What Were the Top Ashes Series of All Time?

By Amelia Walker Senior Content Writer Updated: 13 May 2024

Amelia Walker Senior Content Writer

Amelia Walker is a Senior Content Writer at Betting.US. She has a law degree and deep knowledge of the gambling laws in the United States. Her mission is to keep players informed about responsible gambling, while her passion for sports helps her create useful guides. Amelia has over a decade of experience in betting, which has positioned her as a trusted voice among our readers.

See Full Bio

Twitter X

The Top Ashes Series of All Time

• Best Ashes Series Ever
• The History of the Ashes
• The Epic 2005 Ashes Clash
• 1981: Botham’s Ashes
• 2010-11: England’s Win Down Under
• 1932-33: The Bodyline Series
• 2019: Stokes’ Headingley Performance

The Ashes, the legendary cricket rivalry between England and Australia, has produced some of the most exciting and unforgettable moments in the sport’s history. From nail-biting finishes to extraordinary individual performances, the Ashes has captivated fans for over a century. In this blog, we’ll take a look at the best Ashes series ever, ranking the most memorable Ashes series and looking at what made these series so exciting to watch.

Memorable Ashes Series

When it comes to the best Ashes series ever, a few stand out from the rest. The 2005 Ashes is widely regarded as one of the greatest, with England’s thrilling 2-1 victory ending their long losing streak. The series was filled with incredible moments, from Andrew Flintoff’s performance to the nail-biting finishes at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge.

Another contender for the top Ashes series of all time is the 1981 series, known as “Botham’s Ashes” for Ian Botham’s remarkable performances that led England to a miraculous comeback victory. The 1948 series, featuring Don Bradman’s “Invincibles,” and the 2010-11 contest, which saw England’s first victory on Australian soil in 24 years, also rank among the best Ashes series of all time.

So, whether you’re a hardcore cricket fan or simply appreciate the drama of top-level sports, join us as we explore the top Ashes series of all time. Plus, if you want to bet on live Ashes cricket matches, don’t forget to check out our recommended cricket sportsbooks!

The History of the Best Ashes Series Ever

The Ashes is a historic cricket series played between England and Australia, with a rich history dating back to 1882. The origin of the term “Ashes” can be traced to a humorous text published in the British newspaper, The Sporting Times, after Australia’s victory over England at The Oval in 1882. The piece stated that English cricket had died and that “the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia.”

In response to this, the English captain Ivo Bligh made a promise to regain the ashes on the next tour to Australia. During that tour, a group of Melbourne women presented Bligh with a small urn containing the ashes of a burnt cricket bail, which was meant to represent the ashes of English cricket. This urn in itself became iconic – and is still symbolic today!

Since then, the Ashes has been one of the most intense sporting competitions in the world, and it’s as popular as ever. The Ashes consists of five Test matches, with the series location alternating between England and Australia. There have been a huge number of memorable Ashes series, and in this blog, we’re going to look at some of the best. Here are the results from the last five Ashes:

The Epic 2005 Ashes Clash

When ranking the best Ashes series, the 2005 Ashes must be included. After years of Australian wins, England managed to put together an incredibly talented and determined side that were able to challenge Australia. The series began with a fantastic match at Lord’s, where Australia’s Glenn McGrath tore through the English batting lineup to secure a comfortable victory.

However, England bounced back in spectacular fashion at Edgbaston, winning by just two runs in a match filled with drama and controversy. The series then moved to Old Trafford, where Australia’s Shane Warne produced one of the greatest spinning performances in Ashes history, taking 4-99 in the second innings to secure a draw for his team.

The fourth Test at Trent Bridge was another nail-biter, with England holding on for a three-wicket victory thanks to a solid innings from Ashley Giles. This set the stage for the finale, which took place at The Oval; England needed a draw to secure their first Ashes victory since 1987. Things went England’s way, and with Kevin Pietersen’s iconic century on the final day, England managed to win, prompting celebrations across the country!

For Australia, the result was a major disappointment, but there were fantastic and memorable moments from both sides. Australian players like Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, and Ricky Ponting put on fantastic performances – although for many, it did mark the end of an era for Australian cricket, as many top players retired shortly after the event.

1981: Botham’s Ashes

The 1981 Ashes series, often referred to as “Botham’s Ashes,” is one of the most iconic in the history of the series. It all began with Australia taking a 1-0 lead after matches at Trent Bridge and Lord’s. England’s captain, Ian Botham, resigned from his position following the second Test, with Mike Brearley taking over.

What followed was one of the most remarkable turnarounds in cricket history. In the third Test at Headingley, England were forced to follow on after conceding a 227-run first-innings deficit. Bookmakers offered odds of 500-1 for an England victory, but Ian Botham had other ideas. His innings of 149 not out, combined with a fantastic half-century from Graham Dilley, helped England set Australia a target of 130. Bob Willis then produced a masterclass in bowling, taking 8-43 to secure an unlikely 18-run victory for England.

Botham’s form continued in the fourth Test at Edgbaston, where he took 5-11 in Australia’s second innings to set up another England victory. He then scored a brilliant 118 in the fifth Test at Old Trafford, helping England secure a draw and retain the Ashes.

Throughout the series, Botham’s all-round performance was said, by many, to be one of the greatest in history. He scored 399 runs at an average of 36.27, including two centuries and two fifties, and took 34 wickets at an average of 20.58. However, it wasn’t just Botham that performed well.

The 1981 series also featured notable performances from other players, such as Australia’s Terry Alderman, who took 42 wickets in the series, and England’s Mike Brearley, whose confidence as captain played a crucial role in the team’s success.

2010-11: England’s Triumph Down Under

The 2010-11 Ashes series saw England claim their first victory in Australia in 24 years. The England captain was Andrew Strauss, and Andy Flower was the head coach; together, they managed to form a fantastic team that would go on to dominate Australia, despite playing away from home!

The series began with a draw in Brisbane, but England soon took control with a win in the second Test at Adelaide. The match was notable for Alastair Cook’s incredible innings of 148, which ended up setting the tone for what fans could expect from him for the rest of the series.

England then managed wins in the third and fourth Tests, with the latter seeing them retain the Ashes on Australian soil for the first time since 1986-87. The final Test in Sydney was another massive win for England, with Cook scoring yet another century and the bowling performances from James Anderson and Chris Tremlett going straight through the Aussie batsmen!

Aside from the win itself, England’s performance was one for the record books. Cook batted phenomenally, scoring a whopping 766 runs at an average of 127.66 – and this included three centuries and five fifties! This performance ended up winning him the Player of the Series award.

Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, and Ian Bell also gave solid performances, while, on the bowling side, Anderson, Tremlett, Tim Bresnan, and Graeme Swann were easily able to overcome the Australian batsmen.

For Australia, the series was an embarrassing experience, showcasing the major weaknesses they had in their batting lineup – something that were able to ‘plug’ in future series.

1932-33: The Bodyline Series

The 1932-33 Ashes series, famously known as the “Bodyline” series, remains one of the most controversial and significant in the history of the series. The series is named because of England’s use of the “Bodyline” tactic, which involved bowling short-pitched deliveries which were aimed at the batsmen’s bodies in an attempt to stop Australia’s Don Bradman from scoring any more runs.

The strategy, created by England captain Douglas Jardine, was seen as unsportsmanlike and dangerous by many, and it led to a great deal of anger from the Australian side. Things came to a head in the third Test at the Adelaide Oval, where Australian captain Bill Woodfull was hit on the chest by a delivery from England’s Harold Larwood. The incident sparked outrage among the Australian public and led to a heated exchange between Jardine and the Australian Board of Control.

Despite the controversy, the series produced some incredible cricket. Bradman, who had dominated the previous Ashes series, found himself under pressure from the Bodyline tactics, but still managed to score 396 runs at an average of 56.57. England’s batsmen also performed well, with Herbert Sutcliffe, Wally Hammond, and Eddie Paynter all scoring centuries.

The series was ultimately won by England, who claimed a 4-1 victory. However, the Bodyline tactics used by Jardine’s team left a sour taste and led to changes in the laws of cricket to prevent similar tactics being used in the future.

2019: Stokes’ Headingley Performance

The 2019 Ashes series had, for many, one of the greatest innings in the history of Test cricket. In the third Test at Headingley, England found themselves in a seemingly impossible position, having been bowled out for just 67 in their first innings in response to Australia’s 179. With Australia setting England a target of 359 to win, almost nobody thought England would be able to pull it out of the bag.

That all changed, however, with Ben Stokes. A fantastic all-rounder player who had already played a crucial role in England’s World Cup win earlier in the summer, Stokes produced one of the best innings in English cricket history. With England nine wickets down and still 73 runs shy of their target, Stokes suddenly defied the odds and began crushing the Australian bowlers.

Stokes’ unbeaten 135, which included 11 fours and eight sixes, instantly went down in cricketing history, and he really couldn’t have batted better. His insane reverse-swept six off Nathan Lyon has gone down as one of the most iconic shots in Ashes history.

Stokes’ performance helped England claim a one-wicket victory, keeping the series alive and setting up a thrilling finale. Although Australia retained the Ashes with a 2-2 series draw, Stokes’ innings at Headingley will be remembered as one of the greatest ever played in the history of the series.

The series also featured other memorable moments, such as Steve Smith’s remarkable run-scoring feats on his return to Test cricket following the ball-tampering scandal, and Jofra Archer’s explosive debut, which saw him take 22 wickets in the series.