The Ashes: Cricket’s Greatest Bilateral Rivalry
Hello, fellow Sports Enthusiasts,
If there is anything more exciting than a World Cup, it is an Ashes series. This is not a rivalry built on politics or media hype. It's just the purest form of cricket with intense drama, talent, pride, and emotions. The Ashes Test Series has been ongoing for over a century now between the founders of Cricket, England, and the most successful team in Cricket, Australia.
With all the buzz around the tournament, let's look at some interesting facts and stats from the Ashes.
The history and early years
- Well, officially, the Ashes Test series was started in 1882 in a funny way. In a Test match played at the Oval, London, England lost to Australia for the first time at home. So, a newspaper article joked about that saying, "England Cricket is dead, the body will be cremated, and the ashes taken to Australia."
Anyhow, the England captain at the time, Ivo Bligh, took the challenge. In a few weeks, they played in Australia again, won the series, and reclaimed the Ashes.
- So, the tradition that started has evolved a lot and has been played for 143 years. The current 2025- 2026 season is its 74th edition. A small urn-shaped Waterford Crystal trophy is given to the winners from season to season.
The series has been for generations, with many star players performing in both teams like W G Grace, Don Bradman, Len Hutton, Jim Laker, Peter May, Ian Botham, Shane Warne, etc
The number of matches in a single series was different at the early stage. But now it's always a five-match series hosted by each team simultaneously. The 2025-2026 season is played in Australia from 21 November 2025 to 8 January 2026.
The domination has been shifted between the two teams from time to time. At the start, it was England who owned the series. They won the first 8 series from 1882-1890. Australia won it for the first time in 1891-1892. Lately, after the 1990s, it was mainly in the hands of Aussies. But England has been a worthy and attacking competitor.
The Stats
- Well, as you can see in the image below, Australia has been the most successful team. Out of the 346 matches so far (with the first match of this season), they have won 143 while England has just 110 victories. 93 of them have been drawn. Australia is excellent in their home, and they have done well to equaize in England. You can see the details of all Ashes series, from here.
- Sir Donal Bradman has been the highest scorer by far, scoring 5028 runs in just 37 matches at a whopping average of 89.78. In his span of 1928-1948 Australian team was just brilliant. His 974 runs in 7 innings in the 1930 series are still the most in a series for the Ashes
There are many great names in the top list, and Steve Smith is the only active player in the top five.
Leonard Hutton of England has scored 364 runs in 1938, which is still the highest Ashes individual score. There have been 5 triple hundreds and 40, 200+ individual scores.
Not surprising that legendary Shane Warne tops this list with 195 wickets in 36 matches. And look at the list that followed him. There are no active ballers in the top 10.
- In 1956, England's Jim Laker took all 10 wickets for 53 runs in the first inning, which is the best performance, and in the next inning, he took another 9 wickets for 37 runs, which is the second best so far. So, his 19 wickets in the match are a record in the Ashes.
There have been so many memorable moments, memorable innings in the Ashes. In the recent times, masterclass perfromance from Ben Stokes in 2019 Headingly Ashes Test , clutch perfromance from Flintoff at Edgbaston Test in 2005 are memorable.
So, the Ashes series has always been exciting. Every tour makes new memories, with intense battles on and off the field. Two old rivalries are shaping the cricket and carrying the game forward. Long live Test Cricket!
src - [ESPNcricinfo]https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/trophy/the-ashes-1)
wikipedia
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