The Ashes 2025-26 in numbers
- adk466
- Feb 25
- 3 min read
Australia retained the Ashes with a commanding 4–1 victory over England. As with any long series, the statistics tell numerous stories, each of which is far more compelling than the series itself. England finally managed to win their first match in Australia in 15 years, a period during which their rivals won 17 matches. Such clear Australian dominance highlights a systemic issue with every English team that has toured Australia since their famous 3–1 victory in 2010–11. Simply put, winning in Australia is not easy.
The English are not the only side to have returned disappointed after a long and hard series Down Under. During this period, Australia won 17 series, drew two, and lost four. South Africa and India are the only sides to have beaten Australia in Australia during this period, both achieving this impressive feat twice. Why haven't England managed to replicate what these sides did? The answer is simple – the English let themselves down in all three departments.
Batting
As many English batters averaged 35+ as Australian batters – three. While these numbers do not immediately reveal the difference, one must recall that Travis Head was head (pun intended) and shoulders above the rest. His 629 runs at an average of 62.90, along with three centuries, were instrumental in Australia's dominance.
Joe Root, as always, was England's best batter. He finally overcame his Achilles' heel by scoring his first century in Australia under lights in Brisbane. Some Australians jokingly argued that he still did not have a red-ball hundred to his name, while others were relieved that Matthew Hayden would keep his clothes on at the MCG. While his first century may have meant a lot to him (unlike what his celebration tried to convey), its only effect was to reduce the margin of England's loss. His second century did little more than tick a box – his first red-ball century in Australia.
For a player averaging 50+ across 160+ matches, with nearly 14,000 Test runs to his name, Joe Root's biggest criticism would be his inability to score when it matters most. Having said that, he was doing all the heavy lifting for England. England's only other centurion, Jacob Bethell, looked like he belonged. Only time will tell whether he can answer all the questions that Test cricket will throw at him.
By contrast, Australia had two centurions apart from Head – Alex Carey and Steve Smith. While Smith's century probably only negated Root's in Sydney, Carey's emotional hundred in Adelaide came at a difficult time and was decisive in Australia's victory. The only other batter worth mentioning was Harry Brook, whose series, on paper, looks far better than it actually was – 358 runs at an average of 39.77. Over half those runs came in the two dead rubbers in Melbourne and Sydney, when all was lost.
In conclusion, very few English batters stepped up, and the few who did could not do so when the series was on the line.
Bowling
Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood form one half of the most dominant bowling quartet of this era, if not ever. They would have been dearly missed in the all-important Ashes series if not for one man – Mitchell Starc, who ensured their absence was barely felt. The left-arm quick took a staggering 31 wickets at an average of 19.93 while striking at 29.64, leading the charts in all three metrics.
Seven of his 31 wickets came in the first innings at Perth, paving the way for the shortest Ashes Test in over a century and the third shortest overall. No one starts a Test match better than Starc. He is second only to James Anderson on the list of leading wicket-takers in the first over of a Test innings, trailing him by just three wickets despite having bowled the first over in 121 fewer innings.
Fielding
England did not help themselves in the field. They dropped 17 catches, costing them 547 runs, while Australia conceded 298 runs by dropping 11 catches. Not only did England drop more catches, but each drop cost them more dearly.
As with any other Ashes series, there was much hype about what was to unfold Down Under. The series, as it transpired, failed to fulfil expectations, although the Australians will be mightily pleased at its conclusion. England, on the other hand, will ponder over what turned out to be yet another lost opportunity.
Source: Statistics and match information courtesy of ESPN Cricinfo.
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