The Ashes: Australia vs England
Head-to-Head Stats, Records & Match History
The rivalry between Australia and England on the cricket field is as old as the game itself and heading into the upcoming series we expect it to be as fierce as ever. Whether it’s the traditional Ashes series, the fire of One Day Internationals (ODIs), or the fast-paced chaos of T20s, the battles between these two proud cricketing nations have delivered unforgettable moments.
As we get closer to the start of the Ashes 2025/26 the team here at Joe Fortune take a look at the head-to-head stats between Australia and England across all three formats, along with some key records and insights that will be of interest to cricket fans and worth being up to speed on.
The Stats Before the Next Ashes
Before the urn’s up for grabs again, let’s take stock of how the Aussies and Poms have fared against each other over the years in all three formats of the international game:
- Tests: 361 matches played
- Australia: 152 wins
- England: 112 wins
- Draws: 97
- ODIs: 162 matches played
- Australia: 92 wins
- England: 65 wins
- Ties: 2 | No Results: 3
- T20Is: 26 matches played
- Australia: 12 wins
- England: 12 wins
- No Results: 2
In short, Australia is way out in front and has owned the Test format, especially when playing at home in recent times. While the shorter versions of the game have seen a much tighter contest Australia is on top in ODIs but it’s all evens when it comes to the shortest version of the game in T20s.
The Ashes: Test Matches
This is where it all began and where it truly matters most. Australia have long been the dominant force when it comes to Test cricket, especially at home.
Test Match Records
| Record | England | Australia |
| Highest Team Total | 903/7 dec | 729/6 dec |
| Lowest Team Total | 45 | 36 |
| Most Runs (Career) | Jack Hobbs – 3,636 | Don Bradman – 5,028 |
| Highest Individual Score | Len Hutton – 364 | Don Bradman – 334 |
| Most Wickets | Stuart Broad – 153 | Shane Warne – 195 |
| Best Bowling Figures | Jim Laker – 10/53 | Arthur Mailey – 9/121 |
| Most Hundreds | Jack Hobbs – 12 | Don Bradman – 19 |
| Most Fifties | Jack Hobbs – 27 | Don Bradman – 31 |
The Don’s and Warnie’s numbers speak for themselves and remain unmatched to this day. Meanwhile in recent times Broad’s efforts have added plenty of fuel to the fire and something of a relief that he has retired. That said, Ben Stokes, England’s captain, is starting to build a decent record against Australia with some stunning centuries and he might well land somewhere on the list at some point.
One Day Internationals (ODIs)
ODIs between these two are often competitive, and the numbers back up just how much pride is on the line every time they square off.
ODI Records Between the Two Nations
| Record | England | Australia |
| Highest Team Total | 481/6 | 356/5 |
| Lowest Team Total | 86 | 70 |
| Most Runs (Career) | Eoin Morgan – 1,952 | Ricky Ponting – 1,598 |
| Highest Individual Score | Jason Roy – 180 | Shane Watson – 161* |
| Most Wickets | Adil Rashid – 51 | Brett Lee – 65 |
| Best Bowling Figures | Chris Woakes – 6/45 | Andy Bichel – 7/20 |
| Most ODI Hundreds | Graham Gooch – 4 | Aaron Finch – 7 |
| Most Fifties | Eoin Morgan – 16 | Ricky Ponting – 13 |
| Most Sixes | Eoin Morgan – 48 | Shane Watson – 27 |
England might have posted the highest ever ODI score in this head-to-head, but Australia’s consistency across the decades, particularly in winning 6 World Cups compared to the 1 which England won under dubious circumstances tells you who’s usually got the upper hand in this format of cricket.
T20 Internationals (T20Is)
When it comes to the shortest form, things have been neck-and-neck:
T20I Records: Australia vs England
| Record | England | Australia |
| Highest Team Total | 221/5 | 248/6 |
| Lowest Team Total | 111 | 79 |
| Most Runs (Career) | Jos Buttler – 584 | Aaron Finch – 619 |
| Record | England | Australia |
| Highest Team Total | 221/5 | 248/6 |
| Lowest Team Total | 111 | 79 |
| Most Runs (Career) | Jos Buttler – 584 | Aaron Finch – 619 |
| Highest Individual Score | Alex Hales – 94 | Aaron Finch – 156 |
| Most Wickets | Adil Rashid – 15 | Mitchell Johnson – 11 |
| Best Bowling Figures | Jon Lewis – 4/24 | Matthew Short – 5/22 |
| Most T20 Hundreds | — | Aaron Finch – 1 |
| Most Fifties | Jos Buttler – 5 | Aaron Finch – 4 |
| Most Sixes | Jos Buttler – 25 | Aaron Finch – 35 |
Aaron Finch’s dominance is clear here when it comes to taking down the English, and whilst England still has Jos Buttler and Adil Rashid in its team these two could yet add more to the records they have set so far. When it comes to World Cup T20 wins, England is ahead having won it twice compared to Australia which has won it just the once.
Head-to-Head: Ashes Tests in Australia
- Tests played in Australia: 172
- Australia wins: 90
- England wins: 56
- Draws: 26
The dominance of Australia winning at home is huge, England has only won twice in Australia since it was handed a win in the late 1970s when most of the best Australian players were not available to play due to signing up for World Series Cricket. England won in 1986/87 in what was something of a forgettable series as both teams were average, and the Aussie team was bringing in several young players such as Steve Waugh.
England won again in 2010/11 which came as a complete shock as it won 3-1 with all three of its wins coming by an innings. This Australian side was in the process of transition as most of the greats had all recently retired, including Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, leaving the team short of experience against a very strong England team led by Andrew Strauss.
Since then, it has been all Australia which has dominated down under, who can forget Mitchell Johnson destroying the English batters in 2013/14 where several of their players went home early or retired due to his terrifying pace… that series finished 5-0 and since then there has been no joy for the poms except for a couple of drawn test matches!
Ready for the Next Chapter…
As we gear up for the next Ashes and beyond, here’s what you should keep in mind:
- Australia dominates the Test format and love home conditions — think The Gabba, Perth or in more recent times Adelaide under lights.
- England have not shown much grit in recent years when it comes to Test Matches in Australia having not won one game since 2011 and has lost the last 3 series 5-0,4-0 and 4-0.
- T20 and ODI clashes are much more balanced with England showing far stronger performances compared to its test record in Australia. It even won the T20 World Cup in Australia not too long ago.
- Key match-winners from both sides: the batting of Smith and fitness of its fast bowlers will be vital. Joe Root is looking for his first test hundred in Australia. England’s aggressive batting style, often called Bazball, will be tested by the established bowling unit which boasts a very strong record as follows:
Australian Test Match Bowling Stats
| Bowler | Matches | Wickets | Bowling Average | Best Figures |
| Scott Boland | 14 | 62 | 16.53 | 6/7 |
| Pat Cummins | 71 | 309 | 22.10 | 6/23 |
| Josh Hazlewood | 76 | 295 | 24.22 | 6/67 |
| Mitchell Starc | 100 | 402 | 27.02 | 6/9 |
| Nathan Lyon | 139 | 562 | 30.15 | 8/50 |
Ready for the Ashes?
Despite England coming over with its most consistent batting and strongest bowling line-up, it will need to dig deep to beat Australia in the series as if it finishes as a draw then Australia will retain the Ashes. The current odds to win sees Australia as $1.65 favourites, England at $2.80 and a Draw at $8.
Given the way test cricket has been played lately it is unlikely that many games will finish as a draw and with a strong record playing in Perth and being experts when playing under lights Australia has a very good chance of winning the first two tests which is why the boys in the baggy greens have been well supported to win another Ashes series.