The trend began in 1981 when England somehow snatched victory from the jaws of defeat at Headingley.

Botham: Dominated the 1981 series

They were facing an innings defeat until Ian Botham's inspired 149 not out saved the day, but few expected Australia to fail in their attempt to score just 130 for victory.

The tourists looked comfortable at 56 for one but brilliant bowling by Bob Willis, who finished with eight for 43, turned the match in England's favour and they won by 18 runs.

It was a similar scenario in the fourth Test at Edgbaston when spinner Ray Bright's five for 68 in England's second innings left Australia needing 151 to win.

Allan Border scored 40 but only four batsmen reached double figures as Australia's vulnerability surfaced again and they were all out for 121 as Botham swept through the tail.

The last three wickets fell for one run with Botham ending the match by bowling Terry Alderman for nought for figures of five for 11.

But perhaps the most pulsating finish in Ashes history came in the fourth Test at Melbourne on England's 1982-3 tour, when Bob Willis's side came out on top by just three runs.

England celebrate at the MCG

England went into the match 2-0 down - as they did in the current series - and only managed 284 in their first innings as Rodney Hogg and Bruce Yardley took four wickets each.

Half centuries by Kim Hughes, David Hookes and Rod Marsh followed but good bowling by the England attack restricted Australia to a three-run first innings lead.

Lancashire's Graham Fowler launched England's second innings with 65 and they totalled 294 despite four for 66 by Geoff Lawson.

Middlesex paceman Norman Cowans made his name by taking six Australian wickets as they crumbled to 218 for nine, chasing 291 to win, but Allan Border and last man Jeff Thomson slowly ate away at their target.

The tension was unbearable when Thomson edged a ball from Botham and the ball went through Chris Tavare's hands at slip. But Geoff Miller was alert and completed the catch to win the game for England, although the series ended in a 2-1 defeat.

Australia held a 3-1 advantage in the 1997 series when the two teams arrived at The Oval.

Phil Tufnell: Inspired England to victory at The Oval

Brilliant bowling dominated the early part of the match with Glenn McGrath taking seven for 76 to help dismiss England for just 180, but spinner Phil Tufnell replied with seven for 66 in Australia's first innings.

The tourists led by 40, however, and pressed home their advantage by bowling out England even more cheaply - for just 163 - as Michael Kasprowicz took seven for 36.

It left them just 124 to win but Devon Malcolm removed Matthew Elliott in a short spell with the new ball before England skipper Mike Atherton turned to Tufnell and Somerset's Andy Caddick.

Mark Taylor's dismissal by Caddick sparked an Australian collapse, with only Ricky Ponting reaching 20, as they were all out for a mere 104 with Caddick taking five for 42 and Tufnell four for 27.

Closest finishes in Ashes Tests: