The Ashes: Botham, Gower, Willis, Atherton and Hussain recall first Ashes memories

The Ashes has gripped many a generation and will do so again this year.

Sir Ian Botham

Over the years there have been a few guys out there who have enjoyed the Ashes and done well in it. Players like Dennis Lillee, one of the greatest bowlers of all time, Allan Border, Bob Willis, David Gower and Terry Alderman all come into the category of Ashes heroes as far as I am concerned. Growing up, though, I remember watching people like John Snow and Derek Underwood - although getting to see them could be a problem. I remember having to get up and watch half-an-hour highlights on the television screen at 12.30am or later. Half-an-hour highlights? How can you get a day's Ashes Test in 30 minutes? I stayed up anyway, which wasn't great for my schooling - when I went! Anyway, 'Deadly' deserves to go down as one of England's best after his inspired spell at the Oval in 1968. Nine years later I made my debut against Australia in the same side as him and took a five-for as we won by seven wickets. I don't think there is anything bigger for the public or for television than the Ashes so it was a great way to start. Mike Brearley used to say that if you can't find that extra effort against the Australians there is something wrong with you and I couldn't agree more.

Michael Atherton

The only day of Test cricket that I went to before I played was the 1981 match at Headingley, funnily enough, but I got a bad day - I got the day when John Dyson scored a dull hundred. But I do remember Dennis Lillee bowling to Geoff Boycott at the end of that day, with Dennis wearing his bright yellow headband, shining in the gloom. That series had so many people gripped. I can remember coming home from school, walking through Manchester and standing like lots of other people outside of the television shop on the pavement because the game was on one of the televisions in the shop window. The England players of that time were the heroes that ignited my passion for the game.

Nasser Hussain

I have a lot of fond Ashes memories from the time when I was growing up actually because for a while England used to beat Australia! Unfortunately, it all turned around in 1989 after Allan Border knocked the Aussies into shape and I went through my entire Test career - like Athers - without winning an Ashes series. The one downside about following England in the early 80s was that it all seemed to be about Botham! Of course, those were actually fantastic times and I can still recall watching events at Headingley and Edgbaston in 1981 unfold very clearly. I can also remember tuning into the radio when England were playing away and listening to Norman Cowans and Geoff Miller bowling in Australia in 1982/83. I recollect Chris Tavare fumbling the slip catch to Geoff Miller - again off Botham - and Miller taking it to earn England a dramatic victory in the Melbourne Test of 1982. Being the sad cricket geek that I was I stayed up late at night to listen to the Ashes coverage and, when I did go to sleep, eagerly finding out the score when I woke up. So what are your earliest Ashes memories and who were your heroes?
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