There’s nothing like an Ashes summer.

The legendary cricket battle between England and Australia has been thrilling generations since the 19th century, but the 2023 series that ended last week was one of the most dramatic.

Bowler Stuart Broad won the final game for England with the final delivery of his career. It seemed inevitable after he scored a six with the last ball he faced as a batter. The victory tied the series 2-2, denying Australia a first Ashes series win in Britain since 2001.

But this post isn’t a match report. Brilliant reporters have chronicled the series in thousands of words in print, on air and online. Instead, I reflect on a lifetime of enjoying the perennial clashes between two of cricket’s superpowers.

David Steele and George Davis

It all began during the summer of 1975. That was the year that snow halted cricket games in June, followed by one of the finest summers since the war. Australia’s fast bowlers Lillee and Thompson had terrorised England down under the previous winter, and the return series began in similar fashion. Hapless captain Mike Dennis gave way to Tony Greig, who turned to an unknown, silver-haired county player David Steele to calm English nerves.

“Who the hell is this, Groucho Marx?” Lillee is said to have shouted as Steele came in to bat on his test debut at Lord’s. Steele was lucky to be there at all, as he was nearly timed out after getting lost walking from the dressing room to the pitch, ending up in the Lord’s basement. BBC commentator (and legend of the 1956 Ashes series) Jim Laker misnamed him Dennis Steele repeatedly. But the debutant had the last laugh, hitting Lillee for four off his first ball, and going on to score a half century. He was affectionately dubbed the bank clerk who went to war, and was voted sports personality of the year.