Ashes Series Records: Wins, Draws, and 145 Years of Results

The All-Time Ashes Record

As of 2025, Australia lead the Ashes all-time series record: of the 73 series contested since the first in 1882 (which inspired the 'Ashes' mythology), Australia have won 34, England 32, and 7 have been drawn (shared or tied 1–1 in a two-Test series). In terms of individual Tests, Australia lead with 144 wins to England's 110, with 99 draws from 353 Tests. The Australian dominance is not as overwhelming as it sometimes appears from era to era: both countries have dominated for sustained periods, making the Ashes' overall record genuinely close by historical standards. This near-parity is part of what sustains the rivalry's intensity after nearly 150 years.

Australia's Dominant Eras

Australia's most dominant period began in 1989, when Allan Border's team won a series in England and launched an extraordinary run: Australia won every Ashes series from 1989 to 2003 — eight consecutive series — including four away wins in England. The peak of this dominance was the 2006–07 series (Steve Harmison's famous first-ball wide to second slip, Ricky Ponting's team winning 5–0) and the 2013–14 series (Mitchell Johnson's devastating pace, 5–0 in Australia). Before that, the 1920s Bradman era produced a period of almost unbroken Australian supremacy. Don Bradman captained Australia from 1936 to 1948, and the periods when he was available correlated precisely with Australian Ashes victories.

England's Greatest Ashes Triumphs

England's greatest sustained Ashes period was the 1950s: England won in 1953 (the Coronation year), 1954–55 in Australia (Hutton's team), and retained the urn in 1956 (Jim Laker's series). The 2005 series is England's most celebrated modern Ashes win — their first after 18 years of Australian dominance. Played across five Tests in England, the series was ultimately decided by two runs (Edgbaston), Jason Gillespie's unusual promotion as pinch-hitter, and Andrew Flintoff's all-round brilliance. England also won in 2010–11 (3–1 in Australia, their first win in Australia since 1986–87) and in 2015 at home (4–0 under Alastair Cook). The 2023 Ashes, under Ben Stokes's 'Bazball' team, was the first drawn series in England since 1972.

The Closest Series

Several Ashes series have been decided by the narrowest of margins. The 1882 series that gave the Ashes its name was a single Test decided by 7 runs — England's loss prompting the satirical obituary notice about 'the death of English cricket.' The 1902 series was decided by one Test. The 2005 series (England won 2–1) included the famous two-run victory at Edgbaston. The 1999 Ashes in England (Australia won 3–1) was ultimately more comfortable than the series suggested. The 2023 Ashes ended 2–2 with the final Test drawn, meaning Australia retained the urn despite not winning the series — a rule that confuses casual followers but maintains consistency with the 'retention' principle that whichever team holds the urn retains it on a drawn series.

The Bodyline Series

The 1932–33 Ashes in Australia is the most controversial series in cricket history. England captain Douglas Jardine devised a 'leg theory' bowling strategy — directing fast bowlers Harold Larwood and Bill Voce to bowl at the batters' bodies, with a ring of leg-side fielders to catch deflections — specifically to neutralise Don Bradman. England won 4–1, but the diplomatic fallout nearly caused a constitutional crisis between England and Australia (which was then a Dominion of the British Empire). Bradman averaged 56.57 in the series — well below his usual standard but still the best on either side. The series prompted changes to the Laws of Cricket limiting leg-side field placements. It remains the definitive example of tactics outrunning the spirit of the game.

The Invincibles: 1948

Don Bradman's 1948 Australian touring team went through the entire England tour — including the five-Test Ashes series — undefeated: played 34, won 23, drawn 11. They became known as 'The Invincibles.' Bradman's farewell Test at The Oval saw him bowled second ball by Eric Hollies for a duck, meaning he finished his Test career four runs short of a 100 average (99.94). The 1948 team included some of the game's most celebrated players: Keith Miller, Ray Lindwall, Arthur Morris, and Neil Harvey. Australia won the series 4–0. The Invincibles tour remains the benchmark for touring team performance and is regularly cited when assessing subsequent dominant teams — including the 2001 Australian team that also won 4–1 in England, and Ricky Ponting's 2006–07 team that whitewashed England 5–0.