England vs Australia, the ultimate rivalry in cricket. Do you seek more enlightenment about one of the most prestigious encounter in cricket history? Look no further as we enlighten you with intriguing insights about the Ashes, the bi-annual competition that crowns the champion of the sport.
This enthralling head-to-head has spanned nearly 150 years between the English and Australian teams, leaving an indelible mark on the sport's history. How much do you truly know about the Ashes?
Allow us to take you on a journey of discovery with our collection of fascinating facts about the Ashes, including the profound results, awe-inspiring tests, and the game-changing players that have left an everlasting imprint.
However, this rivalry is not just an exhibition of skill and sportsmanship, but it has also been a breeding ground for acrimony and animosity. As a testament to this, we can recount instances of fan violence and unscrupulous bowlers. Despite this, the contest remains fiercely competitive, with the Australians currently leading with 34 series victories to England's 32.
What is your prediction for the upcoming 2023 tournament? Is it possible for England to halt Australia's momentum and assert their dominance, or will the Australian team maintain their firm grip on the Ashes and emerge victorious for yet another cycle? It's worth noting that Australia hasn't relinquished a series since 2015!
Let's not forget about the women's Ashes! England is eager to narrow the gap in the standings, as Australia currently holds a 9-6 lead in the series.
Both the men's and women's tournaments will take place simultaneously across England in June/July 2023, offering twice the amount of cricket to behold!
We're brimming with excitement for all the upcoming action, and we're sure you are too. Prepare yourself for the showdown with these extraordinary Ashes facts!
England clinch series but Australia win fifth Test Ashes 2015 |
21 Amazing Facts About the Ashes Series
1. what does the name ashes mean?
In the realm of cricket, there exists a peculiar title known as "The Ashes," which traces its origins to a most humiliating defeat experienced by the English at the hands of the Australian team in the year 1882. It is said that a certain British journalist by the name of Reginald Shirley Brooks, upon witnessing the calamitous event, made the claim that the sport of cricket in England had breathed its last breath and that its remains had been reduced to ashes, which were then taken and scattered throughout the Australian continent.
The English captain at the time, Ivo Bligh, then vowed to reclaim the Ashes for England.
2. When was the first Ashes test?
Australia and England first met in Test match cricket in Melbourne in 1877, but the legend of The Ashes, the symbolic trophy the two teams play for, only began in 1882.
Usually a series will be played every 18-30 months, and is now a 5-match series.
In the case of a draw, the Ashes urn is retained by the defending champion. |
3. What happens if there’s a draw?
It’s not uncommon for the Ashes series to end in a draw. The rules state that in the case of a draw, the Ashes is retained by the defending champion.
This makes total sense – you can’t take the trophy away after a tie! In the history of the Ashes there have been 6 draws.
4. England vs Australia at the Ashes
The intensity of this cricket rivalry between Australia and England is nothing short of remarkable. In addition to the aforementioned six draws, the current statistics demonstrate an incredibly narrow gap, with Australia having emerged victorious on 34 occasions and England on 32. It is difficult to imagine a more closely contested battle. Indeed, England is undoubtedly eager to secure a win in the next series, given that they have not laid claim to the Ashes since the year 2015.
5. What’s up with that tiny trophy?
As one might expect, the trophy awarded to the victor of the Ashes series is none other than a diminutive urn. After all, what other vessel would be more fitting for holding ashes? While the present-day version of the Ashes urn is composed of Waterford Crystal and was introduced in 1998, the original urn is now showcased at the MCC Museum, situated at the iconic Lord's cricket ground.
The Ashes urn |
6. The contents of the Ashes urn
It is entirely plausible that you might be wondering whether there are indeed any ashes contained within the Ashes urn. This question has spawned a legend, resulting in a great deal of rampant speculation. While some have surmised that the ashes are derived from a burnt cricket bail, others have suggested that they originated from a scorched cricket ball. Nonetheless, we can indeed attest to the fact that the Ashes urn does, in fact, contain ashes!
7. The Ashes facts by the numbers
Throughout the rich and storied history of the Ashes, a total of 356 tests have been played. Of these matches, Australia has emerged victorious on 150 occasions, while England has claimed the win in 110 matches. There have also been 96 instances where the contest resulted in a draw. In terms of individual batting performances, Australia has once again triumphed, amassing a total of 264 centuries. England, by comparison, has registered 212 centuries.
8. The Ashes highest run scorers
A fascinating and mind-blowing fact about the Ashes is that the iconic Sir Don Bradman, the legendary Australian cricketer, holds the all-time record for most runs scored with a jaw-dropping total of 5,028 runs to his name! In comparison, the top scorer for the English side is the esteemed Sir Jack Hobbs, who managed to amass a respectable 3,636 runs. It's no surprise that these outstanding athletes were bestowed with knighthood.
Sir Don Bradman |
9. The best-ever cricket team
Regarding Sir Don Bradman, it is widely believed that the 1948 Australian team that he led was the best cricket team ever assembled. They not only swept the Ashes without a single loss, but they also accomplished this impressive feat on foreign soil in England. It's no surprise that this team was known as "The Invincibles".
10. The incomparable Jim Laker
Jim Laker is one of the greatest English cricketers of all time and holds a special place in Ashes history. In 1956, during the fourth Test match at Old Trafford, Laker took a remarkable 19 wickets in the match, including all 10 in the second innings.
This performance is considered one of the greatest in the history of cricket and is often referred to as Laker's Match. It helped England win the Test by an innings and 170 runs and is still remembered as one of the most dominant individual performances in Ashes history.
11. Biggest Ashes wins by runs
It is interesting to note that out of the top 10 largest victories by runs in the Ashes, Australia has won 8 matches while England has won only 2. However, the largest victory by runs ever recorded in the Ashes was on November 30th, 1928 in Brisbane when England defeated Australia by a whopping 675 runs!
The Australian 2006/07 team was one of the best ever |
12. Largest series victory over Australia
England has never won every match in an Ashes series against Australia, which is known as a "whitewash." The closest they came was in 1978-79, when they won 5 out of 6 matches. However, this was somewhat overshadowed by the fact that many of Australia's top players were absent from the series because they were playing in a separate competition called World Series Cricket.
13. Largest series victory over England
Australia has achieved the feat of whitewashing England three times in the history of the Ashes. The first time was in the 1920-21 series where Australia swept England 5-0. In more recent times, Australia whitewashed England 5-0 in the 2006-07 series, which was followed by another 5-0 whitewash in the 2013-14 series.
14. The infamous captain Douglas Jardine
The bodyline tactic was used by the English team during the 1932-33 Ashes series in Australia. It was highly controversial and led to diplomatic tensions between the two countries, with many Australians feeling that it was unsportsmanlike and dangerous.
Bodyline was a strategy where bowlers pitched the ball short, so it would rise up dangerously toward the bodies of the batsman and possibly cause injury.
The tactic was successful in limiting Bradman's scoring, but it also caused a number of injuries to the Australian batsmen. The controversy led to changes in the laws of cricket, including a limit on the number of fielders that could be placed on the leg side.
Despite the controversy, England went on to win the series 4-1.
John Snow legendary English fast bowler |
15. The legendary John Snow
John Snow was a legendary English fast bowler who played in the 1960s and 1970s. He was known for his ability to swing the ball both ways and was a key player in England's team during the Ashes series of the era.
One of Snow's most famous moments in the Ashes came during the 1970-71 series in Australia, where he famously bowled Australian captain Ian Chappell with a stunning delivery that swung in late and clipped the top of the off-stump. This dismissal is widely regarded as one of the greatest in Ashes history.
16. The biggest Ashes crowd ever
The biggest Ashes crowd ever was recorded during the Boxing Day Test in 2013 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) with a total of 91,092 spectators in attendance. The match was the fourth test of the 2013-14 Ashes series, which was won 5-0 by Australia.
17. The women’s Ashes
The women's Ashes is a long-standing competition between the Australian and English cricket teams. This historic tournament dates back to 1934 and has been the source of intense rivalry ever since. Over the years, Australia has emerged victorious 9 times, whereas England has taken the spoils 6 times. Interestingly, draws have been a common occurrence in the women's game, with 8 Ashes series remaining unresolved.
18. Biggest duck in the Ashes
It's an interesting statistical quirk that Sydney Edward Gregory of Australia holds the record for the most ducks in the history of the Ashes. Gregory, who played in 52 Ashes matches, suffered the ignominy of being dismissed without scoring a single run on 11 occasions. What's even more astonishing is that out of his entire career's record of 12 ducks, 92% of them occurred during the Ashes. This bizarre statistic highlights the pressure and intensity of the Ashes, where even the most accomplished players can fall victim to the opposition's tactics or their own nerves. Despite this, Gregory remains a legendary figure in Australian cricket, having played a pivotal role in many of the team's victories over England.
19. The man of the match
In the game of cricket, at the end of each test match, the best performer of that match is recognized with the highly sought-after Man of the Match award. Australian cricketer Steven Smith is the player who holds the record for the most number of Man of the Match awards in test cricket. Smith has been awarded this accolade on six occasions, with his most recent award being in the year 2019. This remarkable achievement highlights Smith's exceptional skills and consistent performance on the field, which have contributed to his team's success. Smith's achievements and record-breaking performances have cemented his place among the all-time greats of Australian cricket.
20. The Ashes and science fiction
An interesting and little-known fact about the Ashes series is that the Ashes urn, which symbolizes the coveted prize of the tournament, has made an appearance in a popular science fiction novel. In the third book of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series, titled Life, the Universe and Everything, the Ashes urn is stolen by alien robots, taking the concept of the Ashes to another dimension. It's fascinating to learn about the extent to which this iconic trophy has captured the imagination of people beyond the realm of cricket, and the extent to which it has become a part of popular culture. This is a testament to the immense popularity of the Ashes tournament and the unique place it holds in the world of sports.
The Ashes is mentioned in the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy |
21. The Ashes on the silver screen
Were you aware that the Ashes had a role in a movie? The sports film The Final Test, released in 1953, portrays the story of a veteran cricketer named Sam Palmer playing his final match for England.
Originally a play, director Anthony Asquith transformed it into a treasured film that was deemed by The Guardian as "Britain’s only significant cricket picture."