10 greatest Ashes-winning captains of all time

#5 Mike Brearley

Brearley, along with Botham and Willis, fashioned one of the most remarkable turnarounds in Test cricket history

Mike Brearley is often regarded as one of the most astute thinkers of the game, but during the 1981 Ashes, he was tasked with the unenviable job of taking over as captain midway through the series after Ian Botham resigned. Additionally, England were trailing Australia 0-1.

However, Brearley, along with Botham and Willis, fashioned one of the most remarkable turnarounds in Test cricket history at Headingley as England won the Test despite following on. Botham’s century was the turning point but in the 4th innings Brearley changed Willis’s end with Australia in sight of victory and that proved to be a tactical masterstroke.

The bowler took 8-43 as Australia crashed 111 all out in pursuit of 130. England never looked back and Australia never recovered from that shock as Brearley took the team to an unforgettable 3-1 series victory.