Ashes records can look confusing because some tables count individual Test matches while others count complete series. A fan may also hear that a team “retained” the Ashes even though the series ended in a draw.
The short answer is clear. Australia has won the most men’s Ashes series. This guide is part of our Cricket Records collection and explains the 35-32 lead in simple terms for new cricket fans in the USA.
Quick Answer
Australia has won 35 men’s Ashes series, the most by either country. England has won 32 series, while seven series have ended in a draw. That makes 74 completed Ashes series through the 2025-26 contest.
Australia is also the current holder. It won the latest series 4-1 at home in January 2026.
Ashes Series Wins at a Glance
| Result | Series | Share of 74 completed series |
|---|---|---|
| Australia wins | 35 | 47.3% |
| England wins | 32 | 43.2% |
| Drawn series | 7 | 9.5% |
Australia leads England by three series wins. The gap is real, but it is small when compared with a rivalry that began in the 1880s.
How Was the Updated 35-32 Record Calculated?
After the 2023 Ashes, the International Cricket Council reported that Australia led the all-time series count 34-32 and that 2023 was the seventh drawn series.
The next contest was the 2025-26 Ashes in Australia. The ICC confirmed Australia’s 4-1 series victory in Sydney on January 8, 2026.
Adding that new Australian win to the 2023 total gives:
- Australia: 34 + 1 = 35 series wins
- England: 32 series wins
- Drawn: 7 series
- Total: 35 + 32 + 7 = 74 series
This method prevents a common mistake: using a table that was correct before the latest series but has not been updated.
Series Wins Are Not the Same as Test Match Wins
An Ashes series is made up of several Test matches. A modern men’s series normally has five Tests. The country that wins more of those Tests wins the series.
For example, Australia won the 2025-26 series 4-1. That result adds one series win to Australia’s all-time total, not four.
The size of each Test victory does not change this. A close win by one wicket and a large win by an innings each count as one Test win. Our guide to how a team wins a Test match explains those match results in more detail.
Who Won the Last 10 Ashes Series?
The recent record shows how both countries have had strong periods. It also shows why the holder can keep the Ashes after a drawn contest.
| Series | Host | Result | Ashes holder after series |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | England | England won 2-1 | England |
| 2010-11 | Australia | England won 3-1 | England |
| 2013 | England | England won 3-0 | England |
| 2013-14 | Australia | Australia won 5-0 | Australia |
| 2015 | England | England won 3-2 | England |
| 2017-18 | Australia | Australia won 4-0 | Australia |
| 2019 | England | Drawn 2-2 | Australia retained |
| 2021-22 | Australia | Australia won 4-0 | Australia |
| 2023 | England | Drawn 2-2 | Australia retained |
| 2025-26 | Australia | Australia won 4-1 | Australia |
Across these ten series, Australia won four, England won four, and two were drawn. Australia stayed holder after both draws because it entered each series with the Ashes.
Why Does Australia Lead the All-Time Record?
Australia’s lead comes from several strong eras rather than one short winning period. Its most famous run began in 1989.
Cricket Australia records that Australia won eight Ashes series in a row from 1989 through 2002-03. Across those eight series, Australia won 28 Tests while England won seven. Players such as Allan Border, Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Ricky Ponting, and Adam Gilchrist helped sustain that long period of control.
England ended the run with its famous 2-1 home win in 2005. Australia then answered with a 5-0 win in 2006-07.
This back-and-forth matters. The overall count is close because England dominated some early periods and enjoyed another strong run from 2009 through 2015. Australia built its lead through longer stretches of repeated success, especially from 1989 onward.
What Is the Longest Run of Ashes Series Wins?
Australia’s eight consecutive series victories from 1989 through 2002-03 are the clearest modern record. The run covered home and away contests and lasted for more than a decade.
- 1989 in England
- 1990-91 in Australia
- 1993 in England
- 1994-95 in Australia
- 1997 in England
- 1998-99 in Australia
- 2001 in England
- 2002-03 in Australia
Winning away makes the streak especially important. Pitch conditions, weather, travel, and crowd pressure change when the host country changes.
Does Home Advantage Affect Ashes Results?
Yes, home advantage has been important in modern Ashes cricket.
Australia last won an Ashes series in England in 2001. It did enough to retain the Ashes through 2-2 draws in England in both 2019 and 2023, but those results were not outright series wins.
England’s latest series win in Australia came in 2010-11. It won 3-1, which remains one of England’s most important modern away results. England then lost its next four series in Australia: 2013-14, 2017-18, 2021-22, and 2025-26.
For a beginner, the key point is simple. Both countries usually find it harder to win away because they must adjust to different pitches, weather, grounds, and travel demands.
Who Is the Current Ashes Holder?
Australia is the current men’s Ashes holder.
Australia first took back the Ashes with a 4-0 home victory in 2017-18. It then retained the trophy after a 2-2 draw in England in 2019, won 4-0 at home in 2021-22, and retained again after another 2-2 draw in England in 2023.
The latest series removed any doubt about an outright result. Australia won the 2025-26 home Ashes 4-1. It won the first three Tests, England won the fourth in Melbourne, and Australia won the final Test in Sydney.
What Does “Retain the Ashes” Mean?
Retain means keep. If an Ashes series finishes level, the country that held the Ashes before the series keeps it.
Suppose Australia enters a five-Test series as holder. If the final score is 2-2, the series is officially drawn, but Australia retains the Ashes. That drawn result belongs in the “drawn series” column. It does not add a new series win to Australia’s total.
- Win the Ashes: finish the series with more Test wins.
- Retain the Ashes: remain holder after either winning or drawing the series.
- Regain the Ashes: take the Ashes from the previous holder by winning the series.
Does the Winning Team Take the Original Urn Home?
No. The tiny original urn is a historic object held by Marylebone Cricket Club at Lord’s in London.
MCC explains that the urn was a personal gift to England captain Ivo Bligh and was never designed as a traveling trophy. The official Waterford Crystal Ashes Trophy was created in 1998 and is presented to the winning captain.
This is why record tables describe a country as the “holder” even though the original urn normally stays in the MCC Museum.
Common Mistakes When Reading Ashes Records
Counting Test Wins as Series Wins
A 4-1 result means four Test wins for one team but only one complete series win.
Calling Every Retention a Victory
A team can retain the Ashes after a drawn series. The result still belongs in the draw column, not the win column.
Mixing Men’s and Women’s Ashes Records
The men’s and women’s competitions have separate histories and formats. This article covers only the men’s Test series.
Using an Old Total
The all-time count changed when Australia won in 2025-26. A page showing 34 Australian wins may have stopped at the drawn 2023 series.
Assuming the Original Urn Travels with the Winner
The original urn normally remains at Lord’s. A crystal trophy is used for team presentations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has won the most Ashes series?
Australia has won the most men’s Ashes series with 35 victories. England has 32 series wins, and seven series have been drawn.
How many Ashes series have been played?
There have been 74 completed men’s Ashes series through the 2025-26 contest. The total includes 35 Australian wins, 32 England wins, and seven draws.
Who won the latest Ashes series?
Australia won the 2025-26 Ashes 4-1 at home. The series finished in Sydney on January 8, 2026.
What happens if an Ashes series ends in a draw?
The country that already holds the Ashes retains it. The draw does not count as a new series win for either country.
Has Australia won more Ashes Tests or more Ashes series?
Those are different records. Australia leads the all-time series count 35-32. Individual Test wins are counted separately, and one series can contain several Test victories.
Conclusion
Australia has won the most men’s Ashes series, leading England 35-32 after its 4-1 victory in 2025-26. Seven series have ended in draws, making 74 completed contests in all. For a new fan, remember that one complete Ashes contest adds only one series result, no matter how many Tests the winner takes. A drawn series also does not become a win just because the current holder keeps the trophy.
