Ashes tickets are selling with unprecedented speed. As a huge cricket fan, this gives me enormous pleasure – even if it means that, due to my own lack of urgency, I may end up having to watch most of it on television rather than at the grounds!
It really is an incredible rivalry – especially when it is considered how uncompetitive recent series in Australia have been.
When do you think there was last a gap of less than 2 Tests between winner and loser? I mean, when was the score, say 2-1 or 3-2 or 2-2, rather than 3-1, 4-1, 4-0, or 5-0?
It is a long time ago . . . I’ll take you back to it.
The most recent three series have been disasters for England: In 2021/22 and 2017/18 Australia won 4-0 and in 2013/14 Australia won 5-0.
2010/11 stands out for England as a glorious beacon – a sole exception to a massive period of mediocrity: they won 3-1.
But before that, it was all one-way traffic for series after series:
2006/07: Australia won 5-0
2002/03: Australia won 4-1
1998/99: Australia won 3-1
1994/95: Australia won 3-1
1990/91: Australia won 3-0
Finally, way back in 1986/87 – when our two country’s prime ministers were Bob Hawke and Margaret Thatcher – we reach a close series and the answer to the question I posed above: England won 2-1.
And you have to go to the series before that – 1982/83, when the captains were Greg Chappell and Bob Willis, to find the last Ashes summer in Australia when the final Test began with the destination of the Ashes yet to be determined. Australia led 2-1 coming into that final Test in Sydney and England, as Ashes holders, could have retained them by winning the Test and drawing the series. As it was, the Test was drawn and Australia won the Ashes.
So, yeah – in the last 45 years England have won here just twice. It’s not good enough.
At this point, any English person is required to say, ‘Well mate, sure, maybe we haven’t been so good down there, but Australia haven’t won a series in England since 2001.’
Well, yes, but . . .
Here is Australia’s record in England since 2001:
Tests: 30
Wins: 8
Losses: 14
Draws: 8
And here’s England’s record in Australia since 2001:
Tests: 30
Wins: 4
Losses: 23
Draws: 3
There is a big difference – at least Australia have been competitive.
England last won a Test here in January 2011. Since then, they have played 15, lost 13 and drawn 2 (and in one of the draws they were 1 wicket from defeat).
In truth, if any other side was this poor here we would have pruned them back to three-Test series – or worse. Just look what happened to the West Indies.
They belted Australia in three successive Test series back in the day: in 1984/85, 1988/89 and 1992/93. Then they lost 3-2 in 1996/97. Fair enough – you can’t win them all.
But then, when they lost 5-0 in 2000/01, Cricket Australia pounced: the Windies have not been here for a five-Test series since, and their last two were just two-Test series.
That is never going to happen to England of course – there is just too much history.
But hopefully this time round they can put up a fight worthy of the huge interest and expectation!
Even as far back as 2017/18 the Aussie papers were pointing out how much England were struggling here!
