Careful planning, great players, and a bit of luck are all factors that determine the outcome of any matchup. One side will always have more of either element and end up dominating with a decisive lead. The fun starts when both sides have equal strengths, leading to an exciting clash where every over counts down to a thrilling finish. 

These are the matches that go down in history, where the winner is decided by a nail-biting final over finishes. Learn about five of the top stories cemented in history as some of the most unforgettable examples right here:

England vs Australia (2005 Ashes)

The second Test of the 2005 Ashes at Edgbaston produced one of the most dramatic finishes in cricket history. England had set Australia 282 to win, and the match came down to the final over on 6 August 2005. The crowd held its breath as Australia pushed for a narrow victory, needing just a few runs with only one wicket left. 

England’s Andrew Flintoff had already made his mark with both bat and ball, while Simon Jones and Steve Harmison also played vital roles earlier in the match. In the tense final moments, it was Michael Kasprowicz and Brett Lee who fought bravely for Australia, edging closer with each run. Kasprowicz battled bravely, nearly completing a famous chase. 

Steve Harmison trapped Kasprowicz with a short delivery that was caught by Geraint Jones. England won by two runs, one of the narrowest margins in Test history, a victory that evened the series and shifted momentum in what became one of cricket’s greatest contests.

India vs Pakistan (2007 ICC World Twenty20)

The final of the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 in Johannesburg on 24 September delivered a finish worthy of cricket’s fiercest rivalry. India set Pakistan 158 to win, but the contest boiled down to a nail-biting last over that stunned the packed stadium. India’s innings had been anchored by Gautam Gambhir, who struck 75, while Rohit Sharma provided a late flourish. 

Pakistan fought back with Misbah-ul-Haq at the crease, bringing the target down to just 13 runs needed off the final over. He hit a six off Joginder Sharma and looked set to finish the match. India claimed a five-run victory in one of the most tense finals ever played. 

It was the first ICC World Twenty20 title for India, remembered for its extraordinary climax and the rise of a new generation. Their victory led to a strong, dedicated following that laid the foundation for the country’s domestic cricket league, which is now an undisputed giant in the sport. 

​​Sri Lanka vs India (2014 ICC World Twenty20)

The 2014 ICC World Twenty20 final in Dhaka on 6 April ended with Sri Lanka finally lifting a long-awaited trophy. Chasing 131 to beat India, the match concluded with a calm but decisive finish in the final overs as Sri Lanka’s experienced campaigners sealed the win. 

India’s batting had been built on Virat Kohli’s 77, but the lack of late acceleration left Sri Lanka a reachable target. Lasith Malinga and Nuwan Kulasekara had earlier restricted India with the ball, ensuring the contest would remain balanced. Kumar Sangakkara led the chase in his final T20 international, partnering with Thisara Perera. 

Sangakkara finished unbeaten on 52, while Perera struck crucial blows to chase down the target in the 18th over. Sri Lanka triumphed by six wickets, finishing 134 for 4, ending a streak of four previous ICC final losses. 

England vs New Zealand (2019 Cricket World Cup)

The 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup final at Lord’s on 14 July had both teams tied twice, once in regular play and again in the super over. Ben Stokes led Team England, anchoring the innings with 84 not out under immense pressure. 

Jos Buttler also played a vital role, while Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer kept England in the game with the ball. New Zealand had Kane Williamson and Martin Guptill carry the weight of expectation, while Jimmy Neesham nearly won it for New Zealand in the super over. 

In the end, England were crowned champions based on the boundary count after both teams scored 15 in the super over, making it the national team’s first-ever World Cup triumph. The match is still regarded as the most dramatic one-day international in cricket history, not just for English and New Zealanders, but worldwide. 

Barbados Tridents vs Guyana Amazon Warriors (2019 CPL)

The 2019 Caribbean Premier League final at Brian Lara Academy on 12 October ended Guyana Amazon Warriors' unbeaten campaign. Barbados Tridents, who had been written off earlier in the tournament, produced a defiant finish to claim their second Caribbean Premier League (CPL) title.

The Tridents�innings revolved around Jonathan Carter, who struck a rapid 50 not out from 26 balls. Ashley Nurse and Raymon Reifer provided support, while Jason Holder’s leadership shaped the bowling plan. For the Warriors, Brandon King’s 43 was the highlight, though the chase faltered against disciplined bowling from Reifer, Harry Gurney and Nurse.

Barbados Tridents posted 171/6 and then restricted Guyana Amazon Warriors to 144/9. It ended Guyana’s 11-match winning streak and marked their fifth loss in the CPL final.

Final over finishes: Anything can happen at the last second

Final overs are the hardest test of a cricketer’s skill and composure. Each delivery determines the result, shifts momentum, and ultimately decides the winner. These moments show the balance between clear decision-making and strength, where bowlers must defend narrow leads and batters push for difficult runs. 

Cricket is built on uncertainty, and no stage shows this more clearly than the last over. Every ball matters until the end, and no side is safe until the final delivery. From record chases to sudden losses, these finishes explain why the sport continues to attract strong attention worldwide. 

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Lance Morris will be sidelined for the next 12 months after undergoing back surgery. That rules him out for all of Australia’s cricket fixtures, including the big Ashes series against England. The 27-year-old has been on the fringe of being a regular for the Australian national team. He was initially selected for this past week’s One-Day International match against South Africa.

Morris knows this is the right decision

Despite the heartbreak of missing cricket, the back surgery was worthwhile. Morris feels he needed to do this.

He said, ‘I feel this is the most logical way to realise my full potential and return to my very best cricket for the Perth Scorchers, Western Australia, and Australia long in the future�

Morris would have made his Ashes debut in November 2025. He was on track to be part of that Australian team, but that won’t happen due to this injury.

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Throughout the 21st century, England have become one of the most prominent cricketing countries. With this rise, they have created some unforgettable moments across different formats. They have staged some of the most intense and iconic clashes in international cricket, including the Ashes and World Cup glory. 

Here are some of the defining highlights of modern English cricket:

The dramatic 2005 Ashes win

For many cricket fans, the 2005 Ashes is one of the greatest series of cricket ever. England had not beaten Australia in an Ashes contest since 1986-87, so getting some payback was long overdue. 

The Aussies had one of the most dominant teams in cricket history over those two decades, with names like Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist, and Ricky Ponting leading the way. That meant England had to overcome a tough team when they played in the 2005 Ashes.

This series began with Australia taking the first Test rather easily. However, England managed to roar back and win a close match at Edgbaston by only two runs. It is still one of the most discussed matches in cricket history due to its level of thrill and the close result.

It was a see-saw series between the two powerhouses at Old Trafford and Trent Bridge. In the decisive fifth Test, Kevin Pietersen’s 158 in the second innings secured a draw, clinching a 2-1 series win for England.

The first ICC trophy for England

During the 21st century, England were competitive against other countries. However, they did not have a major ICC trophy in the 2000s. That is why the 2010 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup was a massive success for the team when they won the tournament held in the West Indies. 

Spearheaded by Paul Collingwood, England had a mix of strong batting and amazing bowling. Kevin Pietersen was present again with his powerful stroke play, but he had awesome support from his teammates, including Craig Kieswetter with his powerful hitting and Graeme Swann’s talent.

The final was played against Australia, and England made sure not to lose to their rivals. They were chasing 148, which led to Kieswetter and Pietersen dismantling Australia’s bowlers. They secured a seven-wicket win with more than three overs to spare. They won their first major ICC title, signalling the start of a new era.

This victory set the tone for England, as they would win the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2019,  and they won the ICC T20 World Cup again in 2022. England are one of the best countries in the cricket world, with multiple trophies in the 21st century.

A magical 481 against Australia in 2018

For the Test side of the Ashes, 2005 would be most people’s favourite moment. For white-ball cricket, the 2018 ODI series could be considered the peak. England broke the world record for the highest ODI total, getting 481/6 against Australia at Trent Bridge.

The Three Lions demolished Australia during that June 2018 day, as Jonny Bairstow and Alex Hales were the stars of the show. Australia’s bowlers did their best, but England were in their best form on that day. Adil Rashid and Eoin Morgan chipped in with some fiery batting to end the match and surprise the rest of the cricket world.

In addition to their batting dominance, England also had Moeen Ali and Rashid performing well with their bowling. This was a fearless England squad, and under Morgan’s leadership, they continued their aggressive and relentless style of playing cricket.

Stokes�heroics in the 2019 Ashes

Ben Stokes has become one of the most recognisable cricket players in the world. When it comes to English cricket, he is one of the first names mentioned as a contributor. His best moments for the England team were during the 2019 Ashes, as England were trying to chase an improbable 359 in the Third Test.

Stokes had an innings for the ages, as he started cautiously but kept hunting. He kept improving throughout his stint, unleashing a counterattack to drag England from the jaws of defeat to a one-wicket victory.

The reaction in the stadium and on commentary cemented how significant this moment was. Even the most neutral fans were shocked by what happened, and that is due to Stokes�stellar performance. Of course, the Aussies would win the urn at the end of the series, but people mostly remember 2019’s Ashes due to Stokes�performance.

The 2019 World Cup victory against New Zealand

England have always been involved in dramatic matches, but the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup final against New Zealand is an important one for the sport. After their struggles in the 2015 World Cup, England came into this matchup as the favourites.

Unfortunately, this was not a cakewalk for the English team, as New Zealand posted 241/8. It was a tough yet reachable target that motivated England. Stokes anchored the innings for his team, but the game went to a Super Over.

Jofra Archer had to bowl the most important over of his life, and yet New Zealand matched England’s 15. It was another dramatic moment, but England won on the boundary countback rule, becoming the ODI world champions for the first time. This cemented their place among the best teams in the ODI format, as they are often contenders.

England will continue to have these moments

From the glory of the 2005 Ashes to their success in the World Cup tournaments, England will continue to succeed in the 21st century. They might have some dark months or even years, but they have the infrastructure to become one of the brightest cricketing countries alongside the likes of Australia, India, and the West Indies.

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Shane Warne is widely regarded as one of the most beloved Aussie cricketers in history. He was celebrated for being a brilliant spinner, but his legacy took a hit due to the controversies he dealt with during his career. It is unfortunate, as his achievements make him one of the all-time greats. 

Warne redefined the spinner role

During the early 1990s, leg-spin bowling was seen as a dying art. Fast bowlers started to dominate the cricket world, but Warne was defiant. He consistently proved that leg-spin bowling is viable, as batsmen kept struggling to play against Warne.

This culminated in 1993 when Warne delivered the iconic ‘Ball of the Century�to Mike Gatting, which was a ball delivery that pitched well outside leg stump and spun sharply to clip the top of off stump. It remains a magical moment that showed why leg-spin bowling should never be phased out of the game. 

Warne combined classical technique with flair, which made him such a tough player to go against. His bowling was consistently challenging due to his skill and dramatic flair in delivering his shots. Warne’s impact is still felt today because he brought charisma to spin bowling that has inspired more young cricketers to follow in his footsteps.

Warne was a consistent star in big matches

Greatness in cricket is not defined by good performance once in a while, it is also about delivering consistent excellence. Achieving that can be tough since every player has some bad days, but more often than not, Warne was a tough opponent. 

Warne always loved playing in big matches like the Ashes against England. His best performance in a significant match was the 1999 World Cup semifinal against South Africa. Warne’s performance turned the tide for the Aussies, earning him Man of the Match. 

Australia has had many world-class players, many of whom played alongside Warne, like Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist. However, Warne kept standing out by taking wickets in clutch situations, proving he is worthy of being an all-time great despite his controversial reputation.

Warne took accountability for some of his mistakes

Warne had an eventful career on the field, but he also had a lot of moments outside of it. He received rightful criticism for his banned substance scandal, infidelity, and public feuds with people like Steve Waugh. He was in the wrong multiple times, but he took responsibility for the majority of his mistakes.

As he grew older, Warne became wiser as he took accountability for his mistakes. His honesty earned him the respect of some of his critics, but some people often forget how good he was as a cricketer. Amidst all the controversies, Warne rightfully earns his place among Australia’s best-ever cricket players.

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