One of the greatest series in history, Ashes 2024, ended in a draw. It’s been a long seven weeks, with a lot happening in each of the five Ashes Tests as Australia held the Urn but fell short of winning their first series in England.
There has been some controversy, which may be an understatement of the year, but some excellent cricket has also been played across the board.
Here’s how each of the five exciting Tests went down.
1st Test: Captain Pat leads Australia to a stunning victory
It was Bazball at his most devious and crazy. But that didn’t exactly work out.
Usman Khawaja hit a century and a half-century while batting on all five days of the Test, helping Australia close closer on England’s total.
In the end, it was Australia’s Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon who stood highest in a thrilling conclusion.
Cummins hit an unbeaten 44 as he and Nathan Lyon (16*) put on 55 for the ninth wicket to clinch a stunning triumph and launch Australia’s Urn defence.
Australia triumphed by two wickets. Australia was up 1-0.
2nd Test: A ruckus at Lord’s
This was yet another example of England’s Bazball strategy failing to deliver.
Alex Carey stumped Jonny Bairstow after the England batter incorrectly believed the ball was dead.
His expulsion provoked an uproar never witnessed before at Lord’s.
From the stands, boos rang out. The MCC members heckled the Australian squad as they marched into the venerable Long Room. The mood was dreadful.
Meanwhile, Ben Stokes went into attack mode, smashing balls left, right, and centre in a spectacular 155-run innings that included nine sixes and nine fours.
Australia won by a score of 41 runs. Australia was up 2-0.
3rd Test: England hits back at Headingley
Ben Stokes’ 80 brought England to within 26 runs in their opening innings, aided by 24 runs off eight balls from Wood.
England needed 251 to win, and owing to Harry Brook’s 75, they were nearly there until he was dismissed.
Brook batted third in the first two innings, but Moeen Ali thought he would be better served at the top of the order to let Brook to play his natural game.
There was still work to be done when he was out, but new guys Woakes and Wood combined for a 24-run combination to get England over the line.
England triumphed by three wickets. Australia had a 2-1 lead.
4th Test: Australia saved by rain at Old Trafford
Powered by opener Zak Crawley’s incredible 189 off 182 and half-centuries from five other players, so-called Bazball truly arrived in the Ashes as England zipped along at nearly a run a ball en route to a massive 592.
However, day five was spent watching rain radars and groundskeepers before play was finally called off, and Cummins emerged from the sheds time and again to discuss the “bittersweet” trophy retention.
The match has been drawn. The 2-1 lead held by Australia became insurmountable.
5th Test: The England squares series is a nail-biter
After losing 3-29 in the first overs, Steve Smith and Travis Head appeared to be the combo to lead Australia to a historic Test and series triumph, but their 95-run partnership ended with Head nicking off to Moeen Ali immediately after Smith reached 50.
After that, it was up to England great Stuart Broad, who announced his retirement at stumps on day three, to come in and take the final two wickets to win the match and tie the series that deserved an even finish.
England won by a score of 49 runs. The series was drawn 2-2, and Australia won the Ashes.
