Headingley in mid-August 2001 is the scene. England are in disarray.
They have just lost their seventh successive Ashes series, 3-0, to a rampant Australia.
The fourth and fifth Tests amount to damage limitation exercises for captain Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton – in his final series – Darren Gough, Craig White and company.
During the third Test defeat at Trent Bridge, batsman Mark Butcher had been reported for being out socialising beyond midnight, sparking doubts over his availability for Headingley.
There was mixed opinions within the management over whether he should be disciplined and dropped. In the end, he was reprieved.
And what an inspired decision that proved to be as the Surrey left-hander ended up being the key figure in what remains one of England’s best ever victories.
