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As England ready themselves for the coming Ashes Tour, with live Test Match Special commentary on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 5 Live Sports Extra and ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4 LW, the Test Match Special archive revisits the classic moments from Ashes Tests gone by.

The archive hosts classic footage dating from 1938 with performances from the giants of the game described by the best commentators ever to take to the microphone.

Starting with England's record-breaking 903 against Australia in 1938, and Len Hutton's record-breaking Ashes total beating the great Don Bradman's previous record at the Oval from the same year, the archive witnesses cheering crowds greeting a master.

Moving through the 20th century, highlights featuring many of the greats of the game including Fred Trueman, Richie Benaud, Geoff Boycott, Ian Botham, Shane Warne and Mark Waugh can be heard.

Adam Gilchrist's century in Perth from the Australian-dominated last Ashes series brings the archive up to date.

The Test Match Special Ashes Archive is an evocative journey through the greatest cricketing rivalry and a priceless social history mapping the key commentary descriptions from masters of the craft including John Arlott and Brian Johnston, right up to Christopher Martin-Jenkins, Henry Blofeld and Jonathan Agnew in the current TMS line-up.

Radio 5 Live Controller Adrian Van Klaveren said of the TMS Ashes Archive: "This is a really special archive of the some of the finest moments in radio history as we hear many of the greatest practitioners of commentary narrate the story of the finest cricketers to contest the Ashes.

"It's an enthralling collection and you can simply feel the atmosphere that emanates from these commentaries."

Notes to Editors

You can access the archive at bbc.co.uk/ashesarchive.

You can listen to live continuous commentary on the Ashes series starting today, 8 July 2009, on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 5 Live Sports Extra – online at bbc.co.uk/sportsextra, on DAB digital radio and digital TV.

Commentary is also available on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4 LW.

DL