The Ashes: A statistical review of cricket's greatest rivalry

Mohandas Menon 15:03 06/07/2015
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  • Some of the Ashes' most prolific figures.

    Ahead of the start of the first Test in Cardiff on Wednesday, cricket stats guru Mohandas Menon looks at the numbers behind cricket's greatest rivalry; The Ashes.

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    Match results in Ashes series          
    Venue Mts Eng Aus Draw Period
    In England 158 47 46 65 1884-2013
    In Australia 162 56 82 24 1882-2014
    Total in Ashes 320 103 128 89 1882-2014
    In non-Ashes Tests 16 2 10 4 1877-1988
    Overall head to head 336 105 138 93 1882-2014

    Note: Since 1877, 16 Tests have been played between the two sides that are not a part of the Ashes. The last such non-Ashes Test was the one-off Bicentenary Test match at Sydney from January 29 to February 2, 1988.

    Ashes series summary since 2000            
    Month, Year Country Mts Eng Aus Draw Series won
    July to Aug 2001 in Eng 5 1 4 0 Australia
    Nov 2002 to Jan 2003 in Aus 5 1 4 0 Australia
    July-Sep 2005 in Eng 5 2 1 2 England
    Nov 2006 to Jan 2007 in Aus 5 0 5 0 Australia
    July to Aug 2009 in Eng 5 2 1 2 England
    Nov 2010 to Jan 2011 in Aus 5 3 1 1 England
    July to Aug 2013 in Eng 5 3 0 2 England
    Nov 2013 to Jan 2014 in Aus 5 0 5 0 Australia
    Total   40 12 21 7  

    Series summary: Played 8: England won 4, Australia 4, Drawn nil

    Overall Ashes series results        
    Venue Series Eng won Aus won Draw
    In England 34 17 14 3
    In Australia 34 14 18 2
    Total 68 31 32 5

    Notes:
    ** Both teams have met each other in 68 Ashes series so far, of which 34 each been played in their respective countries. Australia are just ahead, having won the series on 32 occasions compared to England’s 31, with five series drawn.
    ** The Australians held the urn for the longest duration, from August 22, 1934 until August 18, 1953 – nearly 19 years. This, of course, was aided by the period between 1940 and 1945, when no Tests were played because of World War II. Otherwise, the record over the longest uninterrupted period is also held by the Aussies — from 1989 to 2005 – for 16 years. Incidentally, the England team held the Ashes for the shortest period for one year and three months from September 2005 to December 2006.

    Highest team totals in Ashes Tests      
    England      
    903-7d at The Oval Aug 1938 (Won)
    658-8d at Nottingham June 1938 (Drawn)
    644-10 at Sydney Jan 2011 (Won)
    Australia      
    729-6d at Lord’s June 1930 (Won)
    701-10 at The Oval Aug 1934 (Won)
    695-10 at The Oval Aug 1930 (Won)
    Lowest team totals in Ashes Tests      
    England      
    45-10 at Sydney Jan 1887 (Won)
    52-10 at The Oval Aug 1948 (Lost)
    53-10 at Lord’s Jul 1888 (Lost)
    Australia      
    36-10 at Birmingham May 1902 (Drawn)
    42-10 at Sydney Feb 1888 (Lost)
    44-10 at The Oval Aug 1896 (Lost)
    Total individual 100s in Ashes Tests  
    Total 100s 521 (in England: 238, in Australia: 283)
    By England 230 (in England: 108, in Australia: 122)
    By Australia 291 (in England: 130, in Australia: 161)
    Highest individual scores in Ashes Tests        
    England        
    364 by Len Hutton at The Oval Aug 1938 (Won)
    287 by Reg Foster at Sydney Dec 1903 (Won)
    256 by Ken Barrington at Manchester Jul 1964 (Drawn)
    Australia        
    334 by Don Bradman at Leeds Jul 1930 (Drawn)
    311 by Bob Simpson at Manchester Jul 1964 (Drawn)
    307 by Bob Cowper at Melbourne Feb 1966 (Drawn)
    Leading run-getters in Ashes Tests    
    England    
    3,636 by Jack Hobbs in 41 mts 71 inns ave 54.27
    3,037 by David Gower in 38 mts 69 inns ave 46.01
    2,852 by Walter Hammond in 33 mts 58 inns ave 51.85
    Most in England: 1,519 runs by Graham Gooch in 24 mts 44 inns ave 34.52
    Australia    
    5,028 by Don Bradman in 37 mts 63 inns ave 89.78
    3,222 by Allan Border in 42 mts 73 inns ave 55.55
    3,173 by Steve Waugh in 45 mts 72 inns ave 58.75
    Most in England: 2,674 runs by Don Bradman in 19 mts 30 inns ave 102.84
    Most individual 100s in Ashes Tests  
    England: 12 by Jack Hobbs  (Most in England: 5 by Stanley Jackson)
    Australia: 19 by Don Bradman  (Most in England: 11 by Don Bradman)
    Best bowling in an innings in Ashes Tests        
    England        
    10/53 by Jim Laker at Manchester Jul 1956 (Won)
    9/37 by Jim Laker at Manchester Jul 1956 (Won)
    8/35 by George Lohmann at Sydney Feb 1887 (Won)
    Australia        
    9/121 by Arthur Mailey at Melbourne Feb 1921 (Won)
    8/31 by Frank Laver at Manchester Jul 1909 (Drawn)
    8/38 by Glenn McGrath at Lord’s Jun 1997 (Drawn)
    Best bowling in a match in Ashes Tests        
    England        
    19/90 by Jim Laker at Manchester Jul 1956 (Won)
    15/104 by Hedley Verity at Lord’s Jun 1934 (Won)
    15/124 by Wilfred Rhodes at Melbourne Jan 1904 (Won)
    Australia        
    16/137 by Bob Massie at Lord’s Jun 1972 (Won)
    13/77 by Monty Noble at Melbourne Jan 1902 (Won)
    13/148 by Bruce Reid at Melbourne Dec 1990 (Won)
    Leading wicket-takers in Ashes Tests  
    England  
    128 by Ian Botham in 32 mts ave 28.04
    123 by Bob Willis in 31 mts ave 24.37
    109 by Wilfred Rhodes in 41 mts ave 24.00
    Most in England: 78 wickets by Ian Botham in 17 mts ave 25.61
    Australia  
    195 by Shane Warne in 36 mts ave 23.25
    157 by Glenn McGrath in 30 mts ave 20.92
    141 by Hugh Trumble in 31 mts ave 20.88
    Most in England: 129 wickets by Shane Warne in 22 mts ave 21.94
    Overall Test record            
    England            
    Venue Mts Won Lost Tie Draw %win
    Home 489 200 112 0 177 40.90
    Away 468 141 165 0 162 30.13
    Total 957 341 277 0 339 35.63
    Australia            
    Venue Mts Won Lost Tie Draw %win
    Home 398 226 95 1 76 56.78
    Away 377 138 110 1 128 36.60
    Total 775 364 205 2 204 46.97

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