Peter English trawls through the archives to relive Anglo-Aussie battles of yesteryear. This page will be updated every day until the end of the series
September 11
1953The first-class component of the 1953 tour ends with a three-day game at Scarborough. "The Australians don't like festival cricket," wrote Jack Fingleton in The Ashes Crown the Year. "The impression down the tours is that they are too much like a Test after the Test series is over." Bill Johnston, the bowler averaging more than a hundred with the bat, walked to the crease with a note from Lindsay Hassett asking Norman Yardley to look after him. Johnston didn't face a ball.
September 10
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Don Bradman's final first-class game in England and he doffs his cap with 153 against HDG Leveson-Gower's XI in the Yorkshire seaside town of Scarborough. Sid Barnes shares a partnership of 225 with Bradman, but the match, which is hit by September rain, ends in a draw.
September 9
1921Warwick Armstrong's great side is on the way to its second loss in its last match of the tour. CI Thornton's XI take a 49-run lead into the second innings, where Arthur Mailey, the legspinner, adds six wickets alongside Ted McDonald's four. But McDonald is 0 not out when Mailey is lbw to Jupp as they lose three minutes before stumps. They missed out on a £100 bonus for going through the tour undefeated with the loss to an England XI two matches previously.
September 8
1956The tour ends on a high with Australia, who lost the Test series 2-1, chasing down the 193 set by TN Pearce's XI. Five wickets fall as they race to the total in 27 overs, and in the search for quick runs Ian Craig and Ken Mackay are kept down the order for security.
September 7
1880Billy Murdoch's 153 doesn't help Australia win in the first Test in England, but at least the captain forces the opposition to bat for a second time. Set 57 for victory, England lose five wickets as George Palmer and Harry Boyle make their short journey an uncomfortable one.
September 6
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1880
An historic day as the first Test in England starts. WG Grace scores 152 on debut in the opening innings of 420 in front of 20,814, and England go on to win by five wickets. Grace's innings "was made with only one hard chance, and comprised 12 4's, ten 3's 14 2's and 46 singles". The brothers WG, EM and GF Grace set a cute family milestone.
September 5
1956Tom Graveney starts the final match of Australia's tour with 101 for TN Pearce's XI at Scarborough. In reply, Richie Benaud lops four wickets before the declaration at 272 for 9 in 57 overs. An exciting finish is on the cards.
1899
Bill Howell, a right-arm medium-paced cutter of the ball, finishes his first tour to England with 7 for 57 against South of England at Hastings. Ernie Jones, the fast bowler, interrupts to stop him from taking ten in an innings, a feat Howell achieved in his first match in England against Surrey. Australia won by 110 runs and left with the Ashes after claiming the series 1-0.
September 4
1902Hugh Trumble, the offspinner, and John Saunders, who turned the ball at medium pace, upset CI Thornton's XI with five wickets each as their five-month trip slows down. The XI are dismissed for 198, but despite holding the advantage with two half-centuries to Victor Trumper, the Australians run out of time and fall 34 short.
September 3
1975Bob Woolmer's 149 after England follow-on makes sure they hold on for a draw in the longest first-class game ever played in England. The match at The Oval, extended to six days as the Ashes were still undecided, ends after 32 hours and 17 minutes with Rick McCosker on 25 and Greg Chappell on 4. They were 158 away from victory, but lifted the Ashes thanks to a 1-0 result.
1985
England take back the trophy with an innings victory and a 3-1 result after
Richard Ellison claims 5 for 46 at The Oval and Australia collapse for 129.
September 2
1981A day after losing the Ashes 3-1, the Australians come second in a day-night match against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham. Batting first, the hosts look to Zaheer Abbas and Chris Broad for 177 in 40 overs, and the Australians fall 72 short as Trevor Chappell is the only one to pass 20. Mike Whitney, who is back playing for the county team after appearing in the final two Tests, takes 1 for 10 off five overs.
1989
A Dutch side trip for Australia's dizzy squad and two matches against the Netherlands. David Boon sets up the 57-run victory with 82 while Tim Zoehrer, the reserve wicketkeeper, takes three wickets with his legspin. Another win and two successes against Denmark follow this warm-down.
September 1
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Mike Brearley's final day as England captain keeps alive his record of never losing a home Test. The draw gives England a 3-1 series win after losing the opening match with Ian Botham in charge. Terry Alderman picks up his 42nd wicket on the losing side.
August 31
1981Dirk Wellham becomes only the second Australian to make a century on debut in England, with his second-innings 103 coming from 221 balls with 12 fours at The Oval. Geoff Boycott helps him by spilling a chance on 99. Harry Graham was the first in 1893, but both Tests were drawn.
August 30
1921An England XI defeats Australia at Eastbourne, ending their unbeaten run thanks to GA Faulkner's second-innings 153. Despite being out for 43 in the first innings, the XI dismiss Australia for 174 and 167 to win by 28 runs. An unbeaten tour would have to wait another 17 years.
1977
Mick Malone, who scores 46, finishes his first Test and becomes the seventh player to take five wickets in an innings of his only game.
August 29
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1882
The Ashes are born. England, chasing 85 at The Oval, are 51 for 2 before
Fred "The Demon" Spofforth grabs 7 for 44 to add to his 7 for 46 and
Australia win by seven runs. The Sporting Times carries its famous
obituary. WG Grace had earlier run out Ernie Jones when, thinking the ball
was dead, he left the crease. "There was a good deal of truth in what a
gentleman in the pavilion remarked," Wisden reported, "that 'Jones
ought to thank the champion for teaching him something'."
1985
David Gower finishes the summer with 732 runs after taking 157 from
Australia in the fifth Test. England wins the series 3-1.
August 28
1956The Ashes stay in England as Australia struggle to a draw with 27 for 5 in 38.1 overs at The Oval. Jim Laker waves goodbye to the series with 3 for 8 off 18 to move to 46 wickets, the most in a series in England. Australia had no answer to Laker in the five Tests, and England took the series 2-1.
August 27
1908The greatest Ashes batsman is born. Don Bradman swung Ashes series and re-wrote records even before leading the Invincibles through an unbeaten tour in 1948. In 19 Tests in England he scored 2674 runs at an average of 102.84, with 11 hundreds and only three fifties. He never took a Test wicket there.
August 26
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1975
Robin Hobbs whistles a century against the Australians in 44 minutes for Essex at Chelmsford. Jim Higgs and Ashley Mallett, the spinners, suffer most as Hobbs clouts 12 fours and seven sixes - his second fifty lasted 12 minutes and 15 balls. He was out for 100; Australia won by 98.
August 25
1989
"England enjoyed one of their rare, sustained periods of dominance and captured the last seven Australia wickets for 143," Wisden reported on the second day of the final Test at The Oval. Derek Pringle claimed 4 for 70, but the flexing didn't last and Australia, helped by rain as they held on for a draw, took the series 4-0.
1948
Don Bradman's last innings at Lord's. He throws his wicket away after passing 150 and declares at 610 for 5 against the Gentlemen.
August 24
2001
Steve Waugh tortures England by getting 157 not out on one leg in his final away Ashes Test. Twelve not out entering day two, he battles England and a hole in his calf muscle suffered at Trent Bridge two Tests earlier. He adds to his list when injuring his right buttock on 28. Limping to his century, he dives into the dust and doesn't bother getting up to raise his bat.
August 23
1938
A relief for Australia as Wally Hammond finally declares at 903 for 7 at The Oval. After watching Len Hutton capture a then-world-record 364 off 847 balls, Hammond waits for Joe Hardstaff jnr to reach 169 before calling the batsmen in. Australia, without Don Bradman and Jack Fingleton because of injury, are wiped off for 201 and 123 and the series is drawn 1-1.
August 22
1921
Arthur Mailey begins his second-innings ten-wicket haul by taking the first six against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham. He added the final four the next morning to ensure a snappy title - Ten for 66 and All That - for his autobiography. Australia won by an innings.
1930
Percy Hornibrook collects 7 for 92 as Australia win by an innings and 39 runs to regain the Ashes under Bill Woodfull, who gets a satisfying present for his birthday. The same thing happens exactly four years later when Australia are successful by 562 runs at The Oval to seal that series 2-1.
August 21
1997
Glenn McGrath storms 7 for 76 to continue his hold over the English batsmen - especially Mike Atherton, who he gets for a seventh time in the series. Facing a spinning wicket at The Oval, Steve Waugh is worried. "It's just a shame we haven't got Neil Harvey in the side, as he no doubt would have made light work of the situation," he writes in his tour diary. Australia lose after five-wicket hauls to Phil Tufnell and Andy Caddick, but they had already sealed the series.
August 20
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1930
Don Bradman signs off on his first England series with 232 to take his gluttony to 974 runs in five Tests. It's his third knock of more than 200, and Australia go on to win by an innings and 39 runs to snatch back the urn with a 2-1 result.
2001
Mark Butcher's 173 is the innings of the series and it saves England from a cleansweep at Headingley. Adam Gilchrist sets England a tasty 314 and Butcher makes sure they arrive comfortably with six wickets in hand.
August 19
1985
David Gower makes the highest score by an England captain since Wally Hammond piled on 240 in 1938. Gower's 215 at Edgbaston also comes in a run glut as England total 595, and he shares a stand of 331 with Tim Robinson in 343 minutes. England take a 2-1 lead with the innings victory.
1975
George Davis supporters make sure there is no play possible after vandalising the pitch for the final day at Headingley. Australia wanted 225 with seven wickets left, but the match is drawn.
August 18
1934
Bill Ponsford settles his Test account with 266 and a 451-run partnership with Don Bradman, who finishes on 244, as they crush England by 562 runs in the fifth Test at The Oval. England wanted a draw to keep the urn, but Ponsford is 205 not out at the end of the first day, and Australia emphatically secure the series 2-1 on the fourth.
1953
Tony Lock takes 5 for 45 in the second innings to set up England's Ashes regaining victory at The Oval. Australia fall for 162 and England, needing 94 the next day, do it comfortably with Bill Edrich 55 not out and eight wickets in hand.
August 17
1964
Geoff Boycott opens his Test century account with 113 at The Oval. In his fourth match, Boycott raises his bat in the second innings to rescue England from serious trouble as they begin the second innings 197 behind. The match is drawn, Australia seal the Ashes 1-0, and Boycott scores 21 more hundreds in Tests.
August 16
1985
Richard Ellison, the medium-pacer, gives England the impetus for a 2-1 lead with a haul of 6
for 77 in the first innings at Edgbaston. Australia make 335, but England
respond with 595 thanks to Tim Robinson, David Gower and Mike Gatting, and then Ellison
chips in with another four. Australia fall for 142; England win by an innings and 118 with a Test to play.
August 15
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1964
Fred Trueman sets a world record by touching the 300-wicket mark after
knocking over Neil Hawke at The Oval. It almost arrived as a hat-trick, but
Hawke delayed the celebration until Colin Cowdrey's catch in the slips. The
match is a draw but Australia retain the Ashes.
1981
Botham bats and bats. After Headingley came Old Trafford and Botham,
inconvenienced by a golden duck in the first innings, blasts 118 from 102
balls, including 13 fours and six sixes, against an attack of Lillee,
Aldermann and Whitney. England's 103-run victory ends Australia's push to
regain the Ashes.
1977
A Derek Randall cartwheel celebrates winning the Ashes at Headingley after
he caught Rod Marsh off Mike Hendrick.
August 14
1948
Eric Hollies bowls Don Bradman for a duck in his final Test innings. At the Oval, Hollies tries a second-ball googly to give Bradman a Test average of 99.94. It's usually forgotten that England were out for 52, Arthur Morris carries his bat for 196 and England lose by an innings and 149 runs.
1921
Warwick Armstrong bowls two overs in a row in the fifth Test at The Oval after delivering an over either side of a lengthy dispute with Lionel Tennyson. Both captains were debating the legalities of a declaration.
August 13
1902
England win by one wicket thanks to Gilbert Jessop's 104 out of 139 in 75 minutes at The Oval. "Jessop made victory possible after all hope seemed lost," Wisden said. Australia had already won the series, but Jessop makes it one to remember with "a 5 in the slips, seventeens 4s, two 3s, four 2s and seventeen singles". George Hirst and Wilfred Rhodes, who hits the winning run, edge toward the total for a thrilling success.
August 12
1972
Greg and Ian Chappell raised hundreds in the same Test innings, the first
time for any family. Ian takes 118 and Greg 113 as they set up a five-wicket
victory that levels the series 2-2. However, England hold on to the Ashes.
1884
Test cricket's first double-century is hit by Billy Murdoch at The Oval. Dropped three times by George Ulyett, Murdoch settles on 211.
1886
WG Grace posts 170 at The Oval, the highest score for England at the time.
August 11
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1977
A hundred first-class hundreds for Geoffrey Boycott and one of those "I
remember where I was days". For those under 40, Boycott, playing on his home
ground at Headingley, became the first batsman to record the milestone in a
Test and finished with 191 centuries. Better still for England, they regained the Ashes.
1884
Billy Murdoch and Tup Scott, who scores his only century, celebrate the
first double-century partnership in Tests at The Oval. Australia reach 551 and England succeed in batting for a draw.
1909
Warren Bardsley also doubled up when he hit 130 and 136 to become the first
batsman to reach three figures in both innings of a Test. Another draw at
The Oval, but Australia won the series 2-1.
August 10
1989
A stunning day for Australia; a disastrous one for England. The series is over but Mark Taylor and Geoff Marsh aren't finished as they plough through 301 on the opening day at Trent Bridge. Their partnership extends to 329 the
following day and is the biggest partnership at the ground. The win gave
Australia the 4-0 lead.
1997
Australia wrap up another series and Shane Warne celebrates on the Trent
Bridge balcony with a champagne dance worthy of any sleezy nightclub. Set
451 to stay in the series, England, who in a soap storyline picked both
Hollioakes, were gone for 186 and so was the urn. Again.
August 9
2001
Australia chase 337 in 68 overs for a win against Sussex at Hove, getting them comfortably as Adam Gilchrist smashes 19 fours and two sixes and Ricky Ponting finishes three short of 150. A first-innings declaration at 86 for 2 sets up the match, but the biggest worry for the Australians was the loss of £1200 worth of playing gear stolen from the dressing room. The thieves must have been Shane Warne fans as copies of his autobiography go missing. Nobody asks for autographs.
August 8
1964
Brian Booth, the tour vice-captain, hits an unbeaten 193 as Australia run over Yorkshire at Bradford. Bob Simpson declares twice in the match to set up an 81-run victory despite a second-innings 122 from a young Geoffrey
Boycott.
August 7
1997
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A day of milestones for Australia's opening batsmen in the fifth Test at Trent Bridge. Mark Taylor, recovering from his batting slump, skips past 6000 Test runs to become the sixth Australian behind Allan Border, David Boon, Greg Chappell, Don Bradman and Neil Harvey to reach the mark. Taylor collects 76 while Matthew Elliott grabs 1000 runs for the tour with his 69, and Australia finish at 302 for 3 on the way to another series-winning victory.
August 6
1989
A hat-trick for a bowler against the Australians. The only problem for England was that it was the West Indies' Winston Benjamin who did the damage in capturing 7 for 54 for Leicestershire. Merv Hughes was first in line, followed by Tim May, before Benjamin knocked over Geoff Lawson's middle stump. It didn't change the result - another loss for David Gower.
August 5
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1993
Mike Atherton's first day as England's captain - he replaces Graham Gooch - starts brightly with 72 at Edgbaston. But the match goes the same way as before, Australia winning by eight wickets to take the series.
1975
Tony Greig's opening match as skipper is a better affair for England, but it ends in a draw as Australia fight a last-day thunderstorm, attacking fields
and a target of 483 to save the match. Both Chappells and Ross Edwards, who
made 99 in the first innings, added half-centuries to counter John Edrich's
175.
August 4
2001
Steve Waugh is stretchered off Trent Bridge after tearing a calf muscle in the chase of 158, but Australia manage without him as Mark Waugh and Damien Martyn seal victory. After three Tests the series is over and the Ashes are Australia's for the seventh time in a row.
August 3
1985
Mike Gatting corrects a worrying statistic by scoring his first hundred in England. It's his 40th innings, but he makes the fourth Test at Old Trafford a memorable one with 160 from 266 balls as England pile on 482 for 9 declared. Allan Border protects Australia with a second-innings 146 not out as the match is drawn.
August 2
1985
David Gower marks a marvellous summer with his 5000th Test run. During his wonderful series he collects 732 runs and regains the Ashes.
1981
Ian Botham's spell of 5 for 1 in 28 balls ruins Australia's pursuit of 151 at Edgbaston. His final figures stand at 14-9-11-5 and England take a barely-believable 2-1 series lead.
August 1
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1989
The end of one era and the start of a longer one. Australia reclaim the Ashes when David Boon sweeps Nick Cook, sending the visiting dressing room into a standing, arm-raising ovation. Australia lead 3-0 and England haven't touched the urn since.
1961
Richie Benaud turns the Old Trafford Test when he goes around the wicket in a spell of 5 for 12 that floors England in their chase of 256. They fall 55 short after losing 9 for 51.
July 31
1956
Jim Laker's perfect ten gives him a match mark of 19 out of 20 in the fourth Test at Old Trafford. Beating his own England record of 9 for 37, he swept through the innings with 10 for 53 on a wicket the Australians said was under-prepared to suit the spinners. SF Barnes's 17 for 159 in 1913-14 are the second best match figures.
July 30
1953
Bill Johnston misses a hat-trick against Surrey when Stuart Surridge, the captain, declares after being dismissed, leaving Johnston without a chance at the milestone. Keith Miller makes it an eventful day. When he is bowled by Tony Lock, Miller twice suggests by action to the umpire that the ball was thrown. The crowd jeered him; rain the following day produced a draw.
July 29
1972
Derek Underwood plays a tricky pitch to near-perfection as his 10 for 82 at Headingley retain the Ashes for England. An eighth-wicket stand of 104 between Ray Illingworth and John Snow sets the platform for Underwood, and Australia are gone in three days.
1997
The Express runs a public apology after Australia take a 2-1 lead in Leeds. "In common with other newspapers, we may have recently given the impression that England had a chance of winning The Ashes. We now accept this was a mistake and would like to take the opportunity to say sorry to our readers."
July 28
1977
Ian Botham's Test debut and his first victim is Greg Chappell - bowled off a short ball. Ending his opening day with figures of 5 for 46 as Australia are dismissed for 243, he adds 25 with the bat and a glorious and controversial career is born.
July 27
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1956
Jim Laker opens a historic Test with 9 for 37 as Australia are caught in a spin at Old Trafford. Australia lose 10 for 36 in reply to England's 459 to be all out for 84, but Laker had more in store for the second innings.
1948
The farewell Test century for Don Bradman, who finishes on 29 hundreds, after his 173 not out steers Australia to a then-record 404 in the fourth Test at Headingley. Helped by a "succession of full tosses", runs came comfortably in the stand of 301 with Arthur Morris in which 66 fours were hit - 33 by Morris and 29 from Bradman. It is the high-point of the Invincibles, and Bradman's final runs in Tests.
July 26
1993
More celebrations for Australia as they retain the Ashes at Headingley with an innings victory. Allan Border collects his second career double-century in Australia's 653 for 4, Paul Reiffel picks up eight wickets, and Graham Gooch stands down as England captain.
July 25
1997
Graham Thorpe drops Matthew Elliott on 29, with Australia limping at 50 for 3 at Headingley, and the batsman posts a career-best 199. Elliott and Ricky Ponting add 288 and Australia escape from the danger of 1-1 entering the fourth Test.
1938
Australia retain the Ashes at Headingley as Bill O'Reilly takes five wickets in both innings for match figures of 10 for 122. Australia were 107 for 5, but seal the win after a bad light interruption.
1964
Bob Simpson, the captain, entered the Old Trafford Test without a century, but soon erased the strange statistic by collecting 311 in a draw.
July 24
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1902
Victor Trumper is the first Australian batsman to score a century before lunch when he reaches 103 on day one. However, he is dismissed one run later. Australia eventually win a nail-biting Test at Old Trafford by three runs, retaining the Ashes after Fred Tate was last-man out for 4 - his final act in Test cricket - as England failed to reach 123.
July 23
1934
Don Bradman, who posts a brilliant 304, reaches his second triple-century at Headingley as he joins Bill Ponsford in a stand of 388. Four years later he is back to wrap up another century with 103 on a more bowler-friendly surface.
July 22
1890
Jack Barrett makes a memorable debut as he becomes the first to carry his bat through a completed Test innings in an Ashes Test. Barrett registers 67 from Australia's second-innings 176 at Lord's, but WG Grace spoils with 75 not out to seal a seven-wicket win.
July 21
2001
England let their opportunity slip through their fingers as they give Adam Gilchrist four chances at Lord's, including three dollies off Darren Gough, as he speeds to 90. The next day Jason Gillespie grabs five wickets, Australia squeeze a 2-0 lead and England's ambitions switch from regaining the Ashes to avoiding a cleansweep.
1886
One of only three England wins in 31 matches against Australia at Lord's. Johnny Briggs breaks through with 11 for 74 to complete an innings victory.
July 20
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1981
The 500-1 day. Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh drop some spare notes on an outlandish England win, Ian Botham lumps 145 on his way to 149 and Graham Dilley joins in with 56 as Australia start to slump. Bob Willis shakes the sleep and hair from his eyes next morning to see 8 for 43 and a miraculous 18-run victory. They become the second side to win after following on. Seems like yesterday ... for England fans.
July 19
1993
It's a busy week in the life of Ian Botham - this time he's retiring from first-class cricket when Durham play the Australians. He makes 32 and takes no wickets, but grabs the keeper's place for the final over.
1899
A day of note because of what didn't happen. No Ashes play was conducted on this day in the 20th century, but the second Test at Lord's in 2001 begins and the fourth Test at Old Trafford in 1899 finishes. Both were drawn.
July 18
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1896
Ranjitsinhji careers to 154 out of 305
at Old Trafford, becoming the second batsman behind WG Grace to score a century on debut for England, and the first to make 100 before lunch in a Test. He races from 41 to 154 in 130 minutes, but despite his brilliance and the 13 victims of Tom Richardson, England lose by three wickets.
1981
Ian Botham's mid-Test barbecue interrupts the Headingley Test, but it looks like nothing can stop Australia's burning march to a 2-0 series lead. England had followed on 227 behind and were 6 for 1 in their second innings.
1893
Harry Graham is the first of four men to make a Lord's hundred on Test debut. Australia are 75 for 5 when he arrives and his 107 helps them towards a draw.
July 17
1981
England already seem to be batted out of the game as Kim Hughes declares on day two at Headingley with 401 for 9. However, Ian Botham warms up for his magnum opus with 6 for 95 and is enjoying life without the captaincy.
July 16
1888
Australia win the Lord's Test by 61 runs.
Charles "Terror" Turner takes 10 wickets as England
fall in two days for 53 and 62. "Thousands upon
thousands of people formed a dense mass in front of
the pavilion, and cheered with a spontaneous and
genuine heartiness that could scarcely have been
exceeded if the Englishmen had made the runs instead
of being badly beaten," Wisden reported. "So
ended a game that will never be forgotten in cricket
history, and one which practically ensured the fame of
the Australian team."
July 15
1989
Tom Moody, the new Sri Lanka coach, and Mike Veletta make a pair of 101s "with an enjoyable mixture of graceful and savage hitting" as Australia take care of Scotland by 97 runs at Glasgow. It was a bad day for Andy Goram, the Hibernian and Scotland goalkeeper, who was fined by his football club for playing, made four and took no wickets.
July 14
1975
Jeff Thomson finishes with five second-innings wicket as Australia win the opening Test at Edgbaston by an innings and 95 runs in four days. In the first innings, when Dennis Lillee and Max Walker shared the victims on a seaming deck, Thomson was "so erratic that Chappell allowed him only two overs". The radar was corrected in the second to give England their first loss in 17 Tests at Birmingham.
July 13
1921
The fierce combination of the fast bowlers, Ted McDonald and Jack Gregory, and Arthur Mailey, the legspinner, reduce England to serious danger at 243 for 8 on the way to an eight-wicket victory at Lord's. "Gregory and McDonald bowled consistently well," wrote Sydney Smith, Australia's tour manager, about the pair who each took four wickets. Mailey removed Patsy Hendren and Frank Woolley.
July 12
1975
Graham Gooch collects his second duck on debut as a 21-year-old. His first innings lasted three balls (c Marsh b Walker); the second was over in seven (c Marsh b Thomson) for a match total of 10 minutes. Australia won the opening Test by an innings and 85 runs, and Gooch went on to make 8900 runs in his next 117 appearances.
July 11
1930
Don Bradman, 21, scores 309 on the opening day of the third Test at Headingley on the way to a then-world-record 334. Making 105 before lunch, he passes 1000 Test runs in the innings, beats RE Foster's 287 of December 1903 and grabs 46 fours, six threes, 26 twos and 80 singles.
1968
Colin Cowdrey makes his 100th Test appearance, at Edgbaston, and celebrates with his 21st century. Using Geoff Boycott as a runner after injuring his stomach, Cowdrey reaches 95 on day one and edges to 104 the next morning. The match is drawn.
July 10
1975
Mike Denness blunders at the toss as he sends
Australia in at Edgbaston. They post 359 before
heavy rain gives their bowlers an unfair advantage.
Australia win by an innings and Denness's Test career
is over.
1884
Rain drowns Old Trafford's opening day of Test cricket
and the match, a three-day affair of four-ball overs,
is drawn.
July 9
1977
Bob Woolmer, currently the coach of Pakistan, shows his love of playing Australia with his third century in six innings to become the first since Ken Barrington in 1966 to make hundreds in successive innings. "Woolmer gave another solid performance ... to confirm himself as England's No. 3." Further helped by Derek Underwood's 6 for 66, England win by nine wickets.
July 8
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1961
Fred Trueman destroys Australia with 5 for 0 in 24 balls after slowing his pace at Headingley. England record an eight-wicket victory as Trueman collects 6 for 30 in the second innings and a match haul of 11 for 88.
July 7
1989
Steve Waugh is dismissed for the first time in the series after raking 393 runs in three Tests. Angus Fraser, the debutant, is the lucky bowler at Edgbaston.
1981
Ian Botham resigns as England captain at Lord's after a pair in the drawn second Test and a record of 12 matches without a win. The only way is up.
1934
Gubby Allen starts Australia's innings at Old Trafford with a 13-ball over that includes four wides and three no-balls.
July 6
1997
Steve Waugh becomes the first batsman in 50 years to score two hundreds in an Ashes Test with 108 and 116 at Old Trafford. "As well as I've ever played," he said of the first one, before ignoring a serious hand injury and conquering an awful pitch in the second innings. Australia win by 268 runs to level the series.
July 5
2001
Michael Slater, four Tests from the end of his career, blasts 18 from Darren Gough's first over in response to England's ambitious first innings of 294 in 65.3 overs, with Alec Stewart's 65 and Andy Caddick's 49 not out delaying the blushes. Centuries to Waugh, Martyn and Gilchrist follow as England are battered with four sessions to spare.
July 4
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1997
Shane Warne equals Richie Benaud's Test haul of 248 wickets after spinning the ball wickedly to pick up 6 for 48 at Old Trafford. Chasing Australia's first-innings 235, England finish the day on 161 for 8 thanks to Andy Caddick and Mark Ealham, who lift them from absolute disaster with a 38-run stand. Ian Healy's legside stumping of Mark Butcher off Michael Bevan was his 100th Ashes dismissal in 25 Tests.
July 3
1902
Rain tries to spoil the only Test at Sheffield's Bramall Lane, but Australia slop to a 143-run victory with Monty Noble's 11 wickets and Clem Hill's 119. Yorkshire's headquarters transferred to Leeds and the ground wasn't considered worthy of another Test.
July 2
1964
Neil Hawke grabs five wickets and Graham McKenzie four as England are bundled out for 268 on the first day of the third Test at Headingley. Peter Burge replies through two days with 160, and Australia win the one rubber of the series.
July 1
1899
JT Hearne collects Clem Hill, Syd Gregory and Monty Noble in England's third Test hat-trick, in the third Test at Headingley. Rain spoils the third day and it's another soppy draw.
1993
Graham Thorpe makes his debut and in the second innings becomes the first England batsman since Frank Hayes (against West Indies at The Oval in 1973) to score a century in his first Test. Thorpe makes 114 while Mark Lathwell, Mark Ilott and Martin McCague also play their first games in the draw at Trent Bridge.
June 30
1930
Bradman's best. His 254 set up a seven-wicket win at Lord's, but is best-known as a work of perfection. "Practically without exception every ball went where it was intended," Bradman said. Australia totalled 729 for 6 and England did well to make the match so competitive.
June 29
1926
Charles Macartney hits a "magical century with deft and sometimes brutal strokeplay", according to David Frith, as Australia secure a second-Test draw at Lord's. Australia were 92 behind on first innings and finished at 194 for 5 with Macartney, who had three chances after 100, not out on 133. "The three-day Tests this year seem doomed to stalemate," wrote Cardus. "Neither side is likely to be good enough in bowling to force a decision on hard wickets." He was right. It took until the fifth Test for the first win, an England one.
June 28
1985
Perhaps he spotted the lunch trolley, but Mike Gatting celebrates too early when Allan Border, on 87, flicks to him at short-leg and gives up a valuable chance. Border progresses to 196, the highest score by an Australian captain at Lord's, and Australia go on to win their only Test of the summer by four wickets.
June 27
1953
Len Hutton completes arguably his finest century - 145 on the Saturday at Lord's. His innings includes 16 fours in 325 minutes as England forge a 26-run lead. "It might well have been tiredness as much as Johnston that got his wicket," wrote Jack Fingleton. "I have never seen him look more surely the great batsman he is." Willie Watson's 109 and Trevor Bailey's 71 make sure England achieve a tense draw.
1930
Duleepsinhji makes 173 on his Ashes debut at Lord's, but the innings is overshadowed by Bradman's 254 - by common consent, his greatest innings.
June 26
1956
Australia's first win in England since 1948, but it was hard work. Ken "Slasher" Mackay averages seven runs an hour with 31 in the second innings at Lord's, and England are left needing 372 to win. Keith Miller puts in a "great performance for a 36-year-old fast medium bowler" and finishes with match figures of 10 for 152. Godfrey Evans has a fine game with the gloves, taking six catches and a stumping, but Gil Langley pockets a world-record nine dismissals, including five in the second innings.
June 25
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1934
A one-off result for England - their only win against Australia at Lord's in the twentieth century. Hedley Verity grabs 15 wickets, including 14 for 80 on this day, as Australia lose by an innings and 38 runs, and England level the series 1-1.
1921
Charles Macartney scores 345 in "rather less than four hours" against Nottinghamshire. Dropped on 9 in the slips, "he simply did as he liked with the bowling, hitting four sixes and 47 fours". Australia made 608 for 7 on the first day and Notts went for 58 and 100.
June 24
1989
Steve Waugh climbs to a barely believable 329 runs
without being dismissed as Australia clean up in the
second Test at Lord's. Waugh finished on 152 after
joining the tail to lift his team from 276 for 6 to
528 in the first innings, and added a further 21 to
his unbeaten tally in sealing the six-wicket win.
1968
Barry Knight and David Brown dismiss Australia for 78
in the second Test at Lord's with only Doug Walters
and John Gleeson reaching double figures. Rain stepped
in to help Australia, who followed-on, to force a
draw.
June 23
1926
Warren Bardsley, who scored 2469 Test runs in 41 matches, makes 127 while Herbie Collins, the captain, falls seven short of a century on the first day of the drawn match against Derbyshire at Chesterfield. Australia declare on 373 for 5 in 103 overs, but despite enforcing the follow-on they finish eight wickets short of victory.
1977
Ray Bright and Geoff Dymock start the damage against a Universities team including Peter Roebuck, Vic Marks and Chris Tavare, who are dismissed for 130. After David Hookes creams 74, including four sixes and ten fours, the Somerset trio make half-centuries on the following day to hold on for a draw.
June 22
1972
Bob Massie completes a remarkable debut in the second Test at Lord's, picking up 16 wickets for 137 - first-timer figures only bettered by India's Narendra Hirwani. He swings his way to five wickets on the first day, wraps up the innings with 8 for 84 and backs that up with 8 for 53 second-time around in conditions made for his bowling. Australia won by eight wickets; Massie figured in only five more Tests.
June 21
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1997
Glenn McGrath skittles England for 77 on the third day at Lord's with his second-best Test figures of 8 for 38 as they recover from their first-Test mauling at Edgbaston. Rain washes away any chance for victory, but the momentum shift is significant as Matthew Elliott picks up a century in a tight series.
1981
Australia earn a hard-fought four-wicket victory in the first Test victory to take the advantage in a series that would go horribly wrong. Terry Alderman arrives in a flurry, taking nine wickets on his way to 42 in six Tests, but Dennis Lillee accepts the Man-of-the-Match award for his eight.
June 20
1993
Michael Atherton runs himself out for 99 at Lord's - it is the closest he will ever get to a century at the home of cricket. Australia opened up with hundreds for Slater, Taylor and Boon, while Mark Waugh also falls one run short. Australia win by an innings and 62 runs.
June 19
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1997
Rain washes out the first day of the Lord's Test and helps disrupt England's momentum after setting up a 1-0 lead at Edgbaston. The same problem affects the 1953 Ashes tourists, but fortunately their game is against Derbyshire at Chesterfield. That three-day match also ends in a draw.
June 17
1930
Ground assistant Sydney Copley fields as a substitute
at Trent Bridge and takes the catch to dismiss Stan
McCabe for 43 on the final day. Copley, 23, "made a
lot of ground, took the ball at full-length and,
although rolling over, retained possession". Don
Bradman racked up 131, but England won by 93 runs.
1985 A five-wicket win starts the summer in style for England on the way to their last home Ashes success. Tim Robinson sets up the victory with 175, Ian Botham muscles a half-century, John Emburey takes his only Test five-wicket haul, and Allan Lamb and Peter Willey secure the victory.
June 16
1977
Mike Brearley's first day as England captain begins inauspiciously as his side slips to 216 after a torrid assault from Thomson, Pascoe and Walker. However, England regain the initiative and a rain-affected Jubilee Test ends in a draw with Australia in trouble at 114 for 6.
1899
Victor Trumper takes centre stage as a 21-year-old with his first century on a difficult surface at Old Trafford. It was only his second Test.
June 15
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1948
The Invincibles start to shake England with an
eight-wicket victory in the opening Test at Trent
Bridge. Chasing 98 on the fifth day, Don Bradman, who
made 138 in the first innings, is out for 0, but Sid
Barnes and Lindsay Hassett steer them to safety on the
way to a 4-0 result.
June 14
1938
After the Stan McCabe show at Trent Bridge, Don
Bradman arrives in the second innings to score 144 not
out alongside Bill Brown, who makes 133, and saves the
match. Eddie Paynter led England's plunder with 216
not out while Hutton, Compton and Barnett also reached
three figures.
June 13
1938
Stan McCabe moves Bradman with his strokeplay on the way to 232 at Trent Bridge. England had posted a
then-record score against Australia of 658 for 8 dec -
four bowlers went for centuries - but "McCabe then
played an innings the equal of which has probably not
been seen in Test cricket; for the best part of four
hours he maintained a merciless punishment of the
bowling". Bradman called his team-mates on to the
balcony to watch.
1953
Alec Bedser picks up an amazing 14 for 99 at Trent
Bridge but England, on their way to victory, were
stopped by rain.
1972
Tony Greig, who top-scored in each innings with 57 and
62, makes his debut at Old Trafford and England win an
opening home Ashes Test for the first time in 42
years.
June 12
1934Australia win the first Test at Trent Bridge by 238 runs, but the result is much tighter as they seal the match with only ten minutes to go. Bill O'Reilly picks up 7 for 54 to complete match figures of 11 for 129, and Clarrie Grimmett adds the other three on a wearing wicket. "Clever variation in flight and pace combined with spin off the worn turf made him very difficult," said Wisden of O'Reilly.
1926
Only fifty minutes of play on the first - and last day - of the opening Test of the series. Hobbs has 19 and Sutcliffe 13 when the thunder arrives and rain destroys the next two days. "The best hit of the morning was an off-drive by Sutcliffe from Macartney - a stroke of beautiful poise and ease," wrote Cardus, with little else to report.