The teams were still all square heading into the fifth Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham, where things swung decisively in favour of England in what became known as Ellison’s Match.
Right-arm medium-fast bowler Richard Ellison had a limited international career, playing just 11 Tests and 14 ODIs for England. But, having been recalled to the side for this match, this would prove to be his finest hour.
His heroics began well as England won the toss and asked Australia to bat. Kepler Wessels made 83 and Geoff Lawson 53, but Ellison’s 6-77 helped limit them to 335.
England then batted themselves into a dominant position as they declared on 595/5. Captain David Gower made 215, Tim Robinson 148 and Mike Gatting an unbeaten century as the runs flowed to all parts of the ground.
In their second innings Ellison took 4-27, whilst Ian Botham took three wickets, as Australia were dismissed for just 142. England won by an innings and 118 runs. With match figures of 10-144, Ellison had become an overnight national sporting hero.
He was to have a part to play in the sixth Test, at The Oval, as well.
There England batted having won the toss, and put themselves in a very strong position by making 464, thanks mostly to Robinson and Gower, who added 351 for the second wicket. Robinson went on to make 196 and Gower 157, with extras third highest scorer with 50 out of a total of 464.
In reply Australia, despite s stubborn 64 not out from Greg Ritchie, were dismissed for just 241, the England bowlers sharing the wickets.
They were asked to follow on. This time, despite 58 from captain Allan Border, they were bowled out for just 129, Ellison taking 5-45.
It meant that England had won the match by an innings and 94 runs, winning the series, and reclaiming the Ashes.
Australia could quite rightly argue afterwards that the final series score of 3-1 in favour of England failed to tell the whole story as to how close the two sides had been for much of the summer.