The 2005 Ashes series was the most eagerly anticipated for decades. Not since 1987 had the famous urn left the hands of the all-conquering Australians, but with that great team now showing some signs of age and with England in the ascendant after a string of Test successes, hopes were high that the balance of power in world cricket would at last shift. The series did not disappoint. From the rip-roaring first day at Lord's, with seventeen wickets falling, it was clear we were in for something special.

Although the visitors went on to win that match, England bounced back with a spectacular win at Edgbaston, and further nail-biting finishes followed at Old Trafford, Trent Bridge and The Oval. In the furnace of these epic encounters heroes were forged: Flintoff, the once-raw all-rounder who established himself as one of the world's greats; Vaughan, whose captaincy was sure-footed even when runs were scarce; Pietersen, who ended up as England's top scorer and whose 158 at The Oval steered England to victory; and for Australia Shane Warne and Brett Lee were magnificent with both ball and bat, often putting their colleagues higher up the order to shame.

In this sparkling account of an amazing summer, England's coach Duncan Fletcher reveals the strategies, the stresses and successes of one of the greatest series in the history of the game.