What made the Ashes 2023 truly special

The Ashes 2023 final at The Oval marked a fitting end to an eventful and fiercely contested seven-week-long contest between Australia and England. While the series ended in a 2-2 draw, it will be remembered as one of the most eventful and captivating Ashes encounters in recent history.

Amidst the performances and thrill, what stood out was the purest form of the game prevailing over the noise of franchise cricket.

Several moments made headlines throughout the series. Chris Woakes' return to the English side and the episode with Usman Khawaja at Lords were among the talking points. The farewell of Stuart Broad from the English team and the characterization of Ben Stokes as a "crybaby" added drama and intensity to the contests.

The Bazball prevailed

• England's aggressive and attacking approach to Test cricket, 'Bazball,' was on full display during the series against the emboldened Aussie side, which had been crowned the World Test Champions a week prior.
• English batters scored quickly and took the game to the opposition, resulting in some exciting and high-scoring matches.

• The host's resilience and determination were evident in the third Test at Headingley, where they fought back from being 2-0 down in the series to secure a victory and keep their hopes of winning the series alive.

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Captains shone

• Skipper, Pat Cummins led the Australian team effectively and played a crucial role with both bat and ball, and his captaincy was praised for making tactical decisions that led to victories in key moments.

• England's Ben Stokes once again proved to be a star player for his team. He played some sensational innings, including a remarkable 155 in the second Test at Lord's, keeping England in contention throughout the series. In fact, it was after this innings England looked to truly overpower the visitors.

Sour stuff

• During the second Test at Lord's, a controversial run-out incident involving Jonny Bairstow led to heated confrontations between players. The crowd reacted with boos and heckling towards the Australian team as they walked through the venerable Long Room, creating a tense and unpleasant atmosphere on the field.
• The incident marred the spirit of the game, overshadowing the cricketing action on that particular day.

• England's request for a replacement ball during the final Test raised suspicions as it felt harder with visible writing. The new ball's impact helped England secure crucial wickets, leading to a win. Ricky Ponting criticised the move as a "huge blunder."

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Wood-Woakes duo

• In the third Test at Headingley, England introduced Chris Woakes and Mark Wood, both of whom made an immediate impact. Wood's fearsome pace, regularly reaching mid-150kph, earned him 5-34 in the first innings, while Woakes displayed precise accuracy, taking three wickets in each innings.

• Their crucial batting partnership helped England chase down 251, with Woakes and Wood guiding them to a nerve-wracking victory. Wood finished with 14 wickets at an average of 20.21, and Woakes claimed 19 wickets at 18.14, earning him the Player of the Series award.

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As the English team sails for India in January next year for a five-match Test series, it will be intriguing to see how their aggressive bazball, fares against Indian spinners in the challenging Indian conditions.