Winning the first Ashes Test, and losing at Lord's
The closest encounters, the highest individual score on the losing side, and the most experienced umpires - in this Ashes special edition
Steven Lynch
07-Jul-2009
Hedley Verity was the architect of England's only win in an Ashes Test at Lord's since 1896 • Getty Images
How often have England won the first Test of an Ashes series? And how often have Australia done it? asked Jim Farrell from Liverpool
To date England have won the first Test of a series (two matches or more) against Australia on 20 occasions, while Australia have come out on top 28 times. Australia have won the first Test of the last four Ashes series, while England last won the first Test in 1997 (but still lost the series). This excludes one-off Tests, of which there have been seven; England have won two and Australia three.
To date England have won the first Test of a series (two matches or more) against Australia on 20 occasions, while Australia have come out on top 28 times. Australia have won the first Test of the last four Ashes series, while England last won the first Test in 1997 (but still lost the series). This excludes one-off Tests, of which there have been seven; England have won two and Australia three.
I keep hearing that "Australia always win at Lord's". Just how bad is England's record there? asked Jennifer Sharp from London
It really is quite bad. Of 33 Tests between the two countries at Lord's, Australia have won 14 and England five, with 14 draws. Four of England's wins came in the first six matches, between 1884 and 1896: since then England have won just once in 27 attempts - in 1934, when the Yorkshire slow left-armer Hedley Verity. took advantage of a rain-affected pitch to take 15 wickets for 104, 14 of them on the third and final day. According to Wisden, "this amazing achievement would probably have been only possible to a man possessed of such length and finger-spin as Verity, because although the wicket certainly helped him considerably it could scarcely be described as genuinely sticky except for one period after lunch. Verity's length was impeccable and he made the ball come back and lift so abruptly that most of the Australians were helpless."
It really is quite bad. Of 33 Tests between the two countries at Lord's, Australia have won 14 and England five, with 14 draws. Four of England's wins came in the first six matches, between 1884 and 1896: since then England have won just once in 27 attempts - in 1934, when the Yorkshire slow left-armer Hedley Verity. took advantage of a rain-affected pitch to take 15 wickets for 104, 14 of them on the third and final day. According to Wisden, "this amazing achievement would probably have been only possible to a man possessed of such length and finger-spin as Verity, because although the wicket certainly helped him considerably it could scarcely be described as genuinely sticky except for one period after lunch. Verity's length was impeccable and he made the ball come back and lift so abruptly that most of the Australians were helpless."
Was the two-run thriller at Edgbaston in 2005 the closest Ashes Test of all? asked Corey Willmore from Sydney
That amazing match at Edgbaston in 2005, which England won by just two runs, is indeed the closest Ashes Test result in terms of runs - the previous-closest were a pair of three-run victories, by Australia at Old Trafford in 1902, and by England in Melbourne in 1982-83. There have also been two one-wicket victories, both by England: at The Oval in 1902, and in Melbourne in 1907-08. For a full list of the closest Test victories by runs, click here, or click here for the closest ones by wickets.
That amazing match at Edgbaston in 2005, which England won by just two runs, is indeed the closest Ashes Test result in terms of runs - the previous-closest were a pair of three-run victories, by Australia at Old Trafford in 1902, and by England in Melbourne in 1982-83. There have also been two one-wicket victories, both by England: at The Oval in 1902, and in Melbourne in 1907-08. For a full list of the closest Test victories by runs, click here, or click here for the closest ones by wickets.
How many people have taken hat-tricks in Ashes matches? asked Blaine Moore from Adelaide
There have so far been eight hat-tricks in England-Australia Tests, six of them coming in the 19th century or the first decade of the 20th. The first one since then was taken by Shane Warne, for Australia in Melbourne in 1994-95, when his victims included Darren Gough, who responded with a hat-trick of his own during the next series Down Under, at Sydney in 1998-99. For a full list of Test hat-tricks, click here.
There have so far been eight hat-tricks in England-Australia Tests, six of them coming in the 19th century or the first decade of the 20th. The first one since then was taken by Shane Warne, for Australia in Melbourne in 1994-95, when his victims included Darren Gough, who responded with a hat-trick of his own during the next series Down Under, at Sydney in 1998-99. For a full list of Test hat-tricks, click here.
What's the highest score by someone on the losing side in an England-Australia match? asked Bill Flavell from Taunton
The holder of this unwanted record is Paul Collingwood, who scored 206 during the last Ashes series in Adelaide in 2006-07, only for England to crash to defeat by six wickets. The only other man to score a double-century in an Ashes Test but end up on the losing side is Australia's Syd Gregory, who made 201 in Sydney in 1894-95, in a match England won by 10 runs after following on.
The holder of this unwanted record is Paul Collingwood, who scored 206 during the last Ashes series in Adelaide in 2006-07, only for England to crash to defeat by six wickets. The only other man to score a double-century in an Ashes Test but end up on the losing side is Australia's Syd Gregory, who made 201 in Sydney in 1894-95, in a match England won by 10 runs after following on.
Who has umpired the most Ashes Tests? asked Keith Gladstone from Nottingham
The clear leaders here are a couple of venerable Australians. Victorian Bob Crockett stood in 27 Ashes Tests between 1901-02 and 1924-25 - he missed only three Tests in Australia in that time. In second place, with 24, is the South Australian Jim Phillips, who divided his time between the two countries, standing in 13 Tests in Australia and 11 in England between 1884-85 and 1905. Two men have umpired 15 England-Australia Tests: the Australian George Borwick, whose career included the whole of the 1932-33 Bodyline series, and England's Dickie Bird, whose tally included one match in which the Ashes were not officially at stake (the Centenary Test at Lord's in 1980). Next with 14 come England's Frank Chester (1926-1953) and the West Indian Steve Bucknor.
The clear leaders here are a couple of venerable Australians. Victorian Bob Crockett stood in 27 Ashes Tests between 1901-02 and 1924-25 - he missed only three Tests in Australia in that time. In second place, with 24, is the South Australian Jim Phillips, who divided his time between the two countries, standing in 13 Tests in Australia and 11 in England between 1884-85 and 1905. Two men have umpired 15 England-Australia Tests: the Australian George Borwick, whose career included the whole of the 1932-33 Bodyline series, and England's Dickie Bird, whose tally included one match in which the Ashes were not officially at stake (the Centenary Test at Lord's in 1980). Next with 14 come England's Frank Chester (1926-1953) and the West Indian Steve Bucknor.
Steven Lynch is the editor of the Cricinfo Guide to International Cricket (reviewed here). If you want to ask Steven a question, use our feedback form. The most interesting questions will be answered here each week