The Ashes is more than a cricket series: it is the oldest, fiercest, and most storied rivalry in Test cricket. Played between England and Australia roughly every two years.
The Ashes combines national pride, dramatic moments, and a cultural legacy that stretches back to the 19th century.
The contest takes its name from a famous Victorian-era newspaper joke, and ever since that satirical obituary in 1882, every Ashes series has carried the weight of history and expectation.
Origin: how “The Ashes” began
The origin story is delightfully English after Australia beat England at The Oval in 1882.
The first Australian win on English soil, a London newspaper, The Sporting Times, published a mock obituary for English cricket, saying it had “died” and that “the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia.”
The phrase caught the public imagination, and when the two teams next met in 1882–83 in Australia, the term “The Ashes” was born.
The tiny terracotta urn, often associated with the series and reputed to contain a burnt bail, became the symbolic trophy.
However, the official series “trophy” used in public ceremonies is a different cup.
What The Ashes means today
Today, The Ashes still stands as Test cricket’s marquee contest. Typically, a five-test series, the holder of the Ashes is the team that won the most recent series; if a series is drawn, the current holder retains the urn.
Matches alternate between venues in England and Australia and are played with an intensity rarely matched in other bilateral series.
The rivalry has produced classic matches, iconic individual performances, and tactical battles that cricket fans debate for generations.
A short timeline of the rivalry (key eras)
- Victorian & Edwardian Eras (1882–1914): The rivalry quickly became institutionalised through regular, lengthy sea voyages, and strong personalities marked early Ashes matches.
- Inter-war & Post-war Eras (1919–1950s): Ashes cricket resumed after the World Wars; this period saw the rise of legends such as Jack Hobbs and Don Bradman.
- The Bradman & Post-Bradman Era (1930s–1950s): Don Bradman’s exploits (including his astonishing career average) defined Australia’s dominance in parts of this era.
- Pace & Spin Battles (1960s–1990s): From fast-bowling attacks to Shane Warne’s revival of leg spin, each decade added a new tactical layer. Shane Warne and other modern greats transformed the contest in the 1990s.
- Modern Commercial Era (2000s–2020s): Big crowds, television revenues, and professional fitness regimes raised standards while preserving the classic confrontation. Recent series have been dramatic, closely fought, and globally followed. (ESPN Cricinfo)
Iconic moments and players
The Ashes have produced cricketing theatre: Bradman’s dominance in the 1930s and Jim Laker’s 19 wickets at Old Trafford in 1956.
England’s 1981 “Botham’s Ashes,” where Ian Botham turned the series with a flurry of all-round heroics, and Shane Warne’s “Ball of the Century” in 1993.
More recently, tight finishes and the emotional weight of retaining or winning the urn have kept fans hooked.
Records from the series underline its quality: Donald Bradman is the highest run-scorer in Ashes Tests, and Shane Warne, the leading wicket-taker. (ESPN Cricinfo)
Format and Rules
An Ashes series is conventionally five tests (though historically there have been four- and six-Test editions).
Each Test is played over five days under the standard Laws of Cricket. Series scheduling alternates between England and Australia, with squad selection, pitches, and weather playing major strategic roles — especially England’s seam-friendly conditions and Australia’s bouncy wickets.
The holder-retention rule (a drawn series means the incumbent holds the Ashes) adds an extra layer of tactical consequence.
Winners summary list (1882–2025)
Below is a compact winners’ summary, grouped by era/decade, to give a clear view of how the urn moved between the two nations.
For a complete match-by-match, series-by-series table, you can consult the authoritative records at ESPNcricinfo and the Wikipedia-compiled list. (ESPN Cricinfo)
Note: Series counts below reflect the long history from the first contests through 2025; detailed series-by-series tables are linked after the summary.
1882–1919 (Founding decades)
- 1882–83 to 1912–13: The early series saw England and Australia trading wins; England held early dominance at times, and Australia took several series on home soil.
1920s–1940s (Inter-war and Bradman era)
- Australia frequently dominated during Bradman’s era, including several series wins in the 1930s.
1950s–1970s (Post-war & All-round battles)
- England and Australia continued to exchange series victories; memorable England wins (e.g., 1953) and Australia’s strongholds in the 1950s–60s.
1980s–1990s (Pace & Spin; Botham and Warne)
- England’s 1981 revival and Australia’s strong showings in the late 1980s and 1990s, with bowlers like Warne redefining the contest.
2000s–2010s (Contemporary rivalries)
- Tight contests, including Australian dominance in the early 2000s, England’s famous 2005 win, Australia’s 2006–07 victory, and the see-saw battles of the 2010s.
2020s (Recent)
- The 2019 series (drawn 2–2) meant Australia retained the Ashes; the 2023 series was highly competitive.
- Up to 2025, there have been 73 Ashes series, with Australia winning 34 and England 32, and many drawn series in which the incumbent retained the urn. (For full per-series winners: see the series list).
Where to view a complete series-by-series winners table:
- ESPNcricinfo’s Ashes team-series results page provides a chronological list of every Ashes series with results.
- Wikipedia’s “List of Ashes series” compiles the series with basic stats and notes.
Why the Ashes still matter (a human view)
Why do millions care about a bilateral test series between two countries? The Ashes taps into national identity, tradition, and the romance of five-day cricket, a format that rewards patience, technique and resilience.
For players, it offers the chance to use technique and an exclusive roll call of heroes; for fans, it creates narratives that extend beyond sport into national folklore.
Every Ashes tour is measured against the terrific contests of the past, and the weight of history makes every catch, run, and wicket feel momentous.
Quick reference: record holders (Ashes highlights)
- Most runs (Ashes Tests): Donald Bradman.
- Most wickets (Ashes Tests): Shane Warne.
“Out of Time”: Cummins Ruled Out of First Ashes Test
Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins has confirmed as unavailable for the first Ashes Test in Perth (21 November 2025) due to a lingering lower-back stress injury.
Despite resuming running and beginning his return to bowling, coach Andrew McDonald admitted that Cummins had “run out of time” to be fit for the opener. (Cricket Australia) In his absence, Steve Smith will lead Australia in match one. While Scott Boland is likely to join the pace attack alongside Mitchell Starc.
Ashes 2025/26: A Historic Clash Returns Down Under
The 2025–26 Ashes series set to reignite the epic rivalry between Australia and England. Kicking off in Perth for the first time in 43 years from 21–25 November 2025. (Cricket) With Pat Cummins ruled out of the opening Test, Steve Smith will helm Australia, adding experience and gravitas.
The series features five high-stakes tests across iconic venues, including a rare day-night Ashes test at the Gabba. Traditional Boxing Day cricket at the MCG, and a New Year’s showdown in Sydney.
This Ashes edition isn’t just about cricket; it’s built for legacy, drama, and one of the fiercest rivalries in sports.
Mitchell Starc Makes Ashes History with ‘Unique Century’ in Perth
In the opening test of the 2025–26 Ashes series at Optus Stadium, Mitchell Starc etched his name into the history books by becoming the first left-arm seamer ever to reach 100 Ashes wickets.
During a fiery spell, he picked up three quick top-order wickets—including Joe Root for a duck—and sealed the milestone in just 23 Ashes Tests. Accomplishing a feat no other left-armer has achieved. (ABP Live)
Historic First Ashes Test Ends in Two Days for the First Time Since 1921
In a remarkable turn of events, the first Ashes Test in Perth (2025) finished inside in just two days. This is the first time this has happened in an Ashes match since Nottingham in 1921.
Australia secured a dominant eight-wicket win after Travis Head smashed a brilliant century (123 off 83) and Mitchell Starc ran through England’s batting with devastating pace.
According to ESPN, this Perth Test became just the third-shortest Ashes Test ever, with only two 19th-century games (in 1888) seeing fewer deliveries bowled. (ESPN) The collapse marked a century-old record smashed, leaving cricket historians and fans stunned by the speed and dominance of the result.