This is what The Ashes is all about pride, passion, and history. Since 1882, England and Australia have battled fiercely for the tiny but legendary urn. From blistering fast bowling and gritty batting to stunning catches and dramatic finishes, The Ashes has produced some of the greatest moments in cricket.
Australia leads the rivalry, having won The Ashes more times than England. Yet, England has had its share of glory too, unforgettable home wins, thrilling comebacks, and individual heroics that live forever in cricket history.
Every series brings something new: fresh faces, fierce competition, and unforgettable performances. Let’s look at all the past winners and then dive into how the last five series unfolded.
The Ashes Winners from 1882-2025
Here are the winners of every series:
| Year | Winner | Matches | Margin | Host |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1882/83 | England | 3 | 2-1 | Australia |
| 1884 | England | 3 | 1-0 | England |
| 1884/85 | England | 5 | 3-2 | Australia |
| 1886 | England | 3 | 3-0 | England |
| 1886/87 | England | 2 | 2-0 | Australia |
| 1887/88 | England | 1 | 1-0 | Australia |
| 1888 | England | 3 | 2-1 | England |
| 1890 | England | 2 | 2-0 | England |
| 1891/92 | Australia | 3 | 2-1 | Australia |
| 1893 | England | 3 | 1-0 | England |
| 1894/95 | England | 5 | 3-2 | Australia |
| 1896 | England | 3 | 2-1 | England |
| 1897/98 | Australia | 5 | 4-1 | Australia |
| 1899 | Australia | 5 | 1-0 | England |
| 1901/02 | Australia | 5 | 4-1 | Australia |
| 1902 | Australia | 5 | 2-1 | England |
| 1903/04 | England | 5 | 3-2 | Australia |
| 1905 | England | 5 | 2-0 | England |
| 1907/08 | Australia | 5 | 4-1 | Australia |
| 1909 | Australia | 5 | 2-1 | England |
| 1911/12 | England | 5 | 4-1 | Australia |
| 1912 | England | 3 | 1-0 | England |
| 1920/21 | Australia | 5 | 5-0 | Australia |
| 1921 | Australia | 5 | 3-0 | England |
| 1924/25 | Australia | 5 | 4-1 | Australia |
| 1926 | England | 5 | 1-0 | England |
| 1928/29 | England | 5 | 4-1 | Australia |
| 1930 | Australia | 5 | 2-1 | England |
| 1932/33 | England | 5 | 4-1 | Australia |
| 1934 | Australia | 5 | 2-1 | England |
| 1936/37 | Australia | 5 | 3-2 | Australia |
| 1938 | Drawn | 4 | 1-1 | England |
| 1946/47 | Australia | 5 | 3-0 | Australia |
| 1948 | Australia | 5 | 4-0 | England |
| 1950/51 | Australia | 5 | 4-1 | Australia |
| 1953 | England | 5 | 1-0 | England |
| 1954/55 | England | 5 | 3-1 | Australia |
| 1956 | England | 5 | 2-1 | England |
| 1958/59 | Australia | 5 | 4-0 | Australia |
| 1961 | Australia | 5 | 2-1 | England |
| 1962/63 | Drawn | 5 | 1-1 | Australia |
| 1964 | Australia | 5 | 1-0 | England |
| 1965/66 | Drawn | 5 | 1-1 | Australia |
| 1968 | Drawn | 5 | 1-1 | England |
| 1970/71 | England | 7 | 2-0 | Australia |
| 1972 | Drawn | 5 | 2-2 | England |
| 1974/75 | Australia | 6 | 4-1 | Australia |
| 1975 | Australia | 4 | 1-0 | England |
| 1977 | England | 5 | 3-0 | England |
| 1978/79 | England | 6 | 5-1 | Australia |
| 1981 | England | 6 | 3-1 | England |
| 1982/83 | Australia | 5 | 2-1 | Australia |
| 1985 | England | 6 | 3-1 | England |
| 1986/87 | England | 5 | 2-1 | Australia |
| 1989 | Australia | 6 | 4-0 | England |
| 1990/91 | Australia | 5 | 3-0 | Australia |
| 1993 | Australia | 6 | 4-1 | England |
| 1994/95 | Australia | 5 | 3-1 | Australia |
| 1997 | Australia | 6 | 3-2 | England |
| 1998/99 | Australia | 5 | 3-1 | Australia |
| 2001 | Australia | 5 | 4-1 | England |
| 2002/03 | Australia | 5 | 4-1 | Australia |
| 2005 | England | 5 | 2-1 | England |
| 2006/07 | Australia | 5 | 5-0 | Australia |
| 2009 | England | 5 | 2-1 | England |
| 2010/11 | England | 5 | 3-1 | Australia |
| 2013 | England | 5 | 3-0 | England |
| 2013/14 | Australia | 5 | 5-0 | Australia |
| 2015 | England | 5 | 3-2 | England |
| 2017/18 | Australia | 5 | 4-0 | Australia |
| 2019 | Drawn | 5 | 2-2 | England |
| 2021/22 | Australia | 5 | 4-0 | Australia |
| 2023 | Drawn | 5 | 2-2 | England |
| 2025 | TBD | 5 | TBD | Australia |
Last 5 Ashes Series (2015-2025)
Let’s look at the past 5 Ashes series results and who holds the trophy currently:
1. Drawn Series (2023)
The 2023 Ashes was one of the best series ever. Both teams won 2 matches each and 1 match was drawn. The series ended 2-2 in England. Australia won the first two matches very closely – by just 2 wickets at Birmingham and by 43 runs at Lord’s. Their bowlers did great work to defend small totals.
England came back strong in the last three matches. They won by 3 wickets at Leeds in a thrilling chase. The fourth match at Manchester was drawn when rain stopped play. In the final match at The Oval, England won by 49 runs to level the series. It was exciting cricket with close finishes in almost every match.
2. Australia (2021/22)
Australia crushed England 4-0 in their home conditions. The series was over very quickly as Australia won the first three matches easily. At Brisbane, they won by 9 wickets after bowling England out for just 147 in the first innings. The second match at Adelaide saw Australia win by 275 runs with great bowling and batting.
The third match at Melbourne was the worst for England. They were bowled out for just 68 in their second innings and lost by an innings and 14 runs. Australia won the series 3-0 after just three matches. The fourth match at Sydney was drawn due to rain and bad light. Australia completed the 4-0 win in the final match at Hobart, winning by 146 runs.
3. Australia (2017/18)
Australia won another home series 4-0 against England. They started well at Brisbane with a 10-wicket win. Steve Smith and other Australian batsmen scored big runs throughout the series. The second match at Adelaide was won by 120 runs with Australia showing their strength in both innings.
The third match at WACA Perth was a big win for Australia by an innings and 41 runs. Australia scored 662 runs in their first innings which was too much for England. The fourth match at Melbourne was drawn but Australia had already won the series 3-0. They finished with another big win at Sydney by an innings and 123 runs to complete the 4-0 result.
4. England (2015)
England won a great home series 3-2 in a close fight. They started well at Cardiff, winning by 169 runs with good bowling in the final innings. But Australia came back strong at Lord’s with a huge 405-run win. Steve Rogers and other Australian batsmen scored big runs to level the series 1-1.
England then won two matches in a row to take a 3-1 lead. At Birmingham, they won by 8 wickets after bowling Australia out for just 136 in the first innings. The fourth match at Nottingham was even better – England won by an innings and 78 runs after Australia scored only 60 in their first innings. Australia won the final match at The Oval by an innings and 46 runs, but England had already won the series 3-2.
5. Australia (2019) – Drawn 2-2
The 2019 Ashes in England ended 2-2 in a great series. Australia started well at Birmingham, winning by 251 runs with Steve Smith scoring big runs. The second match at Lord’s was drawn after both teams fought hard. England needed to win to stay in the series.
The third match at Leeds was the most exciting. England won by just 1 wicket in a nail-biting finish. Ben Stokes played one of the best innings ever to help England win. Australia won the fourth match at Manchester by 185 runs to take a 2-1 lead. But England fought back in the final match at The Oval, winning by 135 runs to draw the series
All Eyes on the Ashes 2025-26
The next chapter of this historic rivalry is set to unfold in Australia from November 2025 to January 2026. With 5 Tests scheduled across iconic venues including Perth Stadium, The Gabba Brisbane, Adelaide Oval, Melbourne Cricket Ground, and Sydney Cricket Ground, cricket fans worldwide are eagerly anticipating another thrilling series.
The squads are yet to be announced, but both teams will be looking to claim or retain the famous urn. Australia will have the advantage of home conditions, while England will be determined to bounce back after the drawn 2023 series and reclaim The Ashes on Australian soil.
More Winners Lists:
Conclusion: Australia has won more Ashes series than England
Over more than a century, The Ashes has remained cricket’s most celebrated rivalry. Both nations continue to produce world-class players who make every contest a spectacle.
What makes The Ashes special is its timeless charm it never gets old. Each series writes a new chapter filled with emotion, skill, and national pride. No matter where it’s played, fans know one thing for sure: The Ashes will always be cricket’s most prized battle between two great teams.
FAQs
Australia has won The Ashes more times than England in the overall history.
The Ashes started in 1882. The first series was played between England and Australia.
There have been many 5-0 wins. Australia won 5-0 in 2006/07 and 2013/14. England won 5-0 in different years too.
Most Ashes series have 5 matches. But some old series had different numbers of matches.
The Ashes moves between England and Australia. One series is played in England, then the next one is in Australia.
