The 20 Greatest Ashes Tests Ever Played

The greatest Ashes Tests are the ones that turned on a single innings, spell or session: England winning at Headingley in 1981 after following on, Edgbaston 2005 by two runs, and Ben Stokes's one-wicket win at Headingley in 2019. England and Australia have played 350 Ashes Tests since 1882-83, with Australia winning 146, England 111 and 93 drawn. These are our 20 greatest, in date order, with the scores and figures that made them, followed by the closest finishes of all.

The 20 Greatest Ashes Tests

1. The Oval, 1882: The Match That Made the Ashes

England needed 85 to win and were bowled out for 77, beaten by seven runs. Fred Spofforth took 14 wickets for 90 in the match. The mock obituary of English cricket that followed gave the series its name, so strictly this Test came before the Ashes existed. Our complete Ashes winners list starts with the series that followed.

2. Sydney, 1894-95: England Win After Following On

Australia made 586, with 201 from Syd Gregory and 161 from George Giffen, and made England follow on. England replied with 325 and 437, and Bobby Peel took 6 for 67 as Australia fell for 166 chasing 177. England won by 10 runs, the first Test won by a side following on.

3. Old Trafford, 1902: Australia by Three Runs

Victor Trumper made 104 and Stanley Jackson 128, and Bill Lockwood took 11 wickets in the match, but England fell three runs short. It remains one of the narrowest wins in Ashes history.

4. The Oval, 1902: Jessop's Hundred

Weeks later England won by one wicket. Gilbert Jessop's 104 turned the chase, Hugh Trumble took 8 for 65 and made 64 not out for Australia, and George Hirst finished on 58 not out.

5. Melbourne, 1907-08: Another One-Wicket Win

Kenneth Hutchings made 126 and Sydney Barnes took 5 for 72, and England scraped home by one wicket.

6. Adelaide, 1932-33: The Bodyline Test

The most bitter Test of the Bodyline series, played as England's leg-theory bowling caused a diplomatic row. England won by 338 runs on the way to a 4-1 series win.

7. Headingley, 1948: The Invincibles Chase 404

Set 404 to win, Australia got there for the loss of three wickets, with Arthur Morris making 182 and Don Bradman 173 not out. It was the highlight of the tour on which Bradman's side went unbeaten.

8. The Oval, 1953: England Regain the Ashes

After four draws, England won by eight wickets to take the Ashes back for the first time since 1932-33. Tony Lock took 5 for 45.

9. Old Trafford, 1956: Laker's 19 Wickets

Jim Laker took 9 for 37 and 10 for 53, 19 for 90 in the match, the best match figures in Test history. England won by an innings and 170 runs.

10. Old Trafford, 1961: Benaud Keeps the Ashes

Richie Benaud took 6 for 70 in England's second innings. Australia won by 54 runs and kept the Ashes.

11. Lord's, 1972: Massie's 16 Wickets

Bob Massie swung the ball both ways to take 8 for 84 and 8 for 53, 16 for 137, and Greg Chappell made 131 as Australia won by eight wickets.

12. Headingley, 1981: Botham and Willis

England followed on 227 behind and were close to an innings defeat when Ian Botham hit 149 not out. Australia needed 130 and were bowled out for 111, Bob Willis taking 8 for 43. England won by 18 runs, only the second Test won by a side following on.

13. Edgbaston, 1981: Botham Five for 11

A fortnight later Australia needed 151 and were bowled out for 121, Botham taking five wickets for 11 runs. England won by 29 runs.

14. Melbourne, 1982-83: England by Three Runs

Norman Cowans took 6 for 77 and England won by three runs, the joint second-narrowest runs margin in Ashes history.

15. Old Trafford, 1993: Warne Arrives

Shane Warne took eight wickets in his first Ashes Test and Australia won by 179 runs, the start of a career that ended with 195 Ashes wickets, the most by anyone. Graham Gooch made 133 and Ian Healy 102 not out.

16. Edgbaston, 2005: England by Two Runs

The narrowest runs win in Ashes history. Warne took 6 for 46, but England held on to level the series 1-1 and went on to win back the Ashes for the first time since 1986-87.

17. Melbourne, 2010-11: England Retain the Ashes

Australia were bowled out for 98 in their first innings, Jonathan Trott made 168 not out, and England won by an innings and 157 runs to keep the Ashes. They went on to win 3-1, their last series win in Australia.

18. Trent Bridge, 2013: Agar's 98

Ashton Agar made 98 batting at number 11, sharing a last-wicket stand of 163 with Phil Hughes, the highest for the tenth wicket in Ashes history. James Anderson took ten wickets and Ian Bell made 109, and England won by 14 runs.

19. Headingley, 2019: Stokes's 135 Not Out

England were bowled out for 67 in their first innings, Josh Hazlewood taking 5 for 30, and needed 359 to win. Ben Stokes made 135 not out and England won by one wicket.

20. Edgbaston, 2023: Australia by Two Wickets

Usman Khawaja made 141 and Joe Root 118 not out, and Australia chased down their target to win by two wickets, with their captain Pat Cummins having taken 4 for 63.

The Closest Ashes Finishes

Margin	Winner	Test
1 wicket	England	The Oval, 1902
1 wicket	England	Melbourne, 1907-08
1 wicket	England	Headingley, 2019
2 runs	England	Edgbaston, 2005
3 runs	Australia	Old Trafford, 1902
3 runs	England	Melbourne, 1982-83
6 runs	Australia	Sydney, 1884-85
2 wickets	England	The Oval, 1890
2 wickets	Australia	Sydney, 1907-08
2 wickets	Australia	Edgbaston, 2023

Ashes Tests only, from ESPNcricinfo's Ashes records; the 1882 Oval Test, decided by seven runs, came before the first Ashes series. Draws have been part of the story too: 93 Ashes Tests have been drawn, and the 1953 series was decided only after four draws.

What These Tests Have in Common

Most of the greatest Ashes Tests came in series that were still alive, and several decided who held the urn: The Oval 1953, Old Trafford 1961 and Melbourne 2010-11. Many were won by individual performances that still sit in the record books: Laker's 19 wickets, Massie's 16, Botham's 149 not out, Agar's record stand at number 11. Our pages on the best bowling figures in an Ashes innings and the highest individual Ashes scores list the rest, and the 2025-26 series, won 4-1 by Australia, is wrapped up by cricket.com.au's report of the final Test.

FAQs: The Greatest Ashes Tests

What is the greatest Ashes Test of all time?
Headingley 1981 and Edgbaston 2005 are the two most often named: England won the first by 18 runs after following on, and the second by two runs.

What is the closest Ashes Test?
England's two-run win at Edgbaston in 2005 is the narrowest by runs. England have also won three Ashes Tests by one wicket.

Has a team won an Ashes Test after following on?
Yes, England twice: at Sydney in 1894-95 and at Headingley in 1981.

How many Ashes Tests have been played?
350 to the end of the 2025-26 series, not counting three abandoned without a ball bowled: Australia have won 146, England 111 and 93 were drawn.