The ultimate Tests: Botham bludgeoning the Aussies, Freddie's arm round the shoulder and the death of English cricket... here are the five best Ashes clashes

By MIKE DAWES

Published: 05:36 EST, 8 July 2013 | Updated: 09:36 EST, 8 July 2013

The 67th edition of the most celebrated series in cricket starts on Wednesday and the next two months are all about the Ashes.

So, to whet the appetite, Sportsmail bring you the five greatest Tests in Ashes history.

1981 - England won by 18 runs at Headingley

Sir Ian Botham's unbeaten 149 set the stage for England to overcome odds of 500-1 after they had crashed to 135 for seven after being asked to follow on.

Botham's belligerence still left Australia with only 130 to win but Bob Willis' eight for 43 completed arguably the greatest comeback in Ashes, if not Test, history.

Swinging the willow: Ian Botham (right) hooks Geoff Lawson on his way to turning around the Headingley Test in 1981

VIDEO: Watch Botham hit the Australians around Headingley

2005 - England won by two runs at Edgbaston

The image of Andrew Flintoff consoling Brett Lee at the end of the second Test is the most enduring memory of one of the best Ashes series in recent times.

Australia lost Glenn McGrath in the warm-up when he trod on a ball and had looked certain to suffer defeat when they were 137 for seven chasing 282.

A 59-run last-wicket stand between Lee and Michael Kasprowicz threatened to put them 2-0 up, until the latter gloved Steve Harmison down leg side to Geraint Jones, causing a breathless Richie Benaud to exclaim 'Jones... Bowden, England have won'.

Embrace: Andrew Flintoff (right) Brett Lee after England won the Edgbaston Test in 2005

Unbridled joy: England stars (from left) Andrew Flintoff, Marcus Trescothick, Michael Vaughan, Steve Harmison, Geraint Jones and Ian Bell celebrate the narrow victory

VIDEO: Andrew Flintoff embraces Brett Lee

1882 - Australia won by seven runs at The Oval

The Ashes legend was born when Australia won on English soil for the first time in a low-scoring contest.

Defeat prompted the famous mock obituary of English cricket's demise in the Sporting Times, which concluded: 'The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia'. Fred Spofforth's seven for 44 sealed Australia's win as England failed to chase 85.

Death of English cricket: The Sporting Times lament which led to the establishment of the Ashes

1956 - England win by an innings and 170 runs at Old Trafford

The match was one-sided but will be forever remembered for Jim Laker's record 19 wickets in the Test.

He swept through all of Australia's batsmen in the second innings - only Anil Kumble has replicated the feat since in 1999 - to take home match figures of 19 for 90.

No player is likely to repeat the haul in what Australia leg-spinner Richie Benaud described as 'one of the most sensational bowling performances of all time'.

Spin king: Jim Laker (left) took 19 wickets in the match at Old Trafford in 1956

VIDEO: Jim Laker puts Australia in a spin

1948 - Australia won by seven wickets at Headingley

'Bradman's Invincibles' clinched the series as they chased down 404 on the final day on a turning pitch with seven wickets in hand and just 15 minutes to spare.

Unsurprisingly Bradman (173 not out) was at the heart of the pursuit, adding 301 in quick-time with opener Arthur Morris (182). Sixty-five years on it remains the highest fourth-innings Ashes run chase of all time.

Ring of steel: The Australians crowd round batsman John Edrich during their victorious 1948 series