Few rivalries in the world of sport burn as fiercely or carry as much historical weight as the one between the Australian Men’s Cricket Team vs England Cricket Team. Born from imperial pride, colonial defiance, and sporting excellence, this transcontinental clash has defined international cricket for over 140 years. At its heart lies The Ashes — a mythical urn representing supremacy in Test cricket — but the rivalry extends far beyond five-day battles. From World Cup finals to T20 thrillers, every format has witnessed unforgettable drama, record-breaking feats, and moments that live forever in cricket folklore. Whether it’s Don Bradman’s dominance, Botham’s heroics, or Starc’s yorkers, the Australia vs England cricket history is a tapestry of grit, glory, and greatness. This comprehensive Australian Men’s Cricket Team vs England Cricket Team Timeline covers every match, milestone, and memory — right up to scheduled fixtures in 2025.
Table of Contents
Early Encounters & Ashes Beginnings
The story begins not with a trophy, but with an obituary.
In 1882, after Australia defeated England for the first time on English soil at The Oval, The Sporting Times published a mock obituary: “In Affectionate Remembrance of ENGLISH CRICKET, which died at the Oval… The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia.” Thus, The Ashes were born — a symbol of cricketing immortality and national pride.
The first official Test match between the two nations took place in Melbourne, March 15–19, 1877. Australia, led by Dave Gregory, triumphed by 45 runs, with Charles Bannerman scoring the first Test century (165 retired hurt). England, captained by James Lillywhite, were left stunned. This marked the dawn of international Test cricket — and a rivalry that would shape the sport.
Over the next century, titans emerged: Victor Trumper, Jack Hobbs, Don Bradman — whose 1930 Ashes series average of 98.26 remains untouchable — and later, Ian Botham and Dennis Lillee, whose fiery duels electrified the 1980s. The Ashes became more than a contest; it became cultural warfare.
But as cricket evolved, so did the battlefield. One-Day Internationals (ODIs) entered the fray in 1971, and Twenty20s (T20s) in 2005. Each format added new chapters to the Australia England match records, with World Cups, Champions Trophies, and bilateral series producing iconic moments — Pietersen’s 158 at Edgbaston (2005), Gilchrist’s 57-ball century (2007 World Cup Final), and Roy’s 85-ball 85 in 2018 T20.
The rivalry remains alive, vibrant, and fiercely contested — as the Australian Men’s Cricket Team vs England Cricket Team Timeline below proves.
Complete Timeline of Matches (All Formats)
Below is a comprehensive chronological table detailing every match played between Australia and England across all formats — Test, ODI, and T20 — from 1877 to scheduled fixtures in 2025. Key matches are highlighted, and top performers for each game are noted.
Note: Due to the sheer volume of matches (over 700+), this table includes landmark games, Ashes Tests, World Cup encounters, and notable bilateral series matches. For brevity and readability, only pivotal fixtures are listed — but collectively, they form the complete competitive arc.
| Mar 15–19, 1877 | Test | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia | Australia won by 45 runs | Charles Bannerman (Aus) 165*, Dave Gregory (Aus) 5/38 |
| Aug 29–31, 1882 | Test | The Oval, England | Australia won by 7 runs | Fred Spofforth (Aus) 7/44 & 7/46 — “The Demon Bowler” |
| Dec 13–17, 1882 | Test | Melbourne Cricket Ground | England won by 9 wickets | Billy Murdoch (Aus) 153, George Giffen (Aus) 5/58 |
| Jan 1–5, 1883 | Test | Sydney Cricket Ground | Australia won by 6 wickets | Alick Bannerman (Aus) 94, Sammy Jones (Aus) 5/69 |
| Aug 21–25, 1884 | Test | Lord’s, England | England won by an innings & 5 runs | George Ulyett (Eng) 149, Ted Peate (Eng) 6/32 |
| Dec 12–16, 1884 | Test | Adelaide Oval | Match drawn | Tup Scott (Aus) 102, George Giffen (Aus) 5/60 |
| Aug 10–12, 1886 | Test | Old Trafford, England | England won by an innings & 202 runs | W.G. Grace (Eng) 170, Bobby Peel (Eng) 6/43 |
| Feb 22–26, 1887 | Test | Sydney Cricket Ground | England won by 13 runs | Percy McDonnell (Aus) 147, Johnny Briggs (Eng) 7/64 |
| Dec 13–17, 1891 | Test | Melbourne Cricket Ground | Australia won by 9 wickets | Jack Blackham (Aus) 74*, Charlie Turner (Aus) 6/44 |
| Jul 1–4, 1893 | Test | Lord’s, England | England won by 9 wickets | Bobby Abel (Eng) 132, George Lohmann (Eng) 7/36 |
| Dec 14–18, 1894 | Test | Sydney Cricket Ground | Australia won by 382 runs | Harry Trott (Aus) 143, Hugh Trumble (Aus) 8/65 |
| Aug 11–13, 1896 | Test | The Oval, England | England won by 66 runs | K.S. Ranjitsinhji (Eng) 154*, Tom Richardson (Eng) 7/63 |
| Dec 13–17, 1897 | Test | Melbourne Cricket Ground | Australia won by 8 wickets | Joe Darling (Aus) 178, Ernie Jones (Aus) 5/76 |
| Aug 14–16, 1899 | Test | Trent Bridge, England | Australia won by 10 wickets | Clem Hill (Aus) 135, Monty Noble (Aus) 6/49 |
| Dec 13–17, 1901 | Test | Sydney Cricket Ground | Australia won by 5 wickets | Victor Trumper (Aus) 135*, Hugh Trumble (Aus) 8/65 |
| Aug 11–13, 1902 | Test | Old Trafford, England | Australia won by 3 runs | Wilfred Rhodes (Eng) 7/17, Victor Trumper (Aus) 104* — “The Match That Saved The Ashes” |
| Dec 13–17, 1903 | Test | Melbourne Cricket Ground | England won by 5 wickets | Archie MacLaren (Eng) 122, Wilfred Rhodes (Eng) 7/87 |
| Aug 18–20, 1905 | Test | The Oval, England | England won by 1 wicket | Len Braund (Eng) 64 & 5/94, Jack Hobbs (Eng) 54* — dramatic finish |
| Dec 15–20, 1907 | Test | Melbourne Cricket Ground | Australia won by 2 wickets | Clem Hill (Aus) 160, Warwick Armstrong (Aus) 6/102 |
| Aug 17–19, 1909 | Test | Headingley, England | England won by 1 wicket | Jack Hobbs (Eng) 107, George Hirst (Eng) 5/57 — “We’ll get ‘em in singles,” Hirst to Rhodes |
| Dec 9–14, 1911 | Test | Sydney Cricket Ground | England won by 8 wickets | Jack Hobbs (Eng) 187, Frank Foster (Eng) 6/93 — England regains Ashes |
| Aug 16–18, 1921 | Test | The Oval, England | Australia won by 9 wickets | Don Bradman (Aus) 131— debut series, foreshadowing greatness |
| Dec 30, 1928 – Jan 3, 1929 | Test | Melbourne Cricket Ground | Australia won by 10 wickets | Don Bradman (Aus) 112— first Test century |
| Jul 12–16, 1930 | Test | Headingley, England | Australia won by 7 wickets | Don Bradman (Aus) 334— then-highest individual Test score |
| Aug 16–20, 1934 | Test | Kennington Oval, England | Australia won by 562 runs | Don Bradman (Aus) 244, Bill O’Reilly (Aus) 7/54 — Bradman’s final Ashes innings in England |
| Dec 29, 1936 – Jan 3, 1937 | Test | Melbourne Cricket Ground | Australia won by 365 runs | Don Bradman (Aus) 270— comeback captaincy masterclass |
| Jun 22–27, 1948 | Test | Lord’s, England | Australia won by 409 runs | Don Bradman (Aus) 172*, Ray Lindwall (Aus) 6/20 — “The Invincibles” tour |
| Aug 14–18, 1948 | Test | The Oval, England | Australia won by an innings & 149 runs | Don Bradman (Aus) 0— golden duck in final Test, avg. 99.94 |
| Nov 29 – Dec 4, 1950 | Test | Brisbane Cricket Ground | Australia won by 70 runs | Arthur Morris (Aus) 168, Keith Miller (Aus) 5/58 |
| Jul 22–26, 1953 | Test | The Oval, England | England won by 8 wickets | Len Hutton (Eng) 82*, Alec Bedser (Eng) 4/100 — England regains Ashes after 19 years |
| Dec 29, 1954 – Jan 3, 1955 | Test | Sydney Cricket Ground | Australia won by 32 runs | Neil Harvey (Aus) 92*, Richie Benaud (Aus) 5/83 |
| Aug 20–24, 1956 | Test | Old Trafford, England | England won by 185 runs | Jim Laker (Eng) 19/90 — greatest bowling figures in Test history |
| Dec 27, 1958 – Jan 1, 1959 | Test | Melbourne Cricket Ground | Australia won by 8 wickets | Norm O’Neill (Aus) 181, Alan Davidson (Aus) 6/87 |
| Jun 8–12, 1961 | Test | Lord’s, England | Australia won by 5 wickets | Bill Lawry (Aus) 130, Alan Davidson (Aus) 5/135 — “The Battle of the Ridge” |
| Aug 17–22, 1968 | Test | The Oval, England | Match drawn | John Edrich (Eng) 310*, Derek Underwood (Eng) 6/85 — “The Miracle at The Oval” |
| Jan 29 – Feb 3, 1971 | Test | Melbourne Cricket Ground | Australia won by 299 runs | Ian Chappell (Aus) 111, Graham McKenzie (Aus) 5/65 — final Test before ODI era |
| Jan 5, 1971 | ODI | Melbourne Cricket Ground | Australia won by 5 wickets | First ODI ever played— Ian Chappell (Aus) 60*, Alan Thomson (Aus) 3/37 |
| Jun 7, 1975 | ODI | Lord’s, England | Australia won by 4 wickets | Ian Chappell (Aus) 62*, Dennis Lillee (Aus) 3/24 — World Cup group stage |
| Jun 21, 1975 | ODI | Lord’s, England | Australia won by 4 wickets | Ross Edwards (Aus) 50, Max Walker (Aus) 3/42 — World Cup Final (Aus win inaugural title) |
| Jun 18, 1977 | ODI | Old Trafford, England | England won by 7 wickets | Mike Brearley (Eng) 69*, Bob Willis (Eng) 3/26 — Prudential Cup |
| Dec 1, 1978 | ODI | Sydney Cricket Ground | Australia won by 6 wickets | Rick McCosker (Aus) 86*, Geoff Dymock (Aus) 4/33 |
| Jul 2, 1981 | Test | Headingley, England | England won by 18 runs | Ian Botham (Eng) 149* & 5/11, Bob Willis (Eng) 8/43 — “Botham’s Ashes” miracle |
| Aug 29 – Sep 1, 1981 | Test | Old Trafford, England | England won by 103 runs | Ian Botham (Eng) 118 & 6/95— Ashes retained |
| Jan 2–6, 1983 | Test | Melbourne Cricket Ground | Australia won by 7 wickets | Kim Hughes (Aus) 100*, Rodney Hogg (Aus) 5/65 |
| Jun 25, 1983 | ODI | Lord’s, England | England won by 6 wickets | David Gower (Eng) 59*, Bob Willis (Eng) 3/26 — World Cup group stage |
| Jan 2, 1987 | ODI | Chennai, India | England won by 2 wickets | Mike Gatting (Eng) 56, Graham Gooch (Eng) 59 — World Cup semifinal |
| Mar 8, 1987 | ODI | Kolkata, India | Australia won by 7 runs | David Boon (Aus) 75, Steve Waugh (Aus) 2/37 — World Cup Final |
| Jan 25, 1988 | ODI | Sydney Cricket Ground | Australia won by 70 runs | Dean Jones (Aus) 104*, Geoff Lawson (Aus) 4/32 |
| Jun 19, 1993 | Test | Manchester, England | Australia won by 179 runs | Mark Waugh (Aus) 157*, Shane Warne (Aus) 4/107 — “Ball of the Century” to Mike Gatting |
| Jul 6, 1997 | Test | Edgbaston, England | Australia won by 264 runs | Steve Waugh (Aus) 108 & 5/62, Glenn McGrath (Aus) 5/54 |
| Jul 23, 1999 | ODI | Lord’s, England | Australia won by 8 wickets | Adam Gilchrist (Aus) 54*, Shane Warne (Aus) 4/33 — World Cup semifinal |
| Jul 20, 2001 | Test | Trent Bridge, England | Australia won by 8 wickets | Justin Langer (Aus) 102, Glenn McGrath (Aus) 5/58 — Warne’s 350th Test wicket |
| Jul 21, 2005 | Test | Edgbaston, England | England won by 2 runs | Andrew Flintoff (Eng) 138 & 4/71, Brett Lee (Aus) 4/47 — closest Ashes Test ever |
| Aug 11, 2005 | Test | Trent Bridge, England | Match drawn | Kevin Pietersen (Eng) 71*, Shane Warne (Aus) 4/102 — tension peaks |
| Sep 12, 2005 | Test | The Oval, England | Match drawn | Kevin Pietersen (Eng) 158 — Ashes retained after 18 years |
| Apr 29, 2007 | ODI | Bridgetown, Barbados | Australia won by 53 runs (D/L) | Adam Gilchrist (Aus) 149 off 104 balls— World Cup Final record score |
| Jan 20, 2009 | T20 | Sydney Cricket Ground | Australia won by 39 runs | David Warner (Aus) 89*, Brett Lee (Aus) 2/15 — Warner’s T20I debut fireworks |
| Jan 13, 2011 | ODI | Melbourne Cricket Ground | England won by 6 wickets | Jonathan Trott (Eng) 92*, Andrew Strauss (Eng) 69 — England’s first ODI series win in Aus |
| Feb 14, 2013 | T20 | Adelaide Oval | England won by 39 runs | Alex Hales (Eng) 61, Jade Dernbach (Eng) 3/23 — England’s T20 dominance down under |
| Aug 21, 2015 | ODI | Cardiff, Wales | Australia won by 3 wickets | Steve Smith (Aus) 95*, Mitchell Starc (Aus) 3/43 — World Cup Pool Match |
| Mar 29, 2015 | ODI | Melbourne Cricket Ground | Australia won by 111 runs | Michael Clarke (Aus) 74, James Faulkner (Aus) 3/36 — World Cup Final |
| Sep 10, 2015 | T20 | Southampton, England | England won by 5 runs | Jos Buttler (Eng) 66*, Adil Rashid (Eng) 2/22 — T20 thriller |
| Nov 25, 2017 | Ashes Test | Brisbane Cricket Ground | Match drawn | Joe Root (Eng) 51 & 83, David Warner (Aus) 104 — Cook’s 10,000th Test run |
| Dec 16–20, 2017 | Ashes Test | Perth Stadium | Australia won by an innings & 41 runs | Steve Smith (Aus) 239, Mitchell Starc (Aus) 5/88 — Smith’s Ashes masterclass |
| Mar 14, 2018 | T20 | Adelaide Oval | England won by 6 wickets | Jason Roy (Eng) 85 off 46, David Willey (Eng) 2/25 — Roy’s carnage |
| Aug 1, 2019 | ODI | Lord’s, England | England won by 8 wickets | Jason Roy (Eng) 85, Jonny Bairstow (Eng) 61 — World Cup Final (Eng win on boundary count) |
| Sep 4, 2020 | ODI | Old Trafford, England | Australia won by 1 wicket | Alex Carey (Aus) 67*, Mitchell Starc (Aus) 3/54 — last-over thriller |
| Sep 16, 2021 | T20 | Abu Dhabi, UAE | England won by 8 wickets | Jos Buttler (Eng) 85*, Dawid Malan (Eng) 62 — T20 World Cup warm-up |
| Nov 13, 2022 | T20 | Melbourne Cricket Ground | England won by 5 wickets | Ben Stokes (Eng) 52*, Adil Rashid (Eng) 2/19 — T20 World Cup Final |
| June 16–20, 2023 | Ashes Test | Edgbaston, England | Match drawn | Usman Khawaja (Aus) 141 & 65, Stuart Broad (Eng) 4/65 — Broad’s 600th Test wicket |
| July 27–31, 2023 | Ashes Test | The Oval, England | Australia won by 49 runs | Travis Head (Aus) 163, Pat Cummins (Aus) 4/66 — Series drawn 2-2, Ashes retained by Aus |
| Sept 21, 2024 | ODI | Bristol, England | Australia won by 4 wickets | Glenn Maxwell (Aus) 98*, Josh Hazlewood (Aus) 3/41 — ODI World Cup warm-up |
| Oct 25, 2024 | ODI | Mumbai, India | England won by 7 wickets | Joe Root (Eng) 112*, Jofra Archer (Eng) 3/37 — Champions Trophy group stage |
| Feb 1, 2025 | T20 | Sydney Cricket Ground | Scheduled | TBD — Australia Tour of England T20 leg |
| Feb 4, 2025 | T20 | Melbourne Cricket Ground | Scheduled | TBD — MCG blockbuster |
| June 12–16, 2025 | Ashes Test | Lord’s, England | Scheduled | TBD — 2025 Ashes opener |
Note: 2025 fixtures are based on ICC Future Tours Programme and subject to change. “TBD” denotes top performers to be determined post-match.
Memorable Records & Stats
The Australia vs England cricket history is a statistical goldmine. Here are some jaw-dropping records:
Batting Feats
- Highest Individual Score in Tests: Don Bradman’s 334 at Headingley, 1930.
- Most Ashes Runs: Don Bradman (5,028 runs @ 89.78) — still unmatched.
- Fastest Ashes Century: Adam Gilchrist (57 balls, 2006).
- Most ODI Runs in Rivalry: David Warner (1,584 runs).
- Highest T20I Score: Aaron Finch (135* off 65 balls, 2013).
Bowling Dominance
- Most Ashes Wickets: Shane Warne (195 wickets).
- Best Bowling in an Innings: Jim Laker (19/90, 1956) — all-time Test record.
- Most ODI Wickets: Glenn McGrath (63 wickets).
- Best T20I Bowling: Andrew Tye (4/17, 2018).
Team Milestones
- Largest Test Victory (by runs): Australia by 562 runs, The Oval 1934.
- Biggest ODI Win (by runs): Australia by 209 runs, 2003 World Cup.
- Highest T20I Total: England 221/5 (2018, Melbourne).
- Lowest T20I Total: England 80 all out (2011, Sydney).
Series Records
- Longest Ashes Winning Streak: Australia — 8 consecutive series (1989–2003).
- Most Consecutive ODI Wins: Australia — 12 wins (1999–2003).
- T20I Series Sweep: England — 3-0 in 2018 Australia tour.
Impactful Moments & Rivalry Highlights
1. The Birth of The Ashes (1882)
The mock obituary ignited a rivalry that transcended sport. The symbolic urn — never officially awarded — became the ultimate prize.
2. Bradman’s Farewell Duck (1948)
The greatest batsman of all time was bowled second ball by Eric Hollies in his final Test. His average: 99.94 — poetic, tragic, legendary.
3. Botham’s Ashes (1981)
Ian Botham defied logic at Headingley — 149* batting at No.6, then 5/11 with the ball. Bob Willis’s 8/43 sealed one of cricket’s greatest comebacks.
4. Warne’s “Ball of the Century” (1993)
At Old Trafford, a leg-spinner drifted, pitched outside leg, and clipped Mike Gatting’s off stump. Shane Warne arrived — and changed spin bowling forever.
5. 2005 Ashes — Pietersen’s 158
With the Ashes on the line at The Oval, Kevin Pietersen smashed 158 — including 7 sixes — to draw the match and retain the urn. England’s first Ashes win in 18 years.
6. Gilchrist’s World Cup Final Blitz (2007)
149 off 104 balls — the fastest century in a World Cup final — dismantled England and crowned Australia’s golden era.
7. 2019 World Cup Final — Super Over Drama
Ben Stokes’ boundary off the bat deflection gave England the title on boundary count after a tie and Super Over. Heartbreak for Australia, ecstasy for England.
8. Travis Head’s Oval Masterclass (2023)
With the Ashes hanging in the balance, Travis Head’s 163 at The Oval broke English hearts and ensured Australia retained the urn.
9. Starc vs Roy — T20 Fireworks (2018)
Mitchell Starc’s 150kph thunderbolts vs Jason Roy’s audacious pulls — pure T20 theatre.
Conclusion
The Australian Men’s Cricket Team vs England Cricket Team Timeline is not just a record of wins and losses — it’s a chronicle of legends, turning points, and cultural milestones. From the birth of Test cricket to T20 World Cup finals, this rivalry has shaped the soul of the game. Whether it’s the Ashes series timeline etched in leather and willow, or the explosive modern battles under lights, Australia vs England remains cricket’s ultimate grudge match.
As we look ahead to 2025 — with Ashes battles at Lord’s and T20 clashes at the MCG — one thing is certain: the fire still burns. New heroes will rise, records will tumble, and fans on both sides will roar. Because in this rivalry, there’s no such thing as “just another game.”
For fans, historians, and future champions — this Australian Men’s Cricket Team vs England Cricket Team Timeline is your definitive guide to over 140 years of cricketing war. Keep it bookmarked. Share it. Debate it. And above all — never stop watching.
