The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. The series have varied in length, consisting of between one and seven Test matches, but since 1998 have been consistently five matches. It is the sport's most celebrated rivalry and dates back to 1882. It is generally played biennially, alternating between the United Kingdom and Australia. Australia are the current holders of the Ashes, having either won or drawn each series between 2017âÂÂ18 and 2025âÂÂ26.
Although the first Test series played between England and Australia was in the 1876âÂÂ77 season, the Ashes originated from the solitary Test which the two nations contested in 1882. England lost the match, played at The Oval, and a mock obituary was posted in The Sporting Times, declaring the death of English cricket. It stated that: "The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia." Ivo Bligh adopted the term and, as captain of the English party that travelled to Australia the following winter, promised to bring the "Ashes" home.
After their loss to Australia in 1882, England won the next eight series between the two sides, during which time they lost only four of the 22 Tests. Australia won an Ashes series for the first time in 1891âÂÂ92, when they beat England 2âÂÂ1. The 1932âÂÂ33 tour was known as the "Bodyline series" as, in response to the talented Australian batsman Don Bradman, England developed a tactic of bowling quickly at the body of the batsmen with most of the fielders placed in a close ring on the leg side. England won the series, but the tactic prompted changes to the laws of cricket, and the Australians, buoyed by the batting of Bradman, regained the Ashes during the next series and then held them for six series, spanning nineteen years. It was during this period that the Australians travelled to England in 1948, and remained unbeaten during the whole tour, gaining the nickname of "The Invincibles". In addition to winning the five match Test series 4âÂÂ0, Australia won or drew all of its 29 other matches against county and representative sides.
Since 1882, only one series has been played between the two sides that was not deemed an Ashes series, that being the three Test series in the Australian summer of 1979âÂÂ80, won by Australia 3âÂÂ0. This was the first Australian home Test series with a unified team after two summers of World Series Cricket and was not deemed an Ashes series as England had retained the Ashes 5âÂÂ1 on Australian soil 12 months earlier. On three other occasions, a one-off commemorative Test match was played in which the Ashes were not at stake, which were the 1977 Melbourne Centenary Test, the 1980 Lords Centenary Test and the 1988 Bicentennial Test played at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January 1988.
Australia has won more Ashes Tests than England, winning 140 of the 340 matches, compared to England's 108 victories. Australia also holds the edge in Ashes series won, having won on 34 occasions compared to England's 32. There have been seven drawn series, and on six of these occasions, Australia has retained the Ashes due to being holders going into the series. England has retained the Ashes after a drawn series once.
On three occasions has a team won all the Tests in an Ashes series; only Australia has achieved the feat 5âÂÂ0 in 1920âÂÂ21, 2006âÂÂ07 and 2013âÂÂ14. England's largest winning margin in an Ashes series was in 1978âÂÂ79, when it won 5âÂÂ1. England's largest unbeaten winning margin of 3âÂÂ0 in an Ashes series was achieved in 1886, 1977 and 2013.
Both England and Australia have held the Ashes for a record eight consecutive series, England doing so between 1882âÂÂ83 and 1890, while Australia achieved the feat from 1989 to 2002âÂÂ03.