The 2023 Ashes: England's Bazball vs Australia
A complete guide to the 2023 Ashes series — England's Bazball revolution versus Australia's world champions, a series of 5 Tests that Australia retained with a 2-2 draw, featuring extraordinary matches at Edgbaston, Headingley, and The Oval.
The 2023 Ashes series between England and Australia was one of the most compelling series in modern cricket — a five-Test battle of philosophies between Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum's revolutionary Bazball England and Pat Cummins' defending World Cup champions Australia. The series ended 2-2 with Australia retaining the urn, but the quality of cricket and the drama of individual matches left a series regarded by many as the finest of the 2020s.
First Test — Edgbaston: The Series Sets Its Tone
The first Test at Edgbaston set the tone for the entire series. Australia posted 393 in the first innings; England, chasing 281 to win, attempted the target in true Bazball fashion. They were 117/7 when Ben Duckett and Jonny Bairstow began an extraordinary partnership that brought England to within three wickets of victory. Australia won by two wickets — but the manner in which England had attempted the chase rather than playing for a draw signalled a transformed attitude.
Second Test — Lord's: The Controversies
The Lord's Test produced the most controversial moment of the series — the Jonny Bairstow stumping. With England batting in the second innings and Bairstow having walked out of his crease thinking a delivery was dead, Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey collected a throw and broke the stumps. Bairstow was given out by the third umpire — within the Laws of Cricket but against the spirit of the game in many observers' view. The dismissal inflamed the Lord's crowd. Australia won by 43 runs, taking a 2-0 series lead.
Third Test — Headingley and Fourth Test — Old Trafford
England rallied with a stunning victory at Headingley — chasing 251, they won by three wickets with Mark Wood taking 5/34 in Australia's second innings to bowl the tourists out for 224. The fourth Test at Old Trafford produced another England victory, with Root and Brook batting Australia into submission in a comfortable win. The series was level at 2-2 going to the final Test at The Oval.
Fifth Test — The Oval: Stuart Broad's Farewell
The fifth Test at The Oval produced one of cricket's most emotional moments — Stuart Broad's retirement on the final day. Australia retained the urn with a 49-run victory, though England came close. Broad, who had taken 2,976 minutes to take his 600th Test wicket during the series, announced his retirement immediately after the final ball — at the ground where he had played so many famous Tests. His 604 Test wickets across a 17-year career will stand as England's second greatest bowling achievement after Anderson's.
Series Summary
| Test | Venue | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Edgbaston | Australia | 2 wickets |
| 2nd | Lord's | Australia | 43 runs |
| 3rd | Headingley | England | 3 wickets |
| 4th | Old Trafford | England | 3 wickets |
| 5th | The Oval | Australia | 49 runs (retained) |
Frequently asked questions
Who won the 2023 Ashes series?
Australia won the 2023 Ashes series, retaining the urn with a 2-2 draw. They entered the series as holders from their 4-0 win in Australia in 2021-22, meaning a draw was sufficient to retain. Individual match winners: Australia won at Edgbaston and Lord's; England won at Headingley and Old Trafford; Australia won at The Oval.
What was the Jonny Bairstow stumping controversy at Lord's in 2023?
At Lord's in the second Test, Jonny Bairstow walked out of his crease at the end of an over, apparently thinking the ball was dead. Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey gathered the ball and broke the wicket; the third umpire gave Bairstow out. The dismissal was within the Laws but divided opinion on the spirit of cricket. Australia appealed and kept the wicket. They won the match by 43 runs.
Who retired during the 2023 Ashes?
Stuart Broad retired from all cricket on the final day of the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval, immediately after Australia's match-winning victory. He retired with 604 Test wickets — England's second all-time behind James Anderson. His partnership with Anderson as England's opening bowling attack across 14 years was the most successful in Test history.