Top 5 England vs. Australia One-Day Internationals

#1 Old rivals share the honours, 2005

The best game played between the two old rivals was one in which they could not be separated and more importantly, it was in a final.

In the tri-series held in England in 2005, the hosts met Australia in the final at Lord's and a low scoring encounter soon turned into one of the all-time classics.

England won the toss and elected to field but it soon looked like a blunder when Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden went hammer and tongs at the opening bowlers.

However, the introduction of Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison into the attack changed the game altogether.

Both picked up 3 wickets as Australia lost their way and they were eventually all out in the 49th over for 196. Mike Hussey top-scored for Australia and stayed unbeaten at 62.

England must have thought that the target was a paltry one but they were in for a rude shock as Australia's opening bowlers Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee blasted out the top order. In the 10th over, England found themselves at 33 for 5 and starting at an embarrassing defeat in the final at Lord's.

However, all-rounder Paul Collingwood and wicket-keeper Geraint Jones slowly started a recovery. There was no pressure to score fast and the two added 116 for the 6th wicket before Collingwood was run out.

Jones was dismissed in the next over and Australia were into the English tail. Simon Jones' dismissal in the 46th over left England at 162 for 8 and needing 35 runs to win in 29 deliveries.

Spinner Ashley Giles and fast bowler Darren Gough then got together to take England to the final over. They needed 10 to win and Glenn McGrath was to bowl that over. After McGrath bowled a no-ball off the first ball and after Gough took two doubles, England were suddenly the favourites.

They needed three to win off two deliveries but the game still had a sting in the tail. McGrath fielded well off his own bowling and ran Gough out as he valiantly tried to complete the run. With three needed off the final delivery, Giles and Harmison ran two leg byes to tie the game. It was probably the greatest game that the two rivals have ever played.