The Ashes

The last ten years of The Ashes have produced several highly competitive series, with both teams enjoying strong periods at home. This recent history offers useful context for understanding how the rivalry has developed across its latest editions.

Past The Ashes Editions

• The 2025-2026 Ashes

  The 2025-2026 Ashes, the seventy fourth edition of the contest, ran from 21 November 2025 to 8 January 2026 across Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. Australia retained the urn with a 4-1 series result after taking the first three Tests, establishing a strong early advantage in the series. England responded at the MCG with a four wicket win to halt a long winless stretch in Ashes Tests in Australia, but the SCG finale ended with Australia sealing the match by five wickets to close out a decisive home campaign.

  The structure followed the traditional five Test format, with conditions varying sharply across venues and influencing momentum throughout the tour. Australia’s consistency across long spells proved central to the outcome, while England’s batting showed flashes without sustaining pressure often enough. The series also sat within the 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship, adding broader significance to each result.

• The 2023 Ashes

  The 2023 Ashes in England was a gripping series that kept fans engaged right through to the final Test. England looked to reclaim the urn with their aggressive approach, while Australia arrived as the holders and showed considerable resilience. Australia won the first two Tests at Edgbaston and Lord's. The Lord's Test featured the controversial dismissal of Jonny Bairstow, after Alex Carey removed the bails while Bairstow had left his crease, sparking a major debate about the spirit of the game. England then fought back to win the Third Test at Headingley, with important contributions from Harry Brook and Chris Woakes. Rain prevented a result in the Fourth Test at Old Trafford, allowing Australia to retain the Ashes. England won the Fifth Test at The Oval to level the series 2-2, but Australia kept the urn as the holders. Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Starc were among Australia's standout performers, while Zak Crawley and Chris Woakes were important for England.

• The 2021-2022 Ashes

  Australia dominated this series on home soil, defeating England 4-0. The Australian team, led by Pat Cummins, adapted well to the conditions, while England struggled against the pace and bounce of the Australian pitches. Scott Boland made an immediate impact on his Ashes debut, particularly in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, where he took 6 wickets for 7 runs in the second innings. Travis Head was Australia's leading run-scorer and produced several important contributions with the bat. The series highlighted Australia's ability to make the most of home conditions, with its pace attack consistently putting England's batting under pressure.

• The 2019 Ashes

  Many people remember this series as one of the most exciting Ashes contests in recent years, largely because of several outstanding individual performances. Steve Smith's prolific run-scoring helped Australia make a strong start after his return from suspension, as he scored 774 runs in seven innings, including three centuries and three fifties, at an average of 110.57. Ben Stokes' unbeaten 135 in the Third Test at Headingley was another defining moment. His innings helped England complete an extraordinary one-wicket victory while chasing 359. The match quickly became an Ashes classic, highlighting the drama and unpredictability of Test cricket. England's victory in the Fifth Test meant the series finished 2-2, but Australia retained the urn as the holders after winning the opening Test.

• The 2017-2018 Ashes

  As in 2021-2022, Australia dominated the series at home. Steve Smith was once again Australia's leading batter, scoring 687 runs at an average of 137.40, including three centuries. Australia's fast bowlers, particularly Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, made effective use of the home conditions and consistently put England's batting under pressure. Australia produced a strong all-round team performance and won the series 4-0 to reclaim the Ashes.

• The 2015 Ashes

  England's most recent Ashes series win came in 2015, when they defeated Australia 3-2 at home. Joe Root was one of England's leading contributors with the bat, while Stuart Broad produced one of the series' most memorable performances with 8 for 15 in the Fourth Test at Trent Bridge, as Australia were bowled out for 60 in their first innings. The series showed how effectively England's bowlers could use home conditions, with swing and seam movement proving difficult for Australia's batters.