The 2023 Ashes was insane. So here are the best five Ashes series of all time

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Best Ashes series of all time

The greatest rivalry in world cricket always delivers; from the redemption of England in 2005 on home soil, to the all out brutal white-washings Australia have displayed down under through the 2010s.

There’s no disputing that the best Ashes series have been truly incredible viewing.

With the 2023 Ashes delivering in every way possible, many pundits within the world of cricket have had just one question on their minds – is this the best Ashes series ever?

There’s obviously a few factors that play a role in deciding whether a series is entertaining or not; it’s mostly drama and back-story that determines a compelling cricket series.

Using the 2023 series as an example (which is not included in our best Ashes series list just yet), the narrative entering match one surrounded how England’s new ‘bazball‘ tactic would shape against the World Test Champions.

the ashes, world test championship, bazball
Australia are the World Test Champions | What are the best Ashes series we’ve ever seen?

Adding to the fascinating nature of it has been the amount of drama… hitting an all-time high after the controversial stumping by Alex Carey at Lord’s.

Throughout the history of Ashes cricket, there have been countless drama-riddled series, dating back all the way to its inception in 1877.

But which of these have been the best Ashes series?

What are the best Ashes series ever?

5. 1981 – ‘Botham’s bounce back’ (ENG win 3-1)

To open our list of the best Ashes series, we begin with Sir Ian Botham and his incredible revival midway through the 1981 series that changed England’s fortunes for the better.

Despite losing the First Test to a rampaging Dennis Lillee, England recovered to go undefeated for the remainder of the six-game series off the back of one of the greatest all-rounders ever, Ian Botham.

It couldn’t have started worse for Botham with the bat; a combined total of 34 runs in the opening match followed by a pair of ducks at Lord’s.

Best Ashes series all time
Ian Botham at Headingly | Best Ashes series

England’s fate looked sealed midway through the third Test at Headingley, with Australia enforcing the follow-on upon the home side, having a 227-run lead.

In comes a determined Botham, single-handedly putting his nation on his back with an unbeaten 149 off 148 balls to swing the momentum of the match, and the series, in England’s favour.

After that Test match it was now Botham’s Ashes, scoring another century at Old Trafford whilst collecting 21 more wickets in the final three games to guide England to a 3-1 series victory.

4. 1936-37 – Bradman Brilliance (AUS win 3-2)

It would be almost impossible to have a ‘best Ashes series countdown’ and leave out arguably the greatest batsman of all-time, Don Bradman.

Heading into the 1936/37 series down under, Australia were looking to avoid back-to-back series losses on home soil, which seemed likely to happen just two Tests in.

But cometh the moment, cometh the man; Bradman roared back into form with a sensational 270 in the second innings of the third Test at the MCG. Australia comfortably won the match and built some serious momentum heading into the remaining two Test matches where Bradman was simply brilliant.

The Don hit another second innings double-ton in the fourth Test, followed by a 169-run knock in the final Test making Australia winners at the end of the decider.

This side was the only team in Ashes history to come back from 2-0 down to win, easily making it one of best Ashes series ever.

3. 2013-14 – The Johnson series (AUS win 5-0)

Whether you support Australia or not, you have to respect and marvel at the performance they put on during the 2013/14 series. For the next generation of cricketers coming through, especially in Australia, this would arguably be their pick for the best Ashes series of all-time.

Having lost the 2010/11 series on home soil and the 2013 series in England only a few months earlier, Australia came into this one with some serious determination, fronted by fast bowler Mitchell Johnson who was out to right wrongs from the past.

Mitchell Johnson, best Ashes series

This serious is without a doubt the most convincing performances ever in the history of the Ashes with Australia winning four of the five Tests by 150 or more runs with a whopping 381-run win at the Gabba in the First Test.

Johnson was awarded Player of the Series, and rightfully so, taking 37 wickets across the entire series averaging almost four wickets per innings!

As of 2023, England have never looked the same during tours down under going winless for over a decade with back-to-back 4-nil series results after the 2013/14 series, definitely one of the best Ashes series ever.

Mitchell Johnson, best Ashes series

2. 1989 – ‘Zeroes to heroes’ (AUS win 4-0)

Australia’s touring team for the 1989 Ashes in England were labelled the worst team to ever travel to English soil before a ball was bowled. But by the end, they were untouchable.

Led by Allan Border, the Aussies won four out of the six Test matches with two drawn, which Australia were in the box seat to win prior to rain.

It was a sensational response to a dark period in Australian cricket history having won only one Test series in a six year window, including an Ashes series loss at home.

Allan Border, Best Ashes series
Allan Border and his unlikely side celebrate | Best Ashes series

Not a single Test match of the 1989 series was close, with the visitors winning by 210 runs, six wickets, nine wickets and an innings and 180 runs.

With the power of hindsight, it’s almost insane to think that the Australian team were labelled the ‘worst team’ considering the star players in the mix – Mark Taylor, David Boon, Allan Border, Steve Waugh, Ian Healy and Merv Hughes.

Adding to the resume of this series, and why it finds itself second on our best Ashes series list, is the impact it had on the rivalry going forward with England entering a disappointing 20 years off the back of it.

1. 2005 – England’s redemption (ENG win 2-1)

Coming in at number one in our best Ashes series ever countdown, is the iconic 2005 series in England which ended almost two decades of Ashes torture for the side.

England’s last series win over Australia in Test cricket was in 1987 before their slim 2-1 victory in the ’05 series.

Often spoken about as one of the greatest Test series ever, England’s 4th Test victory at Trent Bridge ultimately decided the series, with bad light and rain cutting short the end of The Oval Test match, making it a draw.

Although Shane Warne had one of the most remarkable series with the ball taking 40 wickets in total, it wasn’t enough to stop English trio Kevin Pietersen, Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Flintoff who all scored over 400 runs across the five Tests.

In order for it to be one the best Ashes series, it needed drama, and drama is what we got as after Australia’s dominant 239-run win at Lord’s in the first Test, all signs pointed to a ninth consecutive Ashes series win.

But a nail biting 2-run victory for England in the second Test changed the tune of the series with Michael Kasprowicz caught for 20 agonisingly close to saving the day for Australia.

A drawn third Test which included centuries to Michael Vaughan, Andrew Strauss and Ricky Pointing showed that the stars of the series were at their best heading into the much anticipated fourth Test which England won off the back of enforcing the follow-on.

Rain and bad light were all England needed outside of a strong performance in the final Test to secure victory and they got a little bit of both.

The Test match will forever be remembered for Pietersen incredible 158 in the second innings to save a poor batting display by the English.

Honour was restored for England following the game and the revival of English cricket began.

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