Ashes Winners and Runners List From 1882 to 2023
Cricket has seen many rivalries, but there is no competition quite like the Ashes. This war between England and Australia has been going on since 1882. England were stunned by their defeat at The Oval this year. An article was published in a British newspaper that said, “England cricket is dead, and the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia.” It was the birth of one of the fiercest competitions in world sport.
Since then, the Ashes has become the most valuable prize in box cricket. Each series has added new chapters of dominance and unforgettable moments. Australia currently lead the overall wins, but England have also achieved legendary victories.
Let’s explore the complete list of Ashes winners and runners-up from 1882 to 2023, then take a closer look at the modern-day struggles.
Ashes Winners & Runners List (1882–2023)
Here is a summary table showing the winners, runners-up, and series details of the 140 Years’ War:
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Matches | Margin | Host |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1882/83 | England | Australia | 3 | 2-1 | Australia |
| 1884 | England | Australia | 3 | 1-0 | England |
| 1884/85 | England | Australia | 5 | 3-2 | Australia |
| 1886 | England | Australia | 3 | 3-0 | England |
| 1886/87 | England | Australia | 2 | 2-0 | Australia |
| 1887/88 | England | Australia | 1 | 1-0 | Australia |
| 1888 | England | Australia | 3 | 2-1 | England |
| 1890 | England | Australia | 2 | 2-0 | England |
| 1891/92 | Australia | England | 3 | 2-1 | Australia |
| 1893 | England | Australia | 3 | 1-0 | England |
| 1894/95 | England | Australia | 5 | 3-2 | Australia |
| 1896 | England | Australia | 3 | 2-1 | England |
| 1897/98 | Australia | England | 5 | 4-1 | Australia |
| 1899 | Australia | England | 5 | 1-0 | England |
| 1901/02 | Australia | England | 5 | 4-1 | Australia |
| 1902 | Australia | England | 5 | 2-1 | England |
| 1903/04 | England | Australia | 5 | 3-2 | Australia |
| 1905 | England | Australia | 5 | 2-0 | England |
| 1907/08 | Australia | England | 5 | 4-1 | Australia |
| 1909 | Australia | England | 5 | 2-1 | England |
| 1911/12 | England | Australia | 5 | 4-1 | Australia |
| 1912 | England | Australia | 3 | 1-0 | England |
| 1920/21 | Australia | England | 5 | 5-0 | Australia |
| 1921 | Australia | England | 5 | 3-0 | England |
| 1924/25 | Australia | England | 5 | 4-1 | Australia |
| 1926 | England | Australia | 5 | 1-0 | England |
| 1928/29 | England | Australia | 5 | 4-1 | Australia |
| 1930 | Australia | England | 5 | 2-1 | England |
| 1932/33 | England | Australia | 5 | 4-1 | Australia |
| 1934 | Australia | England | 5 | 2-1 | England |
| 1936/37 | Australia | England | 5 | 3-2 | Australia |
| 1938 | Drawn | Drawn | 4 | 1-1 | England |
| 1946/47 | Australia | England | 5 | 3-0 | Australia |
| 1948 | Australia | England | 5 | 4-0 | England |
| 1950/51 | Australia | England | 5 | 4-1 | Australia |
| 1953 | England | Australia | 5 | 1-0 | England |
| 1954/55 | England | Australia | 5 | 3-1 | Australia |
| 1956 | England | Australia | 5 | 2-1 | England |
| 1958/59 | Australia | England | 5 | 4-0 | Australia |
| 1961 | Australia | England | 5 | 2-1 | England |
| 1962/63 | Drawn | Drawn | 5 | 1-1 | Australia |
| 1964 | Australia | England | 5 | 1-0 | England |
| 1965/66 | Drawn | Drawn | 5 | 1-1 | Australia |
| 1968 | Drawn | Drawn | 5 | 1-1 | England |
| 1970/71 | England | Australia | 7 | 2-0 | Australia |
| 1972 | Drawn | Drawn | 5 | 2-2 | England |
| 1974/75 | Australia | England | 6 | 4-1 | Australia |
| 1975 | Australia | England | 4 | 1-0 | England |
| 1977 | England | Australia | 5 | 3-0 | England |
| 1978/79 | England | Australia | 6 | 5-1 | Australia |
| 1981 | England | Australia | 6 | 3-1 | England |
| 1982/83 | Australia | England | 5 | 2-1 | Australia |
| 1985 | England | Australia | 6 | 3-1 | England |
| 1986/87 | England | Australia | 5 | 2-1 | Australia |
| 1989 | Australia | England | 6 | 4-0 | England |
| 1990/91 | Australia | England | 5 | 3-0 | Australia |
| 1993 | Australia | England | 6 | 4-1 | England |
| 1994/95 | Australia | England | 5 | 3-1 | Australia |
| 1997 | Australia | England | 6 | 3-2 | England |
| 1998/99 | Australia | England | 5 | 3-1 | Australia |
| 2001 | Australia | England | 5 | 4-1 | England |
| 2002/03 | Australia | England | 5 | 4-1 | Australia |
| 2005 | England | Australia | 5 | 2-1 | England |
| 2006/07 | Australia | England | 5 | 5-0 | Australia |
| 2009 | England | Australia | 5 | 2-1 | England |
| 2010/11 | England | Australia | 5 | 3-1 | Australia |
| 2013 | England | Australia | 5 | 3-0 | England |
| 2013/14 | Australia | England | 5 | 5-0 | Australia |
| 2015 | England | Australia | 5 | 3-2 | England |
| 2017/18 | Australia | England | 5 | 4-0 | Australia |
| 2019 | Drawn | Drawn | 5 | 2-2 | England |
| 2021/22 | Australia | England | 5 | 4-0 | Australia |
| 2023 | Drawn | Drawn | 5 | 2-2 | England |
Ashes in Modern Times (2015–2023)
The balance of power has been upset in the last decade, with both teams clashing:
- 2015 (England) – Stuart Broad’s 8/15 at Trent Bridge helped England win 3-2 at home, making him a legend.
- 2017/18 (Australia) – Australia dominated 4-0 at home. Steve Smith remained unbeaten in the match.
- 2019 (Draw) – Ben Stokes’ magical 135 at Headingley kept England alive, but the series ended 2-2.
- 2021/22 (Australia) – The game was completely dominated by Australia. In short, a 4-0 home win leads to a 4-0 win.
- 2023 (Draw) – One of the closest series ever, ended 2-2, with England coming back from 0-2 down.
Ashes Legacy and Records
- Australia is on top with more series wins.
- England has made remarkable comebacks such as the 2005 Ashes, often considered the greatest Test series of all time.
- A 5–0 whitewash often signifies the dominance of the home team in a particular era.
The rivalry continues to inspire the next generation of cricket fans.
Looking Ahead: Ashes 2025-26
The upcoming 2025-26 Ashes series in Australia promises to be another fiery affair. Hosted in Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney, it will test England’s ability to win overseas. Australia, on the other hand, is looking to expand its stronghold at home.
Conclusion
The list of Ashes winners and runners-up from 1882 to 2023 tells the story of the development of cricket, and how national pride has been fought for over generations. Every time the Ashes are contested, cricket fans around the world are reminded why the Ashes have remained the pinnacle of Test cricket. Whether it ends in victory, heartbreak, or a nail-biting draw, this rivalry never fails.
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Who has won more Ashes, Australia or England?
If we take a look at the records, we can clearly see that Australia has won more series. But that does not mean that England has not had its memorable victories.
Q2. When did the Ashes competition start?
The Ashes competition came into existence after Australia defeated England at The Oval.
Q3. How many Test matches are usually played in an Ashes series?
Usually, an Ashes series is played for more than five Tests.
Q4. Has there ever been a 5-0 Ashes whitewash?
Yes, Australia has won 5-0 many times. Their most recent matches were in 2006/07 and 2013/14.
Q5. When is the next Ashes series scheduled?
The next Ashes will be played in Australia from November 2025 to January 2026.
Cricbites provides live cricket scores, simple cricket stories, player profiles, records, match facts and updates. The blog aims to provide simple cricket knowledge to fans who enjoy reading about the game.
