The 2023 The Ashes Series between Australia and England plaed out between June – July, 2023 in England with Australia retaining The Ashes after the five-match series was drawn 2–2
The Ashes Test is a time-honoured cricket series played between Australia and England since the early 1800s. Officially the first The Ashes tournament took place in 1882-83 when the Australian cricket team enjoyed their maiden Test win in England.
A traditional Ashes series consists of a 5-match series and as of the 2023 The Ashes test results the overall record stands at 36 series wins for Australia, after they retained the Ashes in the 2023 series, and 32 series wins for England, plus six drawn series including most recently the 2018/19 The Ashes Series Draw. There has been a number of times over The Ashes history when four-match series (1983, 1975) and six-match series (1970–71, 1974–75, 1978–79, 1981, 1985, 1989, 1993 and 1997) have taken place.
England and Australia take turns in hosting The Ashes series at least every four years. England held the latest The Ashes title from 2015 after they beat the green-and-gold team in three of the five tests that year, but failed to retain the title losing the 2017-18 series after the opening three tests all went Australia’s way before the 4th test was a Match draw and the Aussies won again in the fifth and final test.
Australia then retained The Ashes after the 2018/19 series was drawn and again in the 2021/22 Ashes series, after Scott Boland achieved the third best bowling figures in the history of Australian cricket at 6-7 (4 overs) and Australia winning the first three Test matches.
Most recently, Australia retained The Ashes in the 2023 series after the five-match series was drawn 2–2.
The Ashes team that wins the majority of the tests over the series are said to hold The Ashes. If the series is a draw, the previous holders retain the Ashes Trophy.
The Ashes dates are announced more than a year in advance. The Ashes schedule of matches, also known as The Ashes fixtures, traditionally run from November to January the following year during the summer cricket season.
The 2023 The Ashes Series is known as the LV= Insurance Men’s Ashes Series due to sponsorship
2023 The Ashes Series
- Result: Five-match series drawn 2–2 (Australia retained The Ashes)
- Series: 73rd (37th in England)
- Dates: 16th June – 31st July, 2023
- Host Country: England
- Venues: Edgbaston, Lord’s, Headingley, Old Trafford and The Oval
- Teams: Australia vs England
- Australian Captain: Pat Cummins
- English Captain: Ben Stokes
- Reigning The Ashes Holders: Australia (2023)
When Is the Ashes Test?
The official The Ashes dates for the latest series run from June to July, 2023.
The 2023 Ashes First Test (June 16th – 20th, 2023): Current The Ashes holders Australia won the first test at Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Birmingham by 2 wickets. Score: Australia 386 (116.1 overs) defeated England 393/8d (78 overs). Usman Khawaja became just the 2nd Australian player (13th player overall) to bat on all five days of a Test match.
The 2023 Ashes Second Test (June 28th – July 2nd, 2023): Australia continued their success over England in the Second Ashes Test winning by 43 runs at Lord’s. Score: Australia 416 (100.4 overs) defeated England 325 (76.2 overs). Steve Smith secured Player of The Match.
The Ashes Third Test (July 6th – 10th, 2023): England celebrated their first win in the Ashes Series 2023 taking out the Third Test by three wickets at Headingley. Score: Australia 263 (60.4 overs) lost to England 237 (52.3 overs). Australia’s Steve Smith played his 100th Test. England’s Harry Brook scored his 1,000th run in Tests becoming the fastest to do so in terms of balls faced. Mark Wood (England) secured Player of the Match.
The Ashes Fourth Test (19th – 23rd July, 2023): There was a drawn result in The Ashes 2023 fourth test played at Old Trafford which saw Australia retain the Ashes as a result. Score: Australia 317 (90.2 overs) drew with England 592 (107.4 overs). Stuart Broad (England) became the fifth bowler to take his 600th Test wicket. England’s Zak Crawley, who reached 2000 runs in Tests, got Player of the Match.
The Ashes Fifth Test (27th – 31st July, 2023): England tied The 2023 Ashes Series 2 all with their win by 49 runs in the Fifth and final Test. Australia retained The Ashes after the drawn series. Score: England 283 (54.4 overs) defeated Australia 295 (103.1 overs). Player of the Match went to England’s Chris Woakes.
2023 The Ashes Test Dates & Results
1st Test Result: Australia won by 2 wickets
- Score: Australia 386 (116.1 overs) defeated England 393/8d (78 overs)
- Player of the Match: Usman Khawaja (Australia)
- Date: June 16th – 20th, 2023
- Venue: Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Birmingham
2nd Test Results: Australia won by 43 runs
- Score: Australia 416 (100.4 overs) defeated England 325 (76.2 overs)
- Player of the Match: Steve Smith (Australia)
- Date: June 28th – July 2nd, 2023
- Venue: Lord’s, London
3rd Test: England won by 3 wickets
- Score: Australia 263 (60.4 overs) lost to England 237 (52.3 overs)
- Player of the Match: Mark Wood (Australia)
- Date: July 6th – 10th, 2023
- Venue: Headingley Cricket Ground, Leeds
4th Test: Australia Retains The Ashes – Match Drawn
- Score: Australia 317 (90.2 overs) drew with England 592 (107.4 overs)
- Player of the Match: Zak Crawley (England)
- Date: 19th – 23rd July, 2023
- Venue: Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Manchester
5th Test: England defeated Australia by 49 runs (Australia retained The Ashes)
- Score: England 283 (54.4 overs) defeated Australia 295 (103.1 overs)
- Player of the Match: Chris Woakes (England)
- Date: 27th – 31st July, 2023
- Venue: The Oval, London
The Ashes Betting
Betting on The Ashes scores is very popular with Aussie punters and cricket fans. The Ashes series betting is open as soon as the date of the next tournament is announced, sometimes over a year out from the Test.
Futures The Ashes odds list prices on Australia and England to win as well as a longer price for a drawn Ashes series result. As The Ashes date approaches and the match schedule is set, more Ashes betting markets open up.
Popular cricket betting odds available on The Ashes Test include: Highest Score, Most Sixes, Top Runscorer, Batsman To Score 50, Total Runs and Top Wicket Taker. Other The Ashes odds on offer include the Correct Ashes Series Score and Retain/Regain The Ashes. The Ashes betting is also open on the Player of the Series.
Home country advantage can sway The Ashes odds, which often favour the side hosting the series. Markets on The Ashes winner however change test-by-test and the venue isn’t the only thing for cricket punters to factor in.
The Ashes History
The term “The Ashes” has an interesting history and refers to that very first English home ground loss to the Aussies in 1882-83, reports of English cricket dying reading as “the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia”.
Early during The Ashes history, England dominated and won two of the opening three Tests against Australia. This led to a small urn, reportedly holding the ashes of a wooden bail, being handed to then English captain Ivo Bligh – “the ashes of Australian cricket.” The Ashes urn remains an unofficial trophy in the series. The modern-day Ashes Trophy however is made of Waterford Crystal. This new-look The Ashes urn has been awarded to the series winners since 1998-99.
Australia and England played their first Test match in Melbourne back in 1877, but the legend of The Ashes didn’t become part of cricket history until a few years later when they faced off in their ninth test in 1882.
The Ashes Records
Over the long and rich history of one of the great cricket rivalries, plenty of The Ashes records have been achieved. Australia holds the record for both the most runs and most wickets during an Ashes series held by the legendary Don Bradman (5,028) and modern-day champion Shane Warne (195) respectively.
Sir Don Bradman has the most runs in Ashes History. Photo by The Guardian.
- Most Runs: Don Bradman (AUS) 5,028
- Most Wickets: Shane Warne (AUS) 195
- Total Years Held: Australia (78.5 from 132 since 1883)
- Most Centuries Made: Australia (264)
The longest The Ashes drought lasted from 1989 – 2005, England unable to defeat Australia in a single series during that time. Australia have held The Ashes for approximately 78.5 years and England for 53.5kg years in the 133 years the series has run (since 1883).
There are some other interesting unofficial “The Ashes Records” held by some heroes of the game including Aussie great David Boon who reportedly enjoyed 52 beers on the flight to England. A proud record for Boonie to hold indeed!
The Ashes Results
Before the 2017/18 The Ashes series, Australia and England had equal bragging rights holding 32 Ashes series wins each. Australia nudged ahead however securing their 33rd The Ashes Series success with a 4-0 victory over their old foes in 2017/18. They made it 34 and 35 series wins respectively when retaining The Ashes in both 2019 and after the 2021-22 series. There has also been six drawn The Ashes results since the first tournament in 1882-83 with the latest being in 2018/19.
Australia vs England: Overall Series Results
| Nation |
Series |
Won |
Lost |
Drawn |
| Australia |
74 |
36 |
32 |
6 |
| England |
74 |
32 |
37 |
6 |
The Ashes Winners
| YEAR |
HOST |
WINNER |
SCORE |
| 2023 |
ENGLAND |
AUSTRALIA |
2-2 |
| 2021-22 |
AUSTRALIA |
AUSTRALIA |
4-0 |
| 2019 |
ENGLAND |
AUSTRALIA |
2-2 |
| 2017-18 |
AUSTRALIA |
AUSTRALIA |
4-0 |
| 2015 |
ENGLAND |
ENGLAND |
3-2 |
| 2013-14 |
AUSTRALIA |
AUSTRALIA |
5-0 |
| 2013 |
ENGLAND |
ENGLAND |
3-0 |
| 2010-11 |
AUSTRALIA |
ENGLAND |
3-1 |
| 2009 |
ENGLAND |
ENGLAND |
2-1 |
| 2006-07 |
AUSTRALIA |
AUSTRALIA |
5-0 |
| 2005 |
ENGLAND |
ENGLAND |
2-1 |
| 2002-03 |
AUSTRALIA |
AUSTRALIA |
4-1 |
| 2001 |
ENGLAND |
AUSTRALIA |
4-1 |
| 1998-99 |
AUSTRALIA |
AUSTRALIA |
3-1 |
| 1997 |
ENGLAND |
AUSTRALIA |
3-2 |