Former England captain Michael Atherton has rated the recently concluded India-England five-Test series and drawn comparisons to the iconic 2005 Ashes series.In conversation with ex-England skipper and commentator Nasser Hussain, Atherton dismissed comparisons that placed the contest above the iconic Ashes battle but admitted it came closest in terms of drama and twists. “No, I don’t think the quality was as good as ’05. I mean, I don’t think I’ll see a better series than the ’05 Ashes. One team on the rise, one great team on the decline, an emerging team with absolutely great players at the top of their game,” Atherton said on Sky Sports Cricket. He explained that while 2005 set an unmatched benchmark, this latest series stood out for its unpredictable nature. “I’d probably put this one as the best since ’05 because of those dramatic moments — like Chris Woakes, and Rishabh Pant, and the way the series twisted and turned. So I reckon it’s probably the best series I’ve covered since ’05,” he added.
The five-match contest ended 2-2 after India sealed a tense victory in the final Test at The Oval. The last day saw wickets fall quickly and emotions run high in a fiercely fought battle between the two sides. In contrast, the 2005 Ashes, which is widely considered one of the greatest Test series in history, saw England edge Australia 2-1 to reclaim the urn for the first time since 1986-87. That series remains remembered for its high-quality cricket, nail-biting finishes and lasting impact on the sport.
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While Atherton’s verdict doesn’t place the series on par or better than the 2005 Ashes, he still placed the India-England clash in elite company. The 2025 Ashes will commence on November 21.
