2017-18 Ashes: Australia Win 4-0 in Australia
Australia won the 2017-18 Ashes 4-0 in Australia, reclaiming the urn from England. Steve Smith's 687 runs and Nathan Lyon's 21 wickets were the decisive performances.
Australia won the 2017-18 Ashes 4-0, retaking the urn they had surrendered in 2015. Steve Smith, as captain, scored 687 runs at an average of 137.40 — a commanding series by any batter's standard. England's bowling, led by Stuart Broad and James Anderson, took wickets but could not contain Smith and could not defend modest totals consistently.
Steve Smith's Dominance
Smith scored centuries in the first four Tests and averaged over 100 after the first three. His technique against the short ball, his unusual back-and-across trigger movement, and his ability to hit to all parts of the ground made him nearly impossible to dismiss. England tried six different bowling plans — none worked consistently. Smith was dropped only once in the series — by Jonny Bairstow on 56 in Brisbane, a chance he converted into 141 not out.
Nathan Lyon's Off-Spin
Lyon took 21 wickets in the series at 25.47, including a career-defining spell at Adelaide where he destroyed England's second innings in the evening session with prodigious turn. Lyon had been doubted throughout the 2017 Australian winter — by the series end, he had established himself as one of Australia's great spinners.
England's Bat-Pad Difficulty
England's batters consistently struggled against balls that lifted or turned from good length on Australian pitches. Joe Root, in his first series as England captain, averaged 40 — respectable but not enough for a number three. Dawid Malan contributed a valuable century at Perth, but England lacked top-order consistency outside of Malan and occasional contributions from Jonny Bairstow.
Perth: The Series Decider
The third Test at the WACA was played on the last occasion the old ground hosted an Ashes Test (the Perth Stadium replacing it from 2018). Australia won by an innings and 41 runs in four days. Johnson-era pace memories were replaced by Pat Cummins's ability to extract steep bounce at a consistent length. England's second innings — 218 all out chasing 551 — illustrated the gulf between the teams on their home surface.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the 2017-18 Ashes?
Australia won 4-0, reclaiming the Ashes urn they had lost to England in 2015. Steve Smith scored 687 runs; Nathan Lyon took 21 wickets.
How did Joe Root perform in 2017-18?
Root averaged 40 in the series — his first as England captain. He made several starts but converted only one into a large score. Australia's bowling kept England's batting under consistent pressure.
Was the WACA Perth used in the 2017-18 Ashes?
Yes — it was the final Ashes Test at the old WACA Ground. From 2018, Tests in Perth moved to the Optus Stadium (now the Perth Stadium). Australia won the WACA match by an innings.