It is every batsman’s dream to score runs in the Ashes, which is considered the most historical and prestigious series of Test cricket. In this series played between Australia and England, pressure, environment and conditions are all very challenging. Despite this, some batsmen scored so many runs in a single Ashes series that their names are still recorded in golden letters in the record books.

Sir Don Bradman

At the top of this list is the name of the great Sir Don Bradman. In the Ashes series played on the England tour in 1930, Bradman scored 974 runs in 7 innings of just 5 Test matches. His average was 139.14, which even today seems like a dream. In this series, he played a historic inning of 334 runs and scored four centuries. Cricket experts believe that this performance will probably never be repeated,

walter hammond

England’s legendary batsman Walter Hammond is also at second place in this list. Hammond scored 905 runs in the Ashes series played on the Australia tour in 1928-29. He scored four centuries with a big innings of 251 runs and became a strong pillar for England at that time. This kind of performance in foreign conditions is still considered very special.

mark taylor

Former Australian captain Mark Taylor is in third place. In the 1989 Ashes series, he scored 839 runs in 6 test matches. During this period, his innings of 219 runs was much talked about. Taylor’s batting played an important role in giving Australia a strong position in the series.

Sir Don Bradman

Sir Don Bradman’s name appearing twice in this list shows his greatness. He scored 810 runs in the Ashes series played in Australia in 1936-37. During this period, three centuries and one half-century came from his bat. Even in this series, his average was around 90, which is a big proof of his consistency.

steve smith

This feat was accomplished by Australia’s Steve Smith in modern cricket. Playing in the difficult conditions of England in the 2019 Ashes series, Smith scored 774 runs in just 4 Test matches. His average was more than 110 and he scored three centuries. This series of Smith is counted among the most memorable Ashes of today’s era.

Captain Pat Cummins and experienced spin bowler Nathan Lyon have returned to Australia’s playing eleven for the important third Test match. This match of the Ashes series will be played at Adelaide Oval.

Two players have been dropped from the team that won by eight wickets in the Gabba Test. Among them, all-rounder Michael Neser was the most unfortunate, while fast bowler Brendan Dodget also had to sit out of the team. Neser bowled brilliantly at Gabba.

For Pat Cummins, this test will be the first test after the match played against West Indies in the middle of the year. Cummins said that he is completely fit and there will be no overs limit in bowling. He told that if he had played in Brisbane Test, he would have probably bowled less overs, but in this match he will play to his full capacity like in a normal Test.

Experienced opening batsman Usman Khawaja once again did not get a place in the team. The selectors have kept faith in Travis Head and Jake Weatherald as the opening pair. Wicketkeeper batsman Josh Inglis also remains in the team and will bat at number seven.

Cummins made it clear that Usman Khawaja’s international career is not over. He said that Khawaja is a player who is always ready for the team. Cummins also told that many players like Beau Webster, Michael Neser and Brendan Dodget have been left out in this series, but everyone has kept the atmosphere of the team positive. To win the Ashes series, a strong team and a big squad are necessary.

Let us tell you that the Ashes is a five-match Test series, in which the host Australia has defeated Ben Stokes-led England on every front and has won the first two Test matches. By winning the third test, Australia will get an unassailable lead in the Ashes. In such a situation, the challenge before England is ‘do or die’.

Australia’s playing-11: Travis Head, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Josh Inglis, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland.

Ashes Record: The Ashes, cricket’s oldest and most prestigious bilateral series, has always been a center of excitement and records. This series remains in the headlines due to the great matches between the batsmen and bowlers. However, in the initial phase, there were many such matches where the runs scored were so low that it was recorded in the records. Today we look at the matches with the lowest match aggregate in Ashes history, in which the total run count of both the teams was very low.

Lord’s Test of 1888

The lowest scoring match in Ashes history was played at Lord’s on 16 July 1888. England and Australia together scored only 291 runs. A total of 40 wickets fell in the match and the run rate was only 2.2. This match best reflects the difficulty of the pitch and bowling of those days. No team could reach 150.

manchester test 1888

A few days after the Lord’s Test, on 30 August 1888, both the teams together scored 323 runs in Manchester. A total of 30 wickets fell in this match and the run rate was only 2.45. This match was also entirely in the name of the bowlers, where the batsmen could not stay on the crease.

sydney test 1888

This test held in Sydney on 10 February 1888 became new history. England and Australia together had scored 374 runs. Not only this, all 40 wickets fell in this match. Run rate is only 1.98, i.e. not even two runs per over!

The Oval 1890

In 1890, England and Australia once again played a low-scoring match at The Oval. Both the teams together scored 389 runs and a total of 38 wickets fell in the match. During this period, the run rate was only 2.01, which was again proof of the dominance of the bowlers.

The Oval 1896

Australia and England came face to face once again in 1896 in Australia. In this match also, a total of 392 runs were scored and 40 wickets fell. The run rate in the match was 2.24. This match perfectly encapsulates the pitches of the early Ashes Tests – slow, bouncy and a bowler’s paradise.

Most catches in the ashes: Apart from bat and ball, one more thing always remains in the headlines in the Ashes series, that is fielding. Especially catching, which has the power to change the course of the match. In this prestigious Test series which is more than 140 years old, many legendary players have left a memorable impression with their excellent fielding. According to the latest data, Australia’s star batsman Steve Smith has become the player who has taken the most catches in Ashes history.

Steve Smith’s dominance

Playing in the Ashes between 2010 and 2025, Smith has taken a total of 61 catches in 71 innings of 38 matches. His average of 0.859 catches per innings is considered excellent. His lightning-quick reflexes and steady hands in the slips make him one of the best fielders in the world. Smith is often seen taking catches with equal success on both spin and pace bowling, which proves his efficiency.

Ian Botham – England

England’s famous all-rounder Ian Botham is at second place in the list. Who took 54 catches in 32 Ashes matches played between 1977 and 1989. His average of 0.87 catches per innings is even better than Smith. Botham was known for his strong grip and quick reactions in the slip cordon. Even today, English fans remember Botham not only for his batting and bowling, but also for his fielding.

Ellen Border – Australia

Former Australian captain Allan Border has secured third position in the list by taking 51 catches in 42 matches. Border’s biggest strength was to make even difficult catches easy by remaining calm in every situation. His fielding standards have set the benchmark for upcoming Australian teams.

Greg Chappell and Mark Taylor also included in top-5

Former Australian great Greg Chappell has secured fourth position with 48 catches, while former captain Mark Taylor is in the top-5 with 46 catches. Both the players showed amazing accuracy in the slips and have brought success to their team time and again.

The Ashes 2025-26: The excitement of Ashes 2025 is continuously increasing. After the crushing 8-wicket defeat in Perth, England has now announced its playing XI for the second test. This match will be played in day-night format at Gabba ground in Brisbane from 4th December. The biggest change in the team is the return of spin all-rounder Will Jacques, who will replace the injured Mark Wood.

Mark Wood injured, Will Jacques gets big chance

Mark Wood had increased pain in his left knee while bowling in the series opener. After complete investigation, he has been dropped from the second test. England have included Will Jacques in his place. Who made headlines by taking 5 wickets in his Test debut on Pakistan tour in 2022. Jacques will provide additional balance to the team with both ball and bat.

No other changes have been made in the team for the second test. England are currently trailing 0-1 in the series, as the Perth Test was over in just two days and Australia had won easily.

Stokes’ statement

Despite the disappointing defeat of the first Test, captain Ben Stokes says that the team is ready to make a comeback with full strength. He said that there are still four matches left and England has full potential to win back the Ashes.

The real test for both teams in the day-night test

Gaba’s fast pitch and pink ball will make this match more challenging. England will be eyeing to level the series after the initial defeat, while Australia would like to take the lead to 2-0. This series is also a part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27, so every match is important.

England’s playing 11

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Will Jacques, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer.

Most ducks for the ashes: The Ashes is one of the oldest and most exciting test rivalries in the world. In this match played between England and Australia, the batsmen are remembered for their centuries and the bowlers for their deadly bowling. There are some players in whose name there is a record which no player wants to achieve. That is the record of most ‘ducks’.

In the long history of Ashes, there have been many great players whose bat sometimes did not support them and they returned to the pavilion without opening their account. Let’s take a look at those 5 players who hold the record for most ducks in Ashes history.

Sid Gregory (Australia) – 11 ducks

Sid Gregory, who played 52 matches in the Ashes from 1890 to 1912, has the maximum number of 11 ducks in this rivalry. Interestingly, he was also a brilliant batsman and had played an excellent inning of 201 runs. His career average was 25.80, but his bat remained completely silent in some matches.

Glenn McGrath (Australia) – 10 ducks

Glenn McGrath is counted among the most dangerous fast bowlers in the world, but batting was not his strength. In the 30 matches played in the Ashes between 1994 and 2007, he made a record of returning to the pavilion for 0 runs 10 times. However, his bowling won many series for Australia, so this duck record could never tarnish his career.

Shane Warne (Australia) – 10 ducks

Shane Warne is considered the greatest leg spinner in cricket history. However, he was also seen struggling many times while batting. He also has 10 ducks in his name in the Ashes. Despite this, he played a brilliant inning of 90 runs and showed that he can handle the team when needed.

Darren Gough (England) – 9 ducks

England fast bowler Darren Gough played 17 matches in the Ashes between 1994-2001 and he holds the record of being out on zero 9 times. Gough was known for troubling the batsmen with his swing bowling. Therefore, the weakness of his batting never became a big issue for the team.

Dick Lillee (England) – 9 ducks

Wicketkeeper-batsman Dick Lillee, who played between 1896 and 1909, went to the pavilion nine times in 32 matches without scoring a run. Even though he was a reliable player for England, his bat was often silent in the Ashes.

The Ashes: Australia has started Ashes 2025 in its own style. In the first match of this historic Test series which started in Perth from 21 November, the Kangaroos registered an emphatic victory by defeating England by 8 wickets. Now both the teams are eyeing the second test, which will be played today on 29th November at Manuka Oval, Canberra. England would like to make a comeback in this match at any cost, while Australia would be seen to be in a mood to consolidate its lead. Before this, let us take a look at the 140-year old rivalry of both the teams.

History of the Ashes

The Ashes series is one of the oldest and most exciting cricket rivalries in the world. The journey of about 143 years has been completed in this historical series which started in 1882. During this period, both the teams, Australia and England, have played 346-346 Test matches. The broad summary of the overall results so far shows that Australia has clearly maintained its dominance on the Ashes field.

Australia’s dominance continues

According to statistics, Australia has won 143 Tests out of 346 Ashes matches. Having consistently performed brilliantly over such a long period, the team’s win-loss ratio has been 1.300. This shows that the Australian team has been playing a balanced and strong game even under pressure.

Australia’s winning percentage is 41.32%, which is much better than England. The special thing is that in such a long period not a single match was tied nor did any match end without result (NR).

condition of England

On the other hand, England also played the same number of matches (346), but the team could win only 110 matches. England’s winning percentage has been 31.79%, while its losing percentage has been 41.32%, which is in sharp contrast to Australia.

England’s win-loss ratio (W/L) has been 0.769, which shows that in this long battle of 140 years, the English team seems to be continuously struggling somewhere.

Most Catches In The Ashes: In the rivalry of the Ashes series, along with batting, bowling, agile fielding also attracts the spectators a lot. In the world’s oldest Test series, fielding has always played a role in changing the course of the match. Now the list of players who have taken the most catches in Ashes history has come out, in which Australian legend Steve Smith is at the top. Let’s see which players are in this list.

Steve Smith – Australia

Smith has taken 61 spectacular catches in 38 Ashes matches played between 2010 and 2025. His catching average in a total of 71 innings is 0.859, which shows that he is not only capable of scoring runs but is also the most reliable player in the slip cordon. Often Smith’s catches turn into big wickets, and this is why the opposition is afraid of the ball going into his field.

Ian Botham- England

England’s legendary all-rounder Ian Botham is at number two. Botham took 54 catches in 32 matches played between 1977 and 1989. His catching average was 0.87, which is even better than Smith. This fielding ability of Botham shows that he was a game changer not only with ball and bat but also in fielding.

Alan Border- Australia

At third position is Allan Border, who took 51 catches in 42 matches. His catching average was 0.645. The borders remained as calm as they were alert. His standing in the slips was always a threat to the opposition batsmen.

Greg Chappell – Australia

Greg Chappell was not only a brilliant batsman, but he also left his mark in Ashes history in fielding. In the Ashes matches played from 1970 to 1983, Chappell took a total of 48 catches in 58 innings of 30 matches. His catches per innings average was 0.827, which shows that he was a big challenge for the opposition batsmen in the slip cordon.

Mark Taylor – Australia

Mark Taylor impressed everyone with his excellent fielding in the Ashes from 1989 to 1999. During this period, he took 46 catches in 65 innings in 33 matches. His catch average per innings was 0.707, which shows his consistent performance ability. His grip on the slip position and ability to read the direction of the ball was excellent.

The Ashes Record: Australia vs England match in Ashes series is always full of high voltage thrill. This is the oldest and most prestigious battle of cricket. Many batsmen have played the most memorable innings of their career in the Ashes. Talking about centuries in the Ashes, there are some names which have been recorded forever in the pages of history.

Donald Bradman – Australia

The top name is that of Sir Donald Bradman, who is called the God of Cricket. In the 37 Ashes matches played from 1928 to 1948, Bradman scored 19 brilliant centuries, a record which no one has been able to challenge even today. 5028 runs in 63 innings and an average of 89.78 are enough to show why Bradman is considered the greatest batsman of the game. His high score of 334 runs is still counted among the most prestigious innings of the Ashes.

Steve Smith – Australia

After Bradman comes the modern era maestro Steve Smith in the list, who is known for his smooth but very effective game in the Ashes. Between 2010 and 2025, Smith scored 12 centuries in 38 matches and scored 3436 runs. His performance with an average of 55.41 shows how dominant he is in the Ashes.

Jack Hobbs – England

At number three is England’s great opener Jack Hobbs, who played 41 matches from 1908 to 1930 and became immortal in the history of the Ashes by scoring 12 centuries. Hobbs’s 3636 runs testifies to his success in English cricket. Hobbs has been called the foundation of English batting, and his contribution will always remain special in Ashes history.

Steve Waugh – Australia

After this comes the name of Australia’s ace batsman Steve Waugh, who enhanced the beauty of the Ashes by scoring 10 centuries in 45 matches. He always had the ability to change the course of the match in difficult situations.

Wally Hammond – England

Another legend of England, Wally Hammond, is at number five in this list. His performance has also been no less than anyone. 9 centuries in 33 matches and a total of 2852 runs give him a special place in the list of all-time great Ashes batsmen.

No matter how exciting and prestigious the Ashes battle is, there are some shameful innings recorded in its history. Amidst the fiery innings with the bat, many times such shameful scores were made in the Ashes, which surprised the fans and experts. Interestingly, Australia’s name appears more often than England in the list of these lowest scores. See the full list

Australia limited to 36

The lowest score in Ashes history was made on 29 May 1902 in Birmingham, when the entire Australian team was all out for just 36 runs. This inning, made with a run rate of 1.56 in 23 overs, is still considered the biggest mistake in cricket. Although this match was a draw, this score always became a cause of shame for Australia.

Sydney disaster of 1888

For the second time, Australia’s batting was again embarrassed. On 10 February 1888, the Australian team could score only 42 runs against England in Sydney. Australia lost this match, and this innings remained a big lesson for them for a long time.

Another blow at The Oval in 1896

The third lowest score for Australia was 44 runs, which was recorded against England at The Oval on 10 August 1896. This innings, which collapsed in 26 overs, also took the team on the path of defeat. This shows that bounce and swing in England have always tested the Australian batsmen.

England’s innings of 45 runs

It was not just Australia that crumbled under pressure. On 28 January 1887, the England team also performed shamefully. The entire team scored only 45 runs in Sydney. However, the most surprising thing was that despite this, England won the match. This match was perhaps one of the strangest results in cricket history.

England’s 52-run collapse in 1948

The fifth place in this list is of England’s innings. On 14 August 1948, England’s batting order was scattered like a house of cards at The Oval. The entire team was reduced to just 52 runs. England lost this match, and this score is still counted among their worst Ashes moments.