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List of Ashes series

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A terracotta urn with two brass plaques on it sits on a wooden base. The urn is on display, with the glass surround and other exhibits visible in the background.
The Ashes urn, which remains at the MCC Museum at Lord's. A replica urn is presented to the winning captain.[1]

The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. The series have varied in length, consisting of between one and seven Test matches, but since 1998 have been consistently five matches. It is the sport's most celebrated rivalry and dates back to 1882.[2][3][4] It is generally played biennially, alternating between the United Kingdom and Australia. Australia is the current holders of the Ashes, having retained them with a draw in the 2023 series.

History

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Although the first Test series played between England and Australia was in the 1876–77 season,[5][6] the Ashes originated from the solitary Test which the two nations contested in 1882.[7] England lost the match, played at The Oval, and a mock obituary was posted in The Sporting Times, declaring the death of English cricket. It stated that: "The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia."[8] Ivo Bligh adopted the term and, as captain of the English party that travelled to Australia the following winter, promised to bring the "Ashes" home.[1]

After its loss to Australia in 1882, England won the next eight series between the two sides, during which time it lost only four of the 22 Tests. Australia won an Ashes series for the first time in 1891–92, when it beat England 2–1.[6] The 1932–33 tour was known as the "Bodyline series" as, in response to the talented Australian batsman Don Bradman, England developed a tactic of bowling quickly at the body of the batsmen with most of the fielders placed in a close ring on the leg side.[9] England won the series, but the tactic prompted changes to the laws of cricket,[9] and the Australians, buoyed by the batting of Bradman,[10] regained the Ashes during the next series and then held them for six series, spanning nineteen years.[6] It was during this period that the Australians travelled to England in 1948, and remained unbeaten during the whole tour, gaining the nickname of "The Invincibles".[11] In addition to winning the five match Test series 4–0, Australia won or drew all of its 29 other matches against county and representative sides.[12]

Since 1882, only one series has been played between the two sides that was not deemed an Ashes series, that being the 3 Test Cricket series in the Australian summer of 1979–80, won by Australia 3–0. This was the first Australian home Test series with a unified team after two summers of World Series Cricket and was not deemed an ashes series as England had retained the Ashes 5–1 on Australian soil 12 months earlier. On three other occasions, a one-off commemorative Test Match was played in which the Ashes were not at stake, which were the 1977 Melbourne Centenary Test, the 1980 Lords Centenary Test and the 1988 Bicentennial Test played at the SCG in January 1988.[6]

Series records

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Australia has won more Ashes Tests than England, winning 140 of the 340 matches, compared to England's 108 victories. Australia also holds the edge in Ashes series won, having won on 34 occasions compared to England's 32. There have been seven drawn series, and on six of these occasions, Australia has retained the Ashes due to being holders going into the series. England has retained the Ashes after a drawn series once.

On three occasions has a team won all the Tests in an Ashes series; only Australia has achieved the feat 5–0 in 1920–21, 2006–07 and 2013–14.[6] England's largest winning margin in an Ashes series was in 1978–79, when it won 5–1. England's largest unbeaten winning margin of 3–0 in an Ashes series was achieved in 1886, 1977 and 2013.

Both England and Australia have held the Ashes for a record eight consecutive series, England doing so between 1882–83 and 1890, while Australia achieved the feat from 1989 to 2002–03.[6]

Key

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  • Years denotes the cricket season in which the series takes place.
  • Host denotes the host country for the series.
  • First match denotes the date on which the first match of the series commenced.
  • Tests denotes how many Tests were played in the series, and in parentheses (if different) the number of Tests that were scheduled to be played in the series.
  • Australia denotes how many matches in the series were won by Australia.
  • England denotes how many matches in the series were won by England.
  • Drawn denotes how many matches in the series were drawn.
  • Result denotes which side won the series overall, or if it was drawn.
  • Holder denotes which side was awarded (or retained) the Ashes at the end of the series of the matches

List of Ashes series

[edit]
World War 2World War 1
S Years Host First match T  Australia  England D Result Holder Ref
1 1882–83  Australia 30 December 1882 3 1 2 0  England [13]
2 1884  England 11 July 1884 3 0 1 2  England [14]
3 1884–85  Australia 12 December 1884 5 2 3 0  England [15]
4 1886  England 5 July 1886 3 0 3 0  England [16]
5 1886–87  Australia 28 January 1887 2 0 2 0  England [17]
6 1887–88  Australia 10 February 1888 1 0 1 0  England [18]
7 1888  England 16 July 1888 3 1 2 0  England [19]
8 1890  England 21 July 1890 2 (3) 0 2 0  England [20]
9 1891–92  Australia 1 January 1892 3 2 1 0  Australia [21]
10 1893  England 17 July 1893 3 0 1 2  England [22]
11 1894–95  Australia 14 December 1894 5 2 3 0  England [23]
12 1896  England 22 June 1896 3 1 2 0  England [24]
13 1897–98  Australia 13 December 1897 5 4 1 0  Australia [25]
14 1899  England 1 June 1899 5 1 0 4  Australia [26]
15 1901–02  Australia 13 December 1901 5 4 1 0  Australia [27]
16 1902  England 29 May 1902 5 2 1 2  Australia [28]
17 1903–04  Australia 11 December 1903 5 2 3 0  England [29]
18 1905  England 29 May 1905 5 0 2 3  England [30]
19 1907–08  Australia 13 December 1907 5 4 1 0  Australia [31]
20 1909  England 27 May 1909 5 2 1 2  Australia [32]
21 1911–12  Australia 15 December 1911 5 1 4 0  England [33]
22 1912  England 27 May 1912 3 0 1 2  England [34]
23 1920–21  Australia 17 December 1920 5 5 0 0  Australia [35]
24 1921  England 28 May 1921 5 3 0 2  Australia [36]
25 1924–25  Australia 19 December 1924 5 4 1 0  Australia [37]
26 1926  England 12 June 1926 5 0 1 4  England [38]
27 1928–29  Australia 30 November 1928 5 1 4 0  England [39]
28 1930  England 13 June 1930 5 2 1 2  Australia [40]
29 1932–33  Australia 2 December 1932 5 1 4 0  England [41]
30 1934  England 8 June 1934 5 2 1 2  Australia [42]
31 1936–37  Australia 4 December 1936 5 3 2 0  Australia [43]
32 1938  England 10 June 1938 4 (5) 1 1 2 Drawn  Australia [44]
33 1946–47  Australia 29 November 1946 5 3 0 2  Australia [45]
34 1948  England 10 June 1948 5 4 0 1  Australia [46]
35 1950–51  Australia 1 December 1950 5 4 1 0  Australia [47]
36 1953  England 11 June 1953 5 0 1 4  England [48]
37 1954–55  Australia 26 November 1954 5 1 3 1  England [49]
38 1956  England 7 June 1956 5 1 2 2  England [50]
39 1958–59  Australia 5 December 1958 5 4 0 1  Australia [51]
40 1961  England 8 June 1961 5 2 1 2  Australia [52]
41 1962–63  Australia 30 November 1962 5 1 1 3 Drawn  Australia [53]
42 1964  England 4 June 1964 5 1 0 4  Australia [54]
43 1965–66  Australia 10 December 1965 5 1 1 3 Drawn  Australia [55]
44 1968  England 6 June 1968 5 1 1 3 Drawn  Australia [56]
45 1970–71  Australia 27 November 1970 6 (7) 0 2 4  England [57]
46 1972  England 8 June 1972 5 2 2 1 Drawn  England [58]
47 1974–75  Australia 29 November 1974 6 4 1 1  Australia [59]
48 1975  England 10 July 1975 4 1 0 3  Australia [60]
49 1977  England 16 June 1977 5 0 3 2  England [61]
50 1978–79  Australia 1 December 1978 6 1 5 0  England .[62]
51 1981  England 18 June 1981 6 1 3 2  England [63]
52 1982–83  Australia 12 November 1982 5 2 1 2  Australia [64]
53 1985  England 13 June 1985 6 1 3 2  England [65]
54 1986–87  Australia 14 November 1986 5 1 2 2  England [66]
55 1989  England 8 June 1989 6 4 0 2  Australia [67]
56 1990–91  Australia 23 November 1990 5 3 0 2  Australia [68]
57 1993  England 3 June 1993 6 4 1 1  Australia [69]
58 1994–95  Australia 25 November 1994 5 3 1 1  Australia [70]
59 1997  England 5 June 1997 6 3 2 1  Australia [71]
60 1998–99  Australia 20 November 1998 5 3 1 1  Australia [72]
61 2001  England 5 July 2001 5 4 1 0  Australia [73]
62 2002–03  Australia 7 November 2002 5 4 1 0  Australia [74]
63 2005  England 21 July 2005 5 1 2 2  England [75]
64 2006–07  Australia 23 November 2006 5 5 0 0  Australia [76]
65 2009  England 8 July 2009 5 1 2 2  England [77]
66 2010–11  Australia 25 November 2010 5 1 3 1  England [78]
67 2013  England 10 July 2013 5 0 3 2  England [79]
68 2013–14  Australia 21 November 2013 5 5 0 0  Australia [80]
69 2015  England 8 July 2015 5 2 3 0  England [81]
70 2017–18  Australia 23 November 2017 5 4 0 1  Australia [82]
71 2019  England 1 August 2019 5 2 2 1 Drawn  Australia [83]
72 2021–22  Australia 8 December 2021 5 4 0 1  Australia [84]
73 2023  England 16 June 2023 5 2 2 1 Drawn  Australia [85]
74 2025–26  Australia 21 November 2025

Summary of results

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Played Won by
Australia 		Won by
England 		Drawn
Ashes Tests in Australia 172 90 (52.3%) 56 (32.6%) 26 (15.1%)
Ashes Tests in England 173 52 (30.1%) 54 (31.2%) 67 (38.7%)
All Ashes Tests 345 142 (41.2%) 110 (31.9%) 93 (27%)
ALL Tests 361 152 (42.1%) 112 (30.7%) 97 (26.9%)
Ashes Series in Australia 36 20 (54.3%) 14 (40%) 2 (5.7%)
Ashes Series in England 37 14 (37.8%) 18 (48.6%) 5 (13.5%)
All Ashes Series 73 34 (46.6%) 32 (43.8%) 7* (9.6%)
As at 31 July 2023

*Ashes retained by Australia six times because of drawn series (1938; 1962-63; 1965-66; 1968; 2019 and 2023) and by England once (1972).

Notes and references

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Notes
References
  1. ^ a b "The Ashes – History". Marylebone Cricket Club. Archived from the original on 11 March 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  2. ^ Martin, Jack (15 November 2010). "Ashes series set to reignite old rivalry". CNN Traveller. CNN. Archived from the original on 27 January 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2011.
  3. ^ Marks, Vic (26 September 2010). "Return of Ashes spirit can lift England out of post-Pakistan mire". The Observer. London: Guardian Media Group. Archived from the original on 18 December 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2011.
  4. ^ "Top 10 Rivalries". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 22 October 2010. Retrieved 27 February 2011.
  5. ^ "Match/series archive". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 16 March 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Records / England / Test matches / Series results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  7. ^ Williamson, Martin. "A short history of the Ashes". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 29 January 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  8. ^ Altham, H.S.; Swanton, E.W. (1938) [1926]. "England v Australia: 1882–1890". A History of Cricket (Second ed.). London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd. p. 170.
  9. ^ a b ESPNcricinfo staff. "A dummy's guide to Bodyline". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 8 April 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  10. ^ "Ashes to Ashes: The Bradman years". Cricket365.com. 20 November 2010. Archived from the original on 7 August 2011. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
  11. ^ "Sporting greats – Australia reveres and treasures its sporting heroes". Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Archived from the original on 8 April 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011. The 1948 Australian cricket team captained by Don Bradman, for example, became known as 'The Invincibles' for their unbeaten eight-month tour of England. This team is one of Australia's most cherished sporting legends.
  12. ^ "Australians in England, 1948". ESPNcricinfo. 30 May 2008. Archived from the original on 31 December 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2011. Originally published in: Preston, Hubert, ed. (1949). Wisden Cricketer's Almanack 1949 (86 ed.). London: Sporting Handbooks Ltd.
  13. ^ "The Ashes 1882/83 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 3 January 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  14. ^ "The Ashes 1884 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 18 March 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  15. ^ "The Ashes 1884/85 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 14 January 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  16. ^ "The Ashes 1886 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 8 January 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  17. ^ "The Ashes 1886/87 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 3 January 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  18. ^ "The Ashes 1887/88 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 11 November 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  19. ^ "The Ashes 1888 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 1 January 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  20. ^ "The Ashes 1890 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 28 December 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  21. ^ "The Ashes 1891/92 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 26 November 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  22. ^ "The Ashes 1893 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 24 November 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  23. ^ "The Ashes 1894/95 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 8 February 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  24. ^ "The Ashes 1896 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  25. ^ "The Ashes 1897/98 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 3 January 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  26. ^ "The Ashes 1899 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 5 October 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  27. ^ "The Ashes 1901/02 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 13 January 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  28. ^ "The Ashes 1902 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 6 May 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  29. ^ "The Ashes 1903/04 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 9 January 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  30. ^ "The Ashes 1905 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 7 January 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  31. ^ "The Ashes 1907/08 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 23 April 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  32. ^ "The Ashes 1909 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 30 May 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  33. ^ "The Ashes 1911/12 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 9 January 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  34. ^ "The Ashes 1912 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 26 June 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  35. ^ "The Ashes 1920/21 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 2 January 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  36. ^ "The Ashes 1921 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 28 December 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  37. ^ "The Ashes 1924/25 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 24 April 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  38. ^ "The Ashes 1926 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 5 January 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  39. ^ "The Ashes 1928/29 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 9 April 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  40. ^ "The Ashes 1930 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 25 January 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  41. ^ "The Ashes 1932/33 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 14 February 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  42. ^ "The Ashes 1934 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 27 November 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  43. ^ "The Ashes 1936/37 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 29 November 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  44. ^ "The Ashes 1938 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 29 November 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  45. ^ "The Ashes 1946/47 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 7 January 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  46. ^ "The Ashes 1948 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 7 January 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  47. ^ "The Ashes 1950/51 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 25 April 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  48. ^ "The Ashes 1953 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 7 January 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  49. ^ "The Ashes 1954/55 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 30 January 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  50. ^ "The Ashes 1956 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 25 April 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  51. ^ "The Ashes 1958/59 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 23 March 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  52. ^ "The Ashes 1961 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 25 November 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  53. ^ "The Ashes 1962/63 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  54. ^ "The Ashes 1964 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 7 January 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  55. ^ "The Ashes 1965/66 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 1 August 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  56. ^ "The Ashes 1968 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 30 November 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  57. ^ "The Ashes 1970/71 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 5 October 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  58. ^ "The Ashes 1972 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 8 April 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  59. ^ "The Ashes 1974/75 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 2 February 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  60. ^ "The Ashes 1975 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 2 April 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  61. ^ "The Ashes 1977 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 4 January 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  62. ^ "The Ashes 1978/79 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 1 February 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  63. ^ "The Ashes 1981 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 14 January 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  64. ^ "The Ashes 1982/83 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 27 April 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  65. ^ "The Ashes 1985 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 8 April 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  66. ^ "The Ashes 1986/87 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 29 November 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  67. ^ "The Ashes 1989 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 27 April 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  68. ^ "The Ashes 1990/91 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 7 January 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  69. ^ "The Ashes 1993 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 23 April 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  70. ^ "The Ashes 1994/95 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 24 April 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  71. ^ "The Ashes 1997 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 27 April 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  72. ^ "The Ashes 1998/99 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 11 February 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  73. ^ "The Ashes 2001 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 23 April 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  74. ^ "The Ashes 2002/03 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 11 February 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  75. ^ "The Ashes 2005 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 27 April 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  76. ^ "The Ashes 2006/07 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 2 January 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  77. ^ "The Ashes 2009 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 22 November 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  78. ^ "The Ashes 2010/11 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 3 December 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  79. ^ Brettig, Daniel (5 August 2013). "England retain Ashes on rainy day". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 8 August 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  80. ^ "The Ashes 2013/14 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  81. ^ "The Ashes 2015 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 28 August 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  82. ^ "The Ashes 2017 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  83. ^ "The Ashes 2019 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 9 October 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  84. ^ "The Ashes 2021/22 / Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  85. ^ "The Ashes 2023 / Fixtures and Results". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 31 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
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