Ashes 2005: Top five performers

3. Kevin Pietersen – A memorable Ashes debut (473 runs)

When your adopted nation plays host to cricket’s oldest ever rivalry, you begin to dream of playing in that exciting five-match series and do well in the process. It becomes a double delight when you end up making your Test debut in that very biennial tournament. Also, when your team secures the Ashes urn, you feel you’re on top of the world.

Kevin Pietersen certainly felt the same when he was handed his Test cap for the 2005 edition of the Ashes against Australia. He rescued his side from a precarious position in the first game, scoring his maiden half-century in a controlled innings – mixing caution with aggression.

At one point, his free-flowing style gave England 21 runs in just seven balls. Of particular interest was the way in which he handled both Warne and McGrath, treating the leg-spinner with some disdain as he tonked him all over the park. Despite an unbeaten second half-century during England’s chase in the second innings, Australia managed to win by a large margin.

He carried his rich vein of form into the second match at Edgbaston, pairing up well with fellow Ashes debutant Andrew Flintoff in the first innings, but his fielding left a lot to be desired; he dropped catches at an alarming rate, frustrating his team to no end.

He redeemed himself with some more reasonable performances with the bat, and capped a great debut with a magnificent century in the last Test, thus finishing as the leading run-scorer in the entire series. What a smashing debut!