OLLIE SWEARS IT'S A REPEAT

Robbo and Broad set up chance to copy 2005 heroes

- JEREMY CROSS

ENGLAND will hope history repeats itself at Edgbaston today – after the cricketing gods decreed a possible sequel to the ‘greatest Ashes Test of all time’. 

In an uncanny repeat of what happened here back in 2005, Australia will attempt to complete a run chase of 281 to strike the first blow in a series already threatening to turn back the clock almost two decades.

That’s just one less than the target the Aussies failed to knock off 18 years ago after falling an agonising two runs short. It remains the narrowest defeat by runs in Ashes history.

And, thanks to some kamikaze cricket from England, Birmingham now braces itself for another potential finale for the ages.

A mesmerising day had started in astonishing fashion thanks to Joe Root.

And it finished with the brilliant Stuart Broad removing Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith to leave this gripping game on a knife-edge.