Two-nil down and with more injuries than even the current team, England's prospects for the fourth Test at Adelaide in 1994-95 weren't great. On the sick list were Messrs Hick, Stewart, Fairbrother, Gough, McCague … and even the physio Dave Roberts, who had broken a finger. Down to the bare bones, England had the hapless Steve Rhodes (series scores: 4, 2, 0, 16 and 1) batting as high as No. 6. It was a match full of rich memories: Mike Gatting made one of the filthiest hundreds in Ashes history, Greg Blewett one of the more sumptuous - and on his Test debut too. It came in dramatic circumstances, with Craig McDermott on his way back from hospital and arch-rabbit Peter McIntyre at the crease.

Australia led by 66 on first innings, but Graham Thorpe took it up to them with a blistering 83, and on the final morning Phil DeFreitas pasted the second new ball everywhere in a sensational 88 off 95 balls, which included 22 off one over from McDermott. It was infectious stuff: Devon Malcolm wafted a four and a six off Shane Warne and ended up with 10 not out off four balls.

Malcolm then bowled like the wind as Australia's top order was blown away. Mark Taylor edged to slip, Michael Slater was caught on the hook - brilliantly, and comically, by Phil Tufnell - and Steve Waugh was castled first ball.

Australia were 23 for 4 and then 83 for 8 - it was then that Chris Lewis generously pointed McDermott towards the pavilion, a gesture for which he was heavily fined - but England didn't win Ashes Tests in the 1990s without the odd flutter, and Ian Healy and Damien Fleming held them up for almost two hours. Buttocks everywhere were firmly clenched as the match went into the last ten overs, but Lewis and Malcolm each had one last contribution to make …

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