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Alright, cricket fans, let’s talk about one of the coolest and oldest rivalries in the game – The Ashes. If you’ve ever wondered why Australia and England go all out when they face off, this is for you. The Ashes story kicks off way back in 1882, after a wild match at The Oval in London.
How It All Began
Picture this: England, the top dogs in cricket, get beaten by Australia at their own game. Yup, Australia snagged their first-ever Test win on English soil. The British press, being the cheeky lot they are, published an obituary in The Sporting Times. It declared that English cricket had died and “the body will be cremated, and the ashes taken to Australia.” And just like that, the Ashes legend was born.
The Ashes Urn
So, what’s the deal with the urn? During the 1882-83 series in Australia, English captain Ivo Bligh vowed to bring those “ashes” back. England won two out of three Tests on that tour. As a joke, some Melbourne ladies presented Bligh with a tiny urn. They claimed it held the ashes of English cricket. This little urn became cricket’s most famous trophy.
The Trophy and the Series
Here’s a fun fact: the actual urn isn’t the official trophy. It was a personal gift to Bligh, but since then, replicas have been used. Nowadays, winners lift a Waterford Crystal trophy modeled on the original urn. The Ashes series itself? It’s a set of five Test matches played every two years, alternating between England and Australia.
The Rivalry
This series is a big deal. It’s not just about winning; it’s about bragging rights. The team that wins gets to hold onto the Ashes until the next series. If it’s a draw, the team that already had the Ashes keeps them. Pretty intense, right?
The Score So Far
Since 1882, there have been 73 Ashes series. Australia has won 34 times and held onto the Ashes after six drawn series. England? They’ve won 32 times and kept the Ashes once after a draw. This rivalry isn’t just historic; it’s ongoing and fierce.
Overview
| Event | Details |
| Inception Year | 1882 |
| First Test Win | Australia defeated England at The Oval |
| Newspaper Obituary | Published by The Sporting Times, humorously declaring English cricket dead |
| First Ashes Urn | Presented to English captain Ivo Bligh in 1882-83, symbolizing the rivalry |
| Series Structure | Five Test matches played every two years, alternating between England and Australia |
Summary of the Ashes Results and Statistics
The Ashes, one of cricket’s oldest and most celebrated rivalries, has seen numerous thrilling matches and series over its long history. Here’s a breakdown of the key statistics and results up to July 31, 2023.
Overall Test Results
- Total Tests Played: 361
- Australia Wins: 152
- England Wins: 111
- Draws: 98
Overall Series Results
- Total Series Played: 73
- Australia Wins: 34
- England Wins: 32
- Drawn Series: 7
Key Points
- Australia has held the Ashes for approximately 84.5 years.
- England has held the Ashes for about 55.5 years.
Series and Match Formats
- The Ashes series generally consists of five Test matches.
- There have been four-match series (1938, 1975) and six-match series (1970-71, 1974-75, 1978-79, 1981, 1985, 1989, 1993, 1997).
Batting and Bowling Achievements
- Australian Centuries in Ashes Tests: 264 (with 23 scores over 200)
- English Centuries in Ashes Tests: 212 (with 10 scores over 200)
- 10-Wicket Hauls: Australians have achieved this 41 times; Englishmen have done so 38 times.
| Category | Australia | England |
| Tests Played | 361 | 361 |
| Wins | 152 | 111 |
| Draws | 98 | 98 |
| Series Played | 73 | 73 |
| Series Wins | 34 | 32 |
| Drawn Series | 7 | 7 |
| Centuries (Total) | 264 | 212 |
| Double Centuries | 23 | 10 |
| 10-Wicket Hauls | 41 | 38 |
The Ashes Venues: Where the Magic Happens
The Ashes series isn’t just about the intense rivalry between Australia and England. It’s also about the iconic venues that host these epic battles. Each match is held at a different ground, and these venues have their own rich histories and unique vibes. Let’s check out where the magic happens!
Australia’s Ashes Grounds
In Australia, Ashes matches are played at some of the most legendary cricket grounds. Here’s where you can catch the action Down Under:
- The Gabba (Brisbane): First staged an England-Australia Test in the 1932-33 season. This venue is known for its lively pitch and enthusiastic crowds.
- Adelaide Oval (Adelaide): Hosting since 1884-85, this ground is famous for its picturesque setting and recent day-night Test matches.
- Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG): The MCG has been hosting Ashes Tests since 1876-77 and is renowned for the Boxing Day Test.
- Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG): Another classic, the SCG has been a Test venue since 1881-82 and traditionally hosts the New Year’s Day Test.
- Brisbane Exhibition Ground: Hosted a single Ashes Test in 1928-29.
- WACA (Perth): Known for its pace and bounce, the WACA held its final Ashes Test in 2017-18 before being replaced by the Perth Stadium.
- Bellerive Oval (Hobart): Hosted its first Ashes Test in 2021-22, filling in due to COVID-19 restrictions affecting Perth.
Here’s a quick look at the main venues in Australia:
| Ground | Location | First Ashes Test | Special Note |
| The Gabba | Brisbane | 1932-33 | Lively pitch, enthusiastic crowds |
| Adelaide Oval | Adelaide | 1884-85 | Picturesque setting, day-night Tests |
| Melbourne Cricket Ground | Melbourne | 1876-77 | Boxing Day Test |
| Sydney Cricket Ground | Sydney | 1881-82 | New Year’s Day Test |
| Brisbane Exhibition Ground | Brisbane | 1928-29 | Hosted a single Ashes Test |
| WACA | Perth | 1970-71 | Known for pace and bounce |
| Bellerive Oval | Hobart | 2021-22 | First Ashes Test due to COVID-19 |
England’s Ashes Grounds
Across the pond in England, the Ashes are played at some equally iconic venues. Here’s where the action unfolds in England and Wales:
- Old Trafford (Manchester): Hosting since 1884, this ground is a fortress for England.
- The Oval (London): Another historic venue, first hosting an Ashes Test in 1880.
- Lord’s (London): Known as the “Home of Cricket,” Lord’s has been part of the Ashes since 1884.
- Headingley (Leeds): Famous for thrilling matches, this ground has been hosting since 1899.
- Edgbaston (Birmingham): Known for its vibrant atmosphere, it’s been an Ashes venue since 1902.
- Sophia Gardens (Cardiff): A newer addition, hosting since 2009.
- Riverside Ground (Chester-le-Street): Joined the list in 2003.
- Trent Bridge (Nottingham): Another classic, part of the Ashes since 1899.
- Bramall Lane (Sheffield): Hosted a single Ashes Test in 1902.
Here’s a snapshot of the main venues in England:
| Ground | Location | First Ashes Test | Special Note |
| Old Trafford | Manchester | 1884 | A fortress for England |
| The Oval | London | 1880 | Historic venue |
| Lord’s | London | 1884 | The “Home of Cricket” |
| Headingley | Leeds | 1899 | Famous for thrilling matches |
| Edgbaston | Birmingham | 1902 | Vibrant atmosphere |
| Sophia Gardens | Cardiff | 2009 | Newer addition |
| Riverside Ground | Chester-le-Street | 2003 | Newer addition |
| Trent Bridge | Nottingham | 1899 | Another classic venue |
| Bramall Lane | Sheffield | 1902 | Hosted a single Ashes Test |
2005-15: A Decade of Ashes Drama
Now, fans of cricket, let’s take a dive into a wild decade of the Ashes from 2005 to 2015. There were many such moments and performances in this period.
2005: The Series That Had It All
The 2005 Ashes series has been hailed as one of the greatest ever. England was unbeaten in Tests throughout 2004 and only ranked second in the ICC Test Championship. Expectations were high and it didn’t disappoint. At Lord’s, Australia dominated the first test while England fought back to win the Second Test by two runs – the smallest margin ever recorded between them in an Ashes series and also second smallest amongst all Tests. The Third Test at Old Trafford ended in a rain-affected draw with Australia following on for the first time in 191 Tests. With a drawn final Test they won claiming their first ashes since 1985 as well as their first home victory since that year.
2006-07: Australia’s Dominance
Australia reasserted themselves with a crushing 5-0 victory over England on home soil in the 2006/07 series. This was not done since1920/21 when there was such an overwhelming difference between teams competing for Ashes. Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer retired after this series while Damien Martyn retired during it.
2009: England Strikes Back
It was another thriller in 2009 series. The First Test at Cardiff ended up being a thrilling draw after last pair of English batsmen survived for over an hour (69 balls). On top of that, England won at Lords for the first time since1934 thus leading by one-nil.Leading into Edgbaston they drew against each other before Australia won comfortably at Headingley.A margin of197runs saw England triumphing over Australia at The Oval in the fifth Test and getting back the ashes trophy. Andrew Flintoff retired from Test cricket at the end of this series.
2010-11: England’s Resurgence
The 2010-11 series played in Australia was dominated by England. In Brisbane, the first test ended in a draw but then England won an innings victory in Adelaide followed by another over Perth. They sealed it with a huge win by innings margin at Melbourne making the score 2-1 for an unreachable position, subsequently also winning by an innings once again at Sydney. This was England’s first series win in Australia for twenty-four years during which their score went above 500 runs in one innings four times – batting dominance not seen since Bradman scored highly against them in 1930.
2013: Australia’s Comeback
The Ashes of 2013 were far from perfect for Australia on English soil. Darren Lehmann replaced Mickey Arthur after a poor run of results. Despite that narrow defeat by England they lost just fourteen runs as well as drawing the third one. After a tight contest, Ashes remained with England.
2013-14: Australia’s Redemption
In reply to that, down under, Australia recorded a whitewash of five-nil, something that had never happened before since 1920/21 season when there was such lopsidedness among competing teams for Ashes.Mitchell Johnson took only thirteen wickets each costing him about thirty-eight while Ryan Harris also performed very well in his capacity as a bowler. This was too much for Graeme Swann whose elbow problem forced him to retire during that series ultimately seeing England being outplayed all round.
2015: England Strikes Again
On home ground, England reclaimed the Ashes during the 2015 series. The first test in Cardiff was won and England went on to win at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge leading to a series triumph of three games to two for England. A highlight of this winning match was Stuart Broad’s 8 for 15 in the first innings at Trent Bridge.
| Series | Location | Winner | Highlights |
| 2005 | England | England | Epic series with a 2-run win in the Second Test, first home win since 1985 |
| 2006-07 | Australia | Australia | Dominant 5-0 whitewash, retirements of Warne, McGrath, Langer, and Martyn |
| 2009 | England | England | Tense draw at Cardiff, first win at Lord’s since 1934, Flintoff’s retirement |
| 2010-11 | Australia | England | First series win in Australia in 24 years, four 500+ innings |
| 2013 | England | England | Close series, Australia’s narrow losses, Lehmann takes over as coach |
| 2013-14 | Australia | Australia | 5-0 whitewash, Johnson’s 37 wickets at 13.97 |
| 2015 | England | England | 3-2 series win, Broad’s 8 for 15 at Trent Bridge |
Ashes highlights 2017 to Present
Hold it, cricket fans: now let’s get on the ball about the latest Ashes games from 2017 to present. This has been a period of twists, turns and some intense cricketing moments.
Australia’s Dominance: 2017-18
Huge series; that’s what the 2017/2018 Ashes represented. Australia was hopeful going into this series but they were criticized for relying so much on Steve Smith and David Warner. On another side, England had a fragile middle order. Problematically, England was also suffering from Ben Stokes’ absence due to his involvement in a police investigation.
Australia started off with victory in Brisbane as they won by ten wickets. They carried on winning the second Test match in Adelaide by one hundred and twenty runs. In Perth during the third Test match won which was won an innings and forty-one runs sealed their first ever day-night Ashes Test match. Finally, the last Ashes Test at WACA Ground saw Australia regain back the Ashes through a 4-0 win over England.
The Battle of Bowlers: 2019
Going into the ashes of two thousand nineteen; both teams had strong bowling units and weak batting orders respectively. After ball-tampering scandal bans, Australia had Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft reintegrated into their team again. But then India was looming large after winning their first test series in Australia earlier that year itself. Before that happened though, Australia beat Sri Lanka in a two-match test series leading up to it.
England had just triumphed in July 2019 Cricket World Cup but concerns remained around its top-order batting mainly owing to Alastair Cook’s retirement in 2018.Rory Burns , Joe Denly and Jason Roy were all competing for places .England lost a three-match test series (2-1)against West Indies and beat Ireland in a one-off Test match by 143 runs.
The 2019 Ashes series ended in a 2-2 draw with Australia retaining the urn. It was an exciting series that had stand out performances and close matches.
Australia’s Home Advantage: 2021-22
Australia hosted the 2021/22 Ashes series from December 2021 to January 2022.This series was important for hosting the first ever Tasmania’s Bellerive Oval Ashes Test match at Hobart. Thus, they dispatched England by four tests to nought thus entitling them to keep possession of the ashes.
A Close Contest: 2023
England were hosting The Ashes in 2023. However, it started well for Australia because they won the first two Tests (0-2). England however won the third Test making it look like a contest again (1-2). The fourth Test was key into determining where England could level the score line but rain stopped play leading to a draw. With Australia retaining the Ashes, Stuart Broad announced his retirement during their final test played at The Oval. At last, England finally won this game thus ending up drawing two apiece with Australia for more details go over here above.
| Series | Location | Winner | Highlights |
| 2017-18 | Australia | Australia | Australia’s 4-0 series win, first day-night Ashes Test |
| 2019 | England | Draw (Australia retained) | Intense 2-2 draw, strong bowling attacks, Smith and Warner’s return |
| 2021-22 | Australia | Australia | 4-0 series win, first Ashes Test in Tasmania |
| 2023 | England | Draw (Australia retained) | Series drawn 2-2, rain-affected fourth Test, Broad’s retirement |
The recent Ashes series have been filled with intense cricket, dramatic comebacks, and memorable moments. From Australia’s dominant performances at home to the nail-biting finishes in England, the Ashes continue to captivate cricket fans around the world. At Lotus365, we’re all about celebrating these epic cricket battles. Whether you’re catching up on the latest series or getting into Lotus365 Sports betting, the excitement of the Ashes adds an extra thrill. With a Lotus365 ID, you can stay connected and enjoy a seamless betting experience while reliving these iconic moments.
