The Ashes by the numbers: series, Tests and records
Australia lead England 35 series to 32 after 74 Ashes series, with seven drawn. Key figures, records and history behind the oldest rivalry in Test cricket.
The Ashes is a Test series between England and Australia, dating back to 1882-83. It is normally five Tests, hosted by England and Australia in turn about every two years. The side that wins the series holds the urn, and if a series is drawn the holders keep it. Australia are the current holders after winning the 2025-26 series 4-1.
The tally
- Series: 74 played. Australia 35 wins, England 32, drawn 7.
- Tests: 350 played to 8 January 2026. Australia 146 wins, England 111, 93 draws.
- In Australia: Australia 21 series wins, England 14, drawn 2 (37 series).
- In England: England 18 series wins, Australia 14, drawn 5 (37 series).
- Drawn series: Australia retained the Ashes in 1938, 1962-63, 1965-66, 1968, 2019 and 2023. England retained it in 1972.
Records and landmarks
- Most runs: Donald Bradman, 5,028.
- Most wickets: Shane Warne, 195.
- 5-0 series wins: Australia only: 1920-21, 2006-07 and 2013-14.
- England's biggest series win: 5-1 in 1978-79.
- Longest holds: a record eight consecutive series each, England from 1882-83 to 1890 and Australia from 1989 to 2002-03.
A short history
The Ashes grew out of a Test at The Oval in 1882, where Australia won on English soil for the first time. A mock obituary of English cricket followed in the Sporting Times, saying the body would be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia. Ivo Bligh led the English party that toured the following winter, and after England won the 1882-83 series a small urn was presented to him. The original urn is kept at the MCC Museum at Lord's.
England won the first eight series, and Australia won for the first time in 1891-92. The 1932-33 tour became known as the Bodyline series, and England's tactics led to changes to the laws of cricket. Series have been five Tests long since 1998-99, and Australia have either won or drawn every series since 2017-18.
The latest series and the next
Australia won 2025-26 by 4-1, with Mitchell Starc taking the Compton-Miller Medal after 31 wickets. England's win at the MCG ended an 18-Test winless run in Ashes Tests in Australia. The 2027 series in England is scheduled from 18 June to 2 August 2027.
