing Collingwood, Geraint Jones and Simon Jones.
Giles and Gough were required to score against an experienced attack while protecting England’s final wickets.
They gradually reduced the target.
England entered the final over needing ten runs.
The responsibility for defending Australia’s total returned to McGrath.
His opening spell had nearly won the match.
His final over would decide whether Australia could complete the job.
Glenn McGrath’s Final Over: How Ten Runs Became an Unforgettable Tie
The final over deserves careful reconstruction because its sequence explains how England came so close to winning.
England began the over on 187 for 8, requiring ten runs.
McGrath overstepped with his first delivery.
Gough also took a single, meaning the no-ball produced two runs.
England now needed eight.
The next legal delivery was a dot ball to Giles.
Giles then took a single, bringing Gough back on strike.
Gough struck consecutive twos through the off side.
England had reached 194 for 8.
Only three runs were needed from the final two deliveries.
Australia’s position had become precarious.
McGrath Runs Out Darren Gough With Two Balls Remaining
Gough attempted a single from the penultimate delivery.
McGrath collected the ball and threw down the stumps at the bowler’s end, running out Gough for 12.
England were 194 for 9.
Steve Harmison joined Giles.
The hosts needed three runs from one ball to win.
Two would secure a tie.
Two Leg-Byes From the Final Ball Leave Both Teams on 196
McGrath’s final delivery struck Giles’ pad and rolled toward short third man.
The Australians appealed for lbw, but the umpire rejected the appeal.
Giles and Harmison completed two runs as Brett Lee fielded the ball.
The runs were recorded as leg-byes.
England finished on 196 for 9 after 50 overs.
Australia had scored 196 all out.
The final was tied.
Both teams shared the trophy.
The conclusion was extraordinary because England had needed 164 runs after losing five wickets, yet still came within one run of winning.
Australia, meanwhile, had twice created positions from which victory appeared highly likely.
Ultimately, neither side managed to complete the decisive act.
Why Neither England Nor Australia Could Finish the Match
The scoreline suggests complete equality, but the teams reached 196 through contrasting patterns.
Australia’s innings depended on Hussey’s unbeaten 62 after the middle order collapsed.
England’s chase depended on the 116-run stand between Jones and Collingwood after an even more severe collapse.
Both teams struggled against high-quality fast bowling.
Both required substantial rescue partnerships.
And both failed to finish from promising positions.
| Performance factor | Australia | England |
|---|---|---|
| Opening batting | 50-run stand | Collapsed to 33/5 |
| Main collapse | 50/0 to 93/5 | 33/5 inside ten overs |
| Principal rescue | Hussey, 62* | Jones, 71; Collingwood, 53 |
| Best partnership | Hussey and Symonds, 54 | Jones and Collingwood, 116 |
| Leading wicket-takers | McGrath, 3/25 | Harmison, 3/27; Flintoff, 3/23 |
| Lower-order contribution | Helped Australia reach 196 | Giles and Gough added 32 |
| Final score | 196 all out | 196/9 |
| Outcome | Shared trophy | Shared trophy |
England’s bowlers deserve credit for recovering after Australia’s aggressive opening.
Harmison and Flintoff prevented the visitors from establishing a substantial total.
However, Hussey’s resistance ensured Australia remained competitive.
Australia’s bowlers then demonstrated why McGrath and Lee were among the most feared fast-bowling combinations of their generation.
They dismantled England’s top order, only to encounter extraordinary resistance from Jones and Collingwood.
The late Australian breakthroughs exposed England’s lower order, but Giles and Gough kept the contest alive.
The eventual tie was a fitting reflection of both teams’ inability to sustain their advantage throughout the innings.
The Four Turning Points That Defined the 2005 NatWest Final
1. Australia’s Collapse From 50 Without Loss to 93 for 5
Australia’s openers had provided an aggressive start.
The loss of five wickets for 43 runs then handed England control.
Harmison, Flintoff and Simon Jones prevented the visitors from building on the opening partnership.
2. Hussey’s Unbeaten 62 Carries Australia to 196
Hussey rescued the innings with support from Symonds and the lower order.
His unbeaten contribution ensured Australia’s fast bowlers had a target worth defending.
3. McGrath and Lee Reduce England to 33 for 5
Australia claimed five wickets inside ten overs.
McGrath’s 3 for 25 and Lee’s two wickets appeared to settle the final.
Jones and Collingwood then reversed the momentum through their 116-run partnership.
4. England Need Three From the Last Ball but Manage Two
McGrath’s run-out of Gough gave Australia another opportunity to win.
Giles and Harmison completed two leg-byes from the final delivery.
The scores finished level.
After all the dramatic swings, the trophy was shared.
How the NatWest Final Foreshadowed the 2005 Ashes
The NatWest final took place shortly before England and Australia began their 2005 Ashes series.
Australia entered that summer with an established reputation as world cricket’s dominant team.
England, led by Michael Vaughan, had developed into a serious challenger.
The ODI final demonstrated the competitive intensity between the sides.
England’s fast bowlers had troubled Australia’s celebrated batting lineup.
Australia’s attack had dismantled England’s top order.
Both teams showed resilience under pressure.
The Test series that followed would produce several extraordinary finishes, with England eventually winning 2-1 to reclaim the Ashes after 18 years.
The tied ODI final did not determine the Ashes result, but it offered an early indication of how competitive the summer could become.
The historical connection adds another dimension to Match 54.
The Sports Encounter has previously examined Australia’s seven-run victory over England in the 1987 Cricket World Cup final.
That match turned on Mike Gatting’s controversial reverse sweep.
Eighteen years later, the outcome of another major England-Australia ODI final remained uncertain until the final delivery.
The difference was that neither side managed to emerge victorious.
Why the 2005 NatWest Final Deserves Its Place in A Celebration of 5000 ODIs
The 2005 NatWest final is among the most revealing low-scoring contests in ODI history.
Australia recovered from 93 for 5 to reach 196.
England collapsed to 33 for 5 before Jones and Collingwood added 116.
Australia regained control by exposing England’s lower order.
Giles and Gough then brought the hosts within three runs of victory.
McGrath’s penultimate-ball run-out appeared to save Australia.
The final delivery produced two leg-byes and a tie.
The match combined outstanding fast bowling, stubborn batting, sharp fielding and relentless pressure.
It also provided a striking contrast with India’s victory over England in the 2002 NatWest final.
In 2002, England watched Mohammad Kaif and Yuvraj Singh rescue India from 146 for 5 before completing a successful chase.
Three years later, England’s own middle order staged an equally improbable recovery, but the hosts could not secure the final run needed for victory.
The 2005 final deserves recognition because it refused to deliver the expected outcome at almost every decisive stage.
When McGrath completed the final over, Australia and England had each scored 196 runs.
After 100 overs of fierce competition, they remained inseparable.
That is why the match belongs in The Sports Encounter’s collection of 100 unforgettable ODIs.
5. Complete Match Scorecard
Historical scorecard cross-checked against archived match records. R = Runs, B = Balls, SR = Strike Rate, O = Overs, M = Maidens, Econ = Economy Rate.
Australia Innings: 196 All Out in 48.5 Overs
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Gilchrist (wk) | c Pietersen b Flintoff | 27 | 32 | 5 | 0 | 84.38 |
| Matthew Hayden | c Giles b Gough | 17 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 89.47 |
| Ricky Ponting (c) | c Geraint Jones b Harmison | 7 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 38.89 |
| Damien Martyn | c Geraint Jones b Harmison | 11 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 45.83 |
| Andrew Symonds | c Strauss b Collingwood | 29 | 71 | 2 | 0 | 40.85 |
| Michael Clarke | lbw b Simon Jones | 2 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 10.53 |
| Michael Hussey | Not out | 62 | 81 | 6 | 0 | 76.54 |
| Brad Hogg | c Geraint Jones b Harmison | 16 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 72.73 |
| Brett Lee | c Geraint Jones b Flintoff | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 60.00 |
| Jason Gillespie | c Geraint Jones b Flintoff | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Glenn McGrath | c Collingwood b Gough | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Extras | 4 b, 5 lb, 7 w, 6 nb | 22 | ||||
| Total | All out, 48.5 overs | 196 |
Fall of wickets: 1-50 (Hayden, 6.5), 2-54 (Gilchrist, 9.5), 3-71 (Ponting, 12.1), 4-90 (Martyn, 18.6), 5-93 (Clarke, 23.6), 6-147 (Symonds, 38.5), 7-169 (Hogg, 44.1), 8-179 (Lee, 45.5), 9-179 (Gillespie, 45.6), 10-196 (McGrath, 48.5).
England Bowling
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darren Gough | 6.5 | 1 | 36 | 2 | 5.27 |
| Simon Jones | 8 | 2 | 45 | 1 | 5.63 |
| Andrew Flintoff | 8 | 2 | 23 | 3 | 2.88 |
| Steve Harmison | 10 | 2 | 27 | 3 | 2.70 |
| Paul Collingwood | 8 | 0 | 26 | 1 | 3.25 |
| Ashley Giles | 8 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 3.75 |
England Innings: 196/9 in 50 Overs
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marcus Trescothick | c Ponting b McGrath | 6 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 37.50 |
| Andrew Strauss | b Lee | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 |
| Michael Vaughan (c) | b McGrath | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Kevin Pietersen | c Gilchrist b Lee | 6 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 60.00 |
| Andrew Flintoff | c Hayden b McGrath | 8 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 88.89 |
| Paul Collingwood | Run out (Symonds/Gilchrist) | 53 | 116 | 4 | 0 | 45.69 |
| Geraint Jones (wk) | lbw b Hogg | 71 | 100 | 4 | 3 | 71.00 |
| Ashley Giles | Not out | 18 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 85.71 |
| Simon Jones | b Hussey | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Darren Gough | Run out (McGrath) | 12 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 92.31 |
| Steve Harmison | Not out | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| Extras | 2 b, 12 lb, 3 w, 2 nb | 19 | ||||
| Total | 9 wickets, 50 overs | 196 |
Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Trescothick, 3.3), 2-13 (Strauss, 4.2), 3-19 (Vaughan, 5.6), 4-19 (Pietersen, 6.4), 5-33 (Flintoff, 9.2), 6-149 (Collingwood, 43.3), 7-161 (Geraint Jones, 44.5), 8-162 (Simon Jones, 45.1), 9-194 (Gough, 49.5).
Australia Bowling
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brett Lee | 10 | 1 | 36 | 2 | 3.60 |
| Glenn McGrath | 10 | 4 | 25 | 3 | 2.50 |
| Jason Gillespie | 10 | 0 | 42 | 0 | 4.20 |
| Andrew Symonds | 10 | 2 | 23 | 0 | 2.30 |
| Brad Hogg | 6 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 4.17 |
| Michael Hussey | 4 | 0 | 31 | 1 | 7.75 |
Final Over: England Need 10 Runs From Six Balls
| Delivery | Event | England’s score |
|---|---|---|
| 49.1 (no-ball) | McGrath oversteps; Gough takes a single. Two runs added. | 189/8 |
| 49.1 (legal ball) | Giles misses, dot ball | 189/8 |
| 49.2 | Giles takes a single | 190/8 |
| 49.3 | Gough scores two | 192/8 |
| 49.4 | Gough scores two | 194/8 |
| 49.5 | McGrath runs out Gough | 194/9 |
| 49.6 | Two leg-byes; match tied | 196/9 |
The final-over sequence was independently checked against archived ball-by-ball commentary. The over included a no-ball, and the final two runs were leg-byes.
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Result: Match tied. England and Australia shared the 2005 NatWest Series trophy.
Player of the Match: Geraint Jones, 71 runs and five catches.
Player of the Series: Andrew Symonds.
6. Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2005 NatWest Series final?
Neither team won outright. England and Australia both finished on 196 at Lord’s on July 2, 2005, and the final ended in a tie. The trophy was shared.
Why did the NatWest final end in a tie?
England needed three runs from the final delivery. Ashley Giles and Steve Harmison completed two leg-byes off Glenn McGrath, bringing England level with Australia’s total.
Who was the Player of the Match?
Geraint Jones was named Player of the Match after scoring 71 from 100 balls and taking five catches.
What was England’s score when Jones and Collingwood began their recovery?
England were 33 for 5 after 9.2 overs, requiring another 164 runs to win.
How many runs did Jones and Collingwood add?
They added 116 runs for the sixth wicket, taking England to 149 for 6.
What were Glenn McGrath’s bowling figures?
McGrath returned 3 for 25 from ten overs, including four maidens.
How many runs did Michael Hussey score?
Hussey made an unbeaten 62 from 81 deliveries, helping Australia recover from 93 for 5 to 196.
How did the final relate to the 2005 Ashes?
The final took place shortly before the Ashes, which England eventually won 2-1. The ODI provided an early demonstration of the rivalry’s intensity that summer.