From the rock hard pitches to relentless pressure away from the field, winning Down Under is cricket’s ultimate test
Australia has been a fortress in recent years with the team winning in their home country for the last three series. They have a win percentage at home of 52.3% compared to just 29.8% in England. It is difficult for the opposition to win in Australia for a few reasons, intense heat, the hard-quick-bouncy pitches that push batsmen to the limit of their techniques, the less-responsive kookaburra ball makes life difficult for English bowlers and an overwhelming pressure on and off the field all contribute to Australia’s dominance at home.
- 2021-2022 Australia. 4-0 (5)
- 2017-2018 Australia. 4-0(5)
- 2013-2014 Australia. 5-0(5)
- 2010-2011 England. 3-1(5)
Key Players
Some of Australia’s heroes of the game that have helped them be so successful in the famous series.
Donald Bradman
Batsman
Ricky Ponting
Batsman
Allan Border
Batting All-rounder
Glenn Mcgrath
Bowler
Dennis Lillee
Bowler
Steve Smith
Batsman
Steve Waugh
All-rounder
Pat Cummins
Bowling All-rounder
Iconic Moments
Ball Of The Century
One of the most watched and remembered deliveries in Ashes history. Shane Warne—the then unknown spinner from Down Under—was brought into the attack in his first ever appearance on English soil. A slow trot towards batter Mike Gatting, known for his ability to handle spin, saw Warne’s first ever ball come from over the wicket. It pitched wide, way outside leg stump and careened back across Gatting’s pad and bat and nicked off-stump. A legend was born.
Adam Gilchrist hits the fastest ever Ashes Century
The 2006/07 Ashes series is full of shining moments, but Gilchrist’s century off just 57 balls stands above the rest. At the time it was the second-fastest Test century, and today is the fourth fastest—but it set a new standard for wicketkeepers with the bat, and was a glittering moment in Gilly’s illustrious career.
Scott Boland wreaks havoc
Brought in as the specialist of the MCG, the unassuming Scott Boland had one of the most triumphant debuts in recent Test cricket memory. Just the second Indigenous Australian to play men’s Test cricket after Jason Gillespie, it had all the hallmarks of a memorable moment. And boy did it deliver. Taking just one wicket in the first innings, during the second innings, Boland took an astonishing 6/7 from just four over, the fifth best debut in Ashes history, and the best since 1982.
Venues
Australia host some of the most hostile venues for test cricket with rock hard pitches scorching heat and massive stadiums allowing for thousands of opposition fans creating an intense colosseum like atmosphere for the visitors. All of these factors mean its very difficult to win a series down under.
The Grounds
- Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Capacity 100,024
- Adelaide Oval, Capacity 53,500
- Perth Cricket Ground, Capacity 60000
- Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Capacity 46000
- Brisbane Cricket Ground(The Gabba), Capacity 42,000