Everything You Need To Know About The Ashes
After the humbling defeat in 1882, England won the following eight series, losing only four of the 22 Tests. The “Sporting Times” published a parody obituary of English cricket the day after the historic loss, claiming that the body of English cricket would be burned and the ashes would be transported to Australia. After a few months, an English delegation led by the Honorable Ivo Bligh left for a tour of Australia with the promise that they would return with “the ashes.” His Australian counterpart, WL Murdoch, swore to fight zealously for it. It has grown in stature over the years to rank among the game’s most coveted awards.
The Ashes – Test Cricket Series Facts
After Australia defeated England at The Oval on August 29, 1882—the first time on English soil—the name “Ashes” first entered common usage. Since, the two teams have been vying for “The Ashes,” one of cricket’s most prestigious awards. The historic series has featured 325 tests to date. With 130 victories, Australia surpasses their English rivals, whereas England has only triumphed 106 times. But 89 games between the two teams have resulted in draws. Having won the 2015 series, England currently holds the Ashes. At present, the total of 340 tests have been played in which Australia won 140 and England have won 108 matches and 92 have been drawn.
Test Cricket Series – England Vs. Australia
The venues for the games alternate between Australia and England. They are made up of five test matches in succession. The actual Ashes, an urn thought to still hold the remains of a pair of stump bails used in, are thought to have been given to Bligh by a group of Melbourne women. A replica of the urn is presented to the winning teams. The delicate original is on display in Lord’s Cricket Museum. Each game in a series is played at a separate venue, with England (and Wales) and Australia hosting the series alternately.
Ashes Series – England vs. Australia Urn
The ashes of a burned cricket bail are thought to be contained in the Ashes urn, a little ceramic urn that is 10.5 cm (4.1 inches) tall. It was given to England cricket team captain Ivo Bligh as a private gift during a friendly game held at Sunbury’s Rupertswood estate during the 1882–1883 Australian tour. The Marylebone Cricket Club received the urn as a gift after he passed away, and it is now on display at London’s Lord’s Cricket Ground. The urn has developed a strong connection to “The Ashes,” the title for which England and Australia are believed to battle in Test matches.
Ashes Winners List – From 1882 To The Present
Here is the list of the winners of The Ashes test cricket series played between England and Australia-
| Year | Winner | Runner-Up | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1882-83 | England | Australia | 2-1 | First official Ashes series |
| 1884 | Australia | England | 1-0 | |
| 1884-85 | England | Australia | 3-2 | |
| 1886 | England | Australia | 3-0 | |
| 1886-87 | England | Australia | 2-0 | |
| 1887-88 | England | Australia | 1-0 | |
| 1888 | England | Australia | 2-1 | |
| 1890 | England | Australia | 2-0 | |
| 1891-92 | Australia | England | 2-1 | |
| 1893 | England | Australia | 1-0 | |
| 1894-95 | England | Australia | 3-2 | |
| 1896 | England | Australia | 2-1 | |
| 1897-98 | Australia | England | 4-1 | |
| 1899 | Australia | England | 1-0 | |
| 1901-02 | Australia | England | 4-1 | |
| 1903-04 | England | Australia | 3-2 | |
| 1905 | England | Australia | 2-0 | |
| 1907-08 | Australia | England | 4-1 | |
| 1909 | Australia | England | 2-1 | |
| 1911-12 | England | Australia | 4-1 | |
| 1912 | England | Australia | 1-0 | Triangular Tournament format |
| 1920-21 | Australia | England | 5-0 | |
| 1921 | Australia | England | 3-0 | |
| 1924-25 | Australia | England | 4-1 | |
| 1926 | England | Australia | 1-0 | |
| 1928-29 | England | Australia | 4-1 | |
| 1930 | Australia | England | 2-1 | |
| 1932-33 | England | Australia | 4-1 | Bodyline series |
| 1934 | Australia | England | 2-1 | |
| 1936-37 | Australia | England | 3-2 | |
| 1938 | Draw | – | 1-1 | England retained Ashes |
| 1946-47 | Australia | England | 3-0 | First post-WWII series |
| 1948 | Australia | England | 4-0 | Bradman’s Invincibles |
| 1950-51 | Australia | England | 4-1 | |
| 1953 | England | Australia | 1-0 | |
| 1954-55 | England | Australia | 3-1 | |
| 1956 | England | Australia | 2-1 | |
| 1958-59 | Australia | England | 4-0 | |
| 1961 | Australia | England | 2-1 | |
| 1962-63 | Draw | – | 1-1 | Australia retained Ashes |
| 1964 | Australia | England | 1-0 | |
| 1965-66 | Draw | – | 1-1 | Australia retained Ashes |
| 1968 | Draw | – | 1-1 | Australia retained Ashes |
| 1970-71 | England | Australia | 2-0 | |
| 1972 | Draw | – | 2-2 | England retained Ashes |
| 1974-75 | Australia | England | 4-1 | |
| 1975 | Australia | England | 1-0 | |
| 1977 | England | Australia | 3-0 | |
| 1978-79 | England | Australia | 5-1 | |
| 1981 | England | Australia | 3-1 | Botham’s Ashes |
| 1982-83 | Australia | England | 2-1 | |
| 1985 | England | Australia | 3-1 | |
| 1986-87 | England | Australia | 2-1 | |
| 1989 | Australia | England | 4-0 | |
| 1990-91 | Australia | England | 3-0 | |
| 1993 | Australia | England | 4-1 | |
| 1994-95 | Australia | England | 3-1 | |
| 1997 | Australia | England | 3-2 | |
| 1998-99 | Australia | England | 3-1 | |
| 2001 | Australia | England | 4-1 | |
| 2002-03 | Australia | England | 4-1 | |
| 2005 | England | Australia | 2-1 | Iconic series win for England |
| 2006-07 | Australia | England | 5-0 | Whitewash |
| 2009 | England | Australia | 2-1 | |
| 2010-11 | England | Australia | 3-1 | England’s first win in Australia since 1986-87 |
| 2013 | England | Australia | 3-0 | |
| 2013-14 | Australia | England | 5-0 | Whitewash |
| 2015 | England | Australia | 3-2 | |
| 2017-18 | Australia | England | 4-0 | |
| 2019 | Draw | – | 2-2 | Australia retained Ashes |
| 2021-22 | Australia | England | 4-0 | |
| 2023 | Draw | – | 2-2 | Australia retained Ashes |
| 2025-26 | TBD | TBD | Series scheduled; outcome pending as of March 25, 2025 |
