Ashes Series History, Stats, and Facts | SportsMonks
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Ashes Series History, Stats, and Facts

Ashes Series History

The Ashes has started and the excitement is palpable amongst fans of both teams. If you’re a fan of either of the two teams participating in The Ashes, you should definitely learn more about some fascinating history and nuggets behind one of the most viewed, watched and most popular Test cricket events in the world.

The name The Ashes has several stories behind its origin but this can be traced all the way back to Australia’s England tour in the year 1882. The hosts England had been defeated in the one-off Test match which was a low-scoring tourney where the press in Britain published these snippets-

Sacred to the memory of England’s supremacy in the cricket-field which expired on the 29th day of August, at the oval: “Its end was Peate”.

In Affectionate Remembrance of English Cricket, which died at the Oval on 29 August 1882. Deeply lamented by a large circle of sorrowing friends and acquaintances. R.I.P. The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia.

In the 1882-83 tour to Australia, Ivo Bligh, the captain of England promised that he would recover the Ashes, thereby lending the famous name of one of global cricket’s hottest Test match rivalries.

Ever since, 70 Ashes Test series’ have taken place with Australia and England locked at 33-32 respectively. Five series’ ended in draws. Australia leads England by way of the number of matches played (134-106).

Here are some of the vital statistics and facts that you need to know about The Ashes-

Batting Stats-

  • The highest innings total in the tournament is 907/7 declared by England in the year 1938.
  • 36 all out is the lowest innings total and Australia fell for this score in the year 1902.
  • The highest Ashes run-scorer is Sir Don Bradman with 5028 runs.
  • Sir Leonard Hutton from England is the highest individual run scorer with 364 in the 1938 series.
  • 540 hundreds have been scored and the highest century-maker is Sir Don Bradman (19).
  • Allan Border has the highest half-centuries (19).
  • The highest runs in one series is 974 runs by Sir Don Bradman in the 1938 series.

Bowling Stats-

  • Shane Warne is the highest wicket-keeper with 195 scalps in all.
  • Jim Laker (10/53) has the best bowling tally in an innings back in the year 1956.
  • 5-wicket hauls have been taken 522 times.
  • 19 wickets were taken by Jim Laker in 1956, the highest for a single match.
  • Sydney Barnes from England took 12 five-wicket hauls, the highest for a single player.
  • There have been 77 hauls of 10 wickets.
  • Shane Warne of Australia has four hauls of 10 wickets along with Tom Richardson of England, the highest individual 10-wicket hauls in the series.
  • Jim Laker took 46 wickets in 1956, the highest in a single series.

Wicket-Keeping-

  • Ian Healy of Australia has 135 dismissals, the highest in the Ashes.
  • Rod Marsh, Ian Healy, Alec Stewart, Jack Russell, Matt Prior and Chris Read have 6 dismissals, the highest for any innings.
  • 9 dismissals is the highest for a single match and the record belongs to Ian Healy, Gil Langley, Adam Gilchrist and Rod Marsh.
  • Brad Haddin has 29 dismissals, the highest in a single series back in the year 2013.

Fielding-

  • Ian Botham has the highest tally of catches in the series at 54.
  • Greg Chappell has the highest number of catches in a single match, i.e. 7.
  • Jack Gregory of Australia took 15 catches in the 1920-21 Ashes Series which is the highest such record for one series.

After knowing all these interesting statistics, you would no doubt be intrigued about the history of the tournament and its chequered past over the years. The current Ashes Series is ongoing and certainly promises to live up to its billing, especially after Australia performed well in the World Cup and England went on to lift the title.

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