England won the 2005 Ashes series 2-1. Australia were widely regarded to be favourites, largely through having beaten pretty much everyone they played for as long as anyone could remember. That period people could remember incorporated a lot of Ashes series against England as well and they hadn’t just won them, they’d walked them (if walking can be so destructive and demoralising).
A lot of people focus on the fifth Test as the moment the Ashes was won, but that match was drawn. England won the second Test at Edgbaston and the fourth Test at Trent Bridge and those were the Tests that really mattered. Also, don’t underestimate the significance of the Twenty20 match and the two one-day series that preceded the Ashes.
Ashes 2005 1st Test at Lord’s
Australia beat England by 239 runs
Australia 1st Innings
190 all out (40.2 overs)
England 1st Innings
155 all out (48.1 overs)
Australia 2nd Innings
384 all out (100.4 overs)
England 2nd Innings
180 all out (58.1 overs)
Ashes 2005 2nd Test at Edgbaston
England beat Australia by 2 runs
England 1st Innings
407 all out (79.2 overs)
Australia 1st Innings
308 all out (76.0 overs)
England 2nd Innings
182 all out (52.1 overs)
Australia 2nd Innings
279 all out (64.3 overs)
Ashes 2005 3rd Test at Old Trafford
England drew with Australia
England 1st Innings
444 all out (113.2 overs)
Australia 1st Innings
302 all out (84.5 overs)
England 2nd Innings
280 for 6 (61.5 overs)
Australia 2nd Innings
371 for 9 (108.0 overs)
Ashes 2005 4th Test at Trent Bridge
England beat Australia by 3 wickets
England 1st Innings
477 all out (123.1 overs)
Australia 1st Innings
218 all out (49.1 overs)
Australia 2nd Innings
387 all out (124.0 overs)
England 2nd Innings
129 for 7 (31.5 overs)
Ashes 2005 5th Test at The Oval
England drew with Australia
England 1st Innings
373 all out (105.3 overs)
Australia 1st Innings
367 all out (107.1 overs)
England 2nd Innings
335 all out (91.3 overs)
Australia 2nd Innings
4 for 0 (1 overs)