The Ashes, the legendary cricket series between England and Australia, began in 1877 with the first-ever Test match played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The rivalry quickly grew after England lost to Australia on home soil in 1882, prompting a satirical obituary in The Sporting Times declaring that “English cricket had died, and the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia.” 

2010/11 Ashes

The 2010–11 Ashes series was played in Australia. Five Tests were played from 25 November 2010 to 7 January 2011. England won the series 3–1 and retained the Ashes, having won the previous series in 2009 by two Tests to one.

England were led by Andrew Strauss. They won an Ashes series in Australia for the first time since 1986/87 when Mike Gatting's touring team defended the Ashes. Ricky Ponting, the Australian skipper, created unwanted history as he became the first ever captain to lose 3 Ashes series (in 2005, 2009 and 2010/11).

Top Performers:

  • Player of the Series (England):
    • Alastair Cook – 766 runs at 127.66, including 3 centuries
  • Top Run-Scorers:
    • Alastair Cook (Eng): 766
    • Mike Hussey (Aus): 570
    • Jonathan Trott (Eng): 445
  • Top Wicket-Takers:
    • James Anderson (Eng): 24 wickets
    • Chris Tremlett (Eng): 17 wickets (in just 3 Tests)
    • Mitchell Johnson (Aus): 15 wickets

Legacy:

  • England’s best ever performance in an Ashes series in Australia.
  • Australia used a record 12 different bowlers, exposing instability.
  • Ponting became the first Australian captain in over a century to lose three Ashes series.
  • The tour marked a shift in Ashes dominance, with England rising and Australia entering a rebuilding phase.

 

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McSweeney, Nathan A
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