5 underrated Ashes performances over the years

2.Ashley Giles partnering Kevin Pietersen for a draw, Oval, 2005

Pietersen hit the headlines, but Giles was the silent hero

Kevin Pietersen stole the limelight with a brilliant 158 to mark his arrival during the 2005 Ashes series. He was dropped twice during his five-hour knock. But it was Ashley Giles, who with a defiant 59, put the series beyond the reach of the Aussies.

Though Pietersen hogged the limelight and received fame for a second innings hundred, it was Giles’s patient 59 that provided stability to the partnership which proved extremely vital for the resulting draw.

After Pietersen got out, Giles stood his ground and set a target of 331. Australia had to achieve this total in just 19 overs but they managed only four runs, all being byes, to make it the only innings in the history of cricket where the total consisted only of byes. The game was called a draw and with it England sealed a series victory leading 2-1.