The Ashes Winners List (1882–2025): Complete Series-by-Series

The Ashes is one of cricket’s oldest and fiercest rivalries, played between England and Australia since 1882. The trophy, born from a satirical obituary declaring the “death” of English cricket, has become one of the most prestigious titles in Test cricket. This table presents the complete winners list of every Ashes series from 1882 to 2025, including host nations, match results, and champions—extremely useful for competitive exams and cricket history reference.

Winners List of Ashes Series (1882–2025)

S	Years	Host	First Match	Tests	AUS	ENG	Draw	Winner
1	1882–83	Australia	30 Dec 1882	3	1	2	0	England
2	1884	England	11 Jul 1884	3	0	1	2	England
3	1884–85	Australia	12 Dec 1884	5	2	3	0	England
4	1886	England	5 Jul 1886	3	0	3	0	England
5	1886–87	Australia	28 Jan 1887	2	0	2	0	England
6	1887–88	Australia	10 Feb 1888	1	0	1	0	England
7	1888	England	16 Jul 1888	3	1	2	0	England
8	1890	England	21 Jul 1890	2 (3)	0	2	0	England
9	1891–92	Australia	1 Jan 1892	3	2	1	0	Australia
10	1893	England	17 Jul 1893	3	0	1	2	England
11	1894–95	Australia	14 Dec 1894	5	2	3	0	England
12	1896	England	22 Jun 1896	3	1	2	0	England
13	1897–98	Australia	13 Dec 1897	5	4	1	0	Australia
14	1899	England	1 Jun 1899	5	1	0	4	Australia
15	1901–02	Australia	13 Dec 1901	5	4	1	0	Australia
16	1902	England	29 May 1902	5	2	1	2	Australia
17	1903–04	Australia	11 Dec 1903	5	2	3	0	England
18	1905	England	29 May 1905	5	0	2	3	England
19	1907–08	Australia	13 Dec 1907	5	4	1	0	Australia
20	1909	England	27 May 1909	5	2	1	2	Australia
21	1911–12	Australia	15 Dec 1911	5	1	4	0	England
22	1912	England	27 May 1912	3	0	1	2	England
23	1920–21	Australia	17 Dec 1920	5	5	0	0	Australia
24	1921	England	28 May 1921	5	3	0	2	Australia
25	1924–25	Australia	19 Dec 1924	5	4	1	0	Australia
26	1926	England	12 Jun 1926	5	0	1	4	England
27	1928–29	Australia	30 Nov 1928	5	1	4	0	England
28	1930	England	13 Jun 1930	5	2	1	2	Australia
29	1932–33	Australia	2 Dec 1932	5	1	4	0	England
30	1934	England	8 Jun 1934	5	2	1	2	Australia
31	1936–37	Australia	4 Dec 1936	5	3	2	0	Australia
32	1938	England	10 Jun 1938	4 (5)	1	1	2	Draw → Australia retains
33	1946–47	Australia	29 Nov 1946	5	3	0	2	Australia
34	1948	England	10 Jun 1948	5	4	0	1	Australia
35	1950–51	Australia	1 Dec 1950	5	4	1	0	Australia
36	1953	England	11 Jun 1953	5	0	1	4	England
37	1954–55	Australia	26 Nov 1954	5	1	3	1	England
38	1956	England	7 Jun 1956	5	1	2	2	England
39	1958–59	Australia	5 Dec 1958	5	4	0	1	Australia
40	1961	England	8 Jun 1961	5	2	1	2	Australia
41	1962–63	Australia	30 Nov 1962	5	1	1	3	Draw → Australia retains
42	1964	England	4 Jun 1964	5	1	0	4	Australia
43	1965–66	Australia	10 Dec 1965	5	1	1	3	Draw → Australia retains
44	1968	England	6 Jun 1968	5	1	1	3	Draw → Australia retains
45	1970–71	Australia	27 Nov 1970	6 (7)	0	2	4	England
46	1972	England	8 Jun 1972	5	2	2	1	Draw → England retains
47	1974–75	Australia	29 Nov 1974	6	4	1	1	Australia
48	1975	England	10 Jul 1975	4	1	0	3	Australia
49	1977	England	16 Jun 1977	5	0	3	2	England
50	1978–79	Australia	1 Dec 1978	6	1	5	0	England
51	1981	England	18 Jun 1981	6	1	3	2	England
52	1982–83	Australia	12 Nov 1982	5	2	1	2	Australia
53	1985	England	13 Jun 1985	6	1	3	2	England
54	1986–87	Australia	14 Nov 1986	5	1	2	2	England
55	1989	England	8 Jun 1989	6	4	0	2	Australia
56	1990–91	Australia	23 Nov 1990	5	3	0	2	Australia
57	1993	England	3 Jun 1993	6	4	1	1	Australia
58	1994–95	Australia	25 Nov 1994	5	3	1	1	Australia
59	1997	England	5 Jun 1997	6	3	2	1	Australia
60	1998–99	Australia	20 Nov 1998	5	3	1	1	Australia
61	2001	England	5 Jul 2001	5	4	1	0	Australia
62	2002–03	Australia	7 Nov 2002	5	4	1	0	Australia
63	2005	England	21 Jul 2005	5	1	2	2	England
64	2006–07	Australia	23 Nov 2006	5	5	0	0	Australia
65	2009	England	8 Jul 2009	5	1	2	2	England
66	2010–11	Australia	25 Nov 2010	5	1	3	1	England
67	2013	England	10 Jul 2013	5	0	3	2	England
68	2013–14	Australia	21 Nov 2013	5	5	0	0	Australia
69	2015	England	8 Jul 2015	5	2	3	0	England
70	2017–18	Australia	23 Nov 2017	5	4	0	1	Australia
71	2019	England	1 Aug 2019	5	2	2	1	Draw → Australia retains
72	2021–22	Australia	8 Dec 2021	5	4	0	1	Australia
73	2023	England	16 Jun 2023	5	2	2	1	Draw → Australia retains
74	2025–26	Australia	21 Nov 2025	—	—	—	—	Ongoing

What Is The Ashes and Why Is It Famous?

The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia since 1882. It is considered the oldest and most iconic rivalry in world cricket. The contest revolves around a small urn symbolising the “ashes” of English cricket after a historic defeat.

How Did The Ashes Begin in 1882?

The Ashes began after Australia defeated England at The Oval on 29 August 1882. A British newspaper published a mock obituary declaring the “death of English cricket” and stating that the ashes would be taken to Australia.
England captain Ivo Bligh vowed to “regain the Ashes,” giving birth to the tradition.

What Is the Significance of the Ashes Urn?

The Ashes urn is a small 11-centimetre terracotta urn believed to contain the ashes of a burnt cricket bail.
It is kept at the MCC Museum at Lord’s.
Teams do not receive the urn physically; it is symbolic, representing victory and pride.

Early Ashes Series and Rivalry (1880s–1910s)

In the early decades, both teams frequently toured each other.
This period featured uncovered pitches, long voyages, pioneering cricketers and intense rivalry.
Players like W. G. Grace and Victor Trumper shaped the early years.

The Ashes Between the World Wars (1920s–1930s)

Australia dominated during this period.
The 1920–21 series ended in a 5–0 Australian whitewash.
Sir Don Bradman emerged as the greatest Ashes batsman, delivering record-breaking performances.

Post-War Ashes and the Invincibles Era (1940s–1950s)

After World War II, cricket resumed with renewed energy.
In 1948, “The Invincibles,” Australia’s unbeaten touring team led by Don Bradman, won the Ashes without losing a single match.

Ashes Developments in the Modern Era (1960s–1990s)

The rivalry intensified with better pitches, improved travel and growing media coverage.
Australia dominated most of the 1980s and 1990s with players like Allan Border, Steve Waugh, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.

The Revival of the Ashes: 2005 and Beyond

The 2005 Ashes series in England is regarded as one of the greatest Test series ever.
England broke Australia’s long dominance.
The following decades witnessed fluctuating competitiveness, memorable series and star performers such as Ricky Ponting, Andrew Flintoff, Kevin Pietersen, Steve Smith and Ben Stokes.

How Is The Ashes Format Structured?

The Ashes is played approximately every two years.
Each series consists of five Test matches.
Hosting alternates between England and Australia.

Why Is The Ashes Important in Cricket History?

The Ashes is important because:

• It is the oldest cricket rivalry
• It reflects national pride and tradition
• It has shaped the history of Test cricket
• It produces high-quality, competitive matches

The Ashes remains one of the most watched Test series globally.