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The Ashes is cricket’s most iconic Test Match series. Played biennially between the English and Australian Test teams, the two nations lock horns to try and win the small but invaluable terracotta urn.  

Legend has it the urn contains the ashes of a burnt cricket ball and wooden bails, which was awarded to then-England captain Ivor Bligh as a tongue-in-cheek gift symbolising the death of Australian cricket. 

There is no love lost between the two countries when it comes to The Men’s Ashes. Dating back to 1882, this contest has been played over three, four, five and sometimes even six Test matches per series. It’s long been a battle of mental strength as well as capability with bat and ball. 

Let’s take a quick peek at The Ashes winners list to pinpoint the most dominant Ashes eras for both sides.

The Ashes winners list from the first series to the last

Year  Host  Result 
1882-83  Australia  2-1 England 
1884  England  1-0 England (2 Draws) 
1884-85  Australia  3-2 England 
1886  England  3-0 England 
1886-87  Australia  2-0 England 
1887-88  Australia  1-0 England 
1888  England  2-1 England 
1890  England  2-0 England 
1891-92  Australia  2-1 Australia 
1893  England  1-0 England (2 Draws) 
1894-95  Australia  3-2 England 
1896  England  2-1 England 
1897-98  Australia  4-1 Australia 
1899  England  1-0 Australia (4 Draws) 
1901-02  Australia  4-1 Australia 
1902  England  2-1 Australia (2 Draws) 
1903-04  Australia  3-2 England 
1905  England  2-0 England (3 Draws) 
1907-08  Australia  4-1 Australia 
1909  England  2-1 Australia (2 Draws) 
1911-12  Australia  4-1 England 
1912  England  1-0 England (2 Draws) 
1920-21  Australia  5-0 Australia 
1921  England  3-0 Australia (2 Draws) 
1924-25  Australia  4-1 Australia 
1926  England  1-0 England (4 Draws) 
1928-29  Australia  4-1 England 
1930  England  2-1 Australia (2 Draws) 
1932-33  Australia  4-1 England 
1934  England  2-1 Australia (2 Draws) 
1936-37  Australia  3-2 Australia 
1938  England  1-1 (2 Draws) 
1946-47  Australia  3-0 Australia (2 Draws) 
1948  England  4-0 Australia (1 Draw) 
1950-51  Australia  4-1 Australia 
1953  England  1-0 England (4 Draws) 
1954-55  Australia  3-1 England (1 Draw) 
1956  England  2-1 England (2 Draws) 
1958-59  Australia  4-0 Australia (1 Draw) 
1961  England  2-1 Australia (2 Draws) 
1962-63  Australia  1-1 (3 Draws) 
1964  England  1-0 Australia (4 Draws) 
1965-66  Australia  1-1 (3 Draws) 
1968  England  1-1 (3 Draws) 
1970-71  Australia  2-0 England (4 Draws) 
1972  England  2-2 (1 Draw) 
1974-75  Australia  4-1 England (1 Draw) 
1975  England  1-0 Australia (3 Draws) 
1977  England  3-0 England (2 Draws) 
1978-79  Australia  5-1 England 
1981  England  3-1 England (2 Draws) 
1982-83  Australia  2-1 Australia (2 Draws) 
1985  England  3-1 England (2 Draws) 
1986-87  Australia  2-1 England (2 Draws) 
1989  England  4-0 Australia (2 Draws) 
1990-91  Australia  3-0 Australia (2 Draws) 
1993  England  4-1 Australia (1 Draw) 
1994-95  Australia  3-1 Australia (1 Draw) 
1997  England  3-2 Australia (1 Draw) 
1998-99  Australia  3-1 Australia (1 Draw) 
2001  England  4-1 Australia 
2002-03  Australia  4-1 Australia 
2005  England  2-1 England (2 Draws) 
2006-07  Australia  5-0 Australia 
2009  England  2-1 England (2 Draws) 
2010-11  Australia  3-1 England (1 Draw) 
2013  England  3-0 England (2 Draws) 
2013-14  Australia  5-0 Australia 
2015  England  3-2 England 
2017-18  Australia  4-0 Australia (1 Draw) 
2019  England  2-2 (1 Draw) 
2021-22  Australia  4-0 Australia (1 Draw) 
2023  England  2-2 (1 Draw) 

The 5 Most Notable Ashes Series in History

2005 – 2-1 England
Michael Vaughan’s England side put behind two decades of hurt to regain the Ashes with a narrow 2-1 series win on home soil. It was England’s first win since 1987, with Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff and Marcus Trescothick all scoring over 400 runs apiece in the series.
 1989 – 4-0 Australia
Australia arrived in the UK for the 1989 Ashes with precious few expectations from Down Under. Having been dubbed the worst touring Ashes team in history by the media, Allan Border’s troops proved everyone wrong to dominate and win 4-0 on English soil.
 2013-14 – 5-0 Australia
Smarting from back-to-back Ashes series defeats, Australia taught England a lesson on home soil, heavily inspired by fast bowler Mitchell Johnson. Their 381-run First Test win set the tone for the series, with Johnson taking 37 wickets and finishing as the Player of the Series.
 1936-37 – 3-2 Australia
England looked in complete control of the 1936-37 Ashes series. England raced into a 2-0 lead Down Under, with the Aussies looking on course for back-to-back series defeats on home soil. However, legendary batter Don Bradman had other ideas. His innings of 270 in the Third Test helped wrestle control of this game, and Bradman scored another double ton in the Fourth Test to leave England reeling.
 1981 – 3-1 England
Sir Ian Botham is credited with single-handedly turning the 1981 Ashes series on its head. Despite losing the opening Test, England went on to win three of the remaining five Tests, heavily inspired by Botham with ball and bat. His innings of 149 from 148 balls in the Third Test helped England regain the momentum in what is still regarded as one of the finest innings of the 21st century. 

The Ashes: Which Team Has Won the Urn More?

As of the autumn of 2023, the balance of the Ashes is in Australia’s favour, with 34 Ashes series victories to England’s 32. This includes a further seven drawn series. Interestingly, six of those seven drawn series have resulted in Australia retaining The Ashes, having been the holders of the urn going into these drawn series. 

Start Betting on International Cricket with Parimatch

If this article has whetted your appetite for the next Ashes series, you’ll be disappointed that it isn’t until winter 2025 in Australia. However, the international cricket schedule is jam-packed with exciting tournaments, with World Cup betting markets proving hugely popular among one-day international fans. 

As Australia moves into its summer season, you’ll soon be able to bet on its 2023-24 Big Bash League, bringing high-octane Twenty20 cricket, just like the highly awaited Indian Premier League odds. 

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