Steve Waugh, much like he did numerous occasions throughout his illustrious career, stood tall when the situation demanded to script a series reviving win for Australia at Old Trafford.

First published in June 2013.

Mark Taylor’s decision to have a first go on a green one came as a welcome surprise to England; already 1-0 up in the six-Test series following a convincing nine-wicket win at Edgbaston, the home side were daring to dream of an overdue Ashes victory. But after Old Trafford, that enthusiasm had all but washed away. Not for the first time, Steve Waugh was England’s heartbreaker, but on this occasion, it all could have been so different.

For England it had begun so promisingly. An opening salvo from debutant Dean Headley and Darren Gough removed Taylor and Greg Blewett, before Mark Waugh nicked Mark Ealham through to Alec Stewart, bringing Steve to the crease with Australia wobbling on 42-3. Andy Caddick’s focus of attack was the elder Waugh’s middle stump. His first effort drifted onto leg stump, and Waugh obliged with a brace of runs to square leg.

Over-correcting for his second attempt, the full toss surprised Waugh, who has stepped across his stumps. The ball slams into the shin of his pads. Plumb in front of middle and leg. England went up in unison, only for umpire George Sharp to tilt his head to the left. Disbelief behind the stumps.

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Sensing a moment there for the taking, Waugh digs in, taking Australia into lunch on 78/3. After the interval, Gough went for the jugular, but the Waugh-like pattern was set: leaving well alone outside off, murderous off the pads, merciless against the short and wide one.

At the other end, the middle order spluttered along, with Michael Bevan, Ian Healy and Shane Warne departing in the space of 47 runs. Eventually Paul Reiffel joined Waugh with the score on 160/7, who by now was into his groove – straight driving his way to fifty off 73 balls.

In a moment that characterised the shift impetus, Caddick offered up another swinging full toss almost identical to the lbw that never was. But this time Waugh’s bat came down to flick it fiercely past Headley’s despairing dive at long leg. With Reiffel resolute, Waugh, on 97, cut Robert Croft to the point boundary to bring up his 13th Test hundred.

Taking a 73-run lead into the second innings, Waugh followed up with 116, becoming the first man to score twin Ashes hundreds for 50 years. Australia went on to win the match and the series. In a game where only one other batsman made more than 55, Waugh was head and shoulders above the rest.

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