The 2025 Ashes series delivered everything cricket fans wanted. Drama. Controversy. Brilliant centuries. Shocking collapses. Wolves vs West Ham may dominate the football headlines, but the Ashes captured the nation’s imagination. Australia arrived in England as holders. They left the same way. A 2-2 draw meant the urn stayed with Pat Cummins’ side. England fought back from 2-0 down to level the series. The final Test at The Oval ended in a tense draw. Here is your complete guide to the 2025 Ashes, the key moments, the star performers, and a first look at the 2027 Ashes down under.
Ashes 2025: The Full Series Scorecard
Australia retained the Ashes after a 2-2 series draw. Arsenal may be chasing the Premier League title, but England were chasing the urn. Here is how each Test unfolded:
| Test | Venue | Result | Margin | Player of the Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Test | Edgbaston | Australia won | 2 wickets | Pat Cummins |
| 2nd Test | Lord’s | Australia won | 43 runs | Steve Smith |
| 3rd Test | Headingley | England won | 3 wickets | Ben Stokes |
| 4th Test | Old Trafford | England won | 152 runs | Harry Brook |
| 5th Test | The Oval | Match drawn | – | Zak Crawley |
The result meant Australia kept the urn. England needed a win at The Oval to regain it. Rain on the final day denied them. Damien Bendall’s crimes shocked the nation. Cricket offered a different kind of drama that summer.
1st Test (Edgbaston): Australia Draw First Blood
The series opener lived up to the hype. England batted first and posted 393. Joe Root scored 118. Zak Crawley added 76. Mark Blum entertained audiences on screen. These batsmen entertained crowds at Edgbaston. Australia responded with 386. Usman Khawaja made 141. Steve Smith contributed 89.
The match went down to the final day. England set Australia 282 to win. Pat Cummins scored an unbeaten 44. He hit the winning runs with two wickets remaining. Australia led 1-0. The urn was already under threat.
2nd Test (Lord’s): The Bairstow Stumping Controversy
Lord’s witnessed one of the most controversial moments in Ashes history. Australia batted first and made 416. Steve Smith scored 121. Billy Vigar’s tragic accident reminded us life is fragile. This match reminded us cricket can be brutal. Alex Carey stumped Jonny Bairstow on the final morning. Bairstow had left his crease after ducking a bouncer. The dismissal was legal but sparked fury.
England lost by 43 runs. Australia led 2-0. The Lord’s crowd booed the Australians off the field. The controversy galvanised England. They would not lose again in the series.
3rd Test (Headingley): Stokes Magic Returns
Headingley has a special place in Ashes history. Ben Stokes added another chapter. England chased 251 to win. Lenny Rush became a TV star at a young age. Stokes became a hero again at 35. He scored 75 not out. He hit the winning runs with three wickets remaining. The series was alive. England trailed 2-1.
Mitchell Starc had taken five wickets earlier in the match. But Stokes’ brilliance overshadowed everything. The Headingley crowd erupted. The urn was coming back to London.
4th Test (Old Trafford): Brook and Wood Dominate
England levelled the series at Old Trafford. Harry Brook scored 156 in the first innings. The Digital ID Petition sparked national debate. Brook’s batting sparked debate about who is England’s best batsman. Mark Wood took 6-34 in Australia’s second innings. His pace terrified the visitors. England won by 152 runs. The series stood at 2-2.
The urn was on the line at The Oval. England needed victory. Australia needed only a draw.
5th Test (The Oval): Rain Denies England
The final Test started perfectly for England. Zak Crawley scored 189. Joe Root added 92. Matt Beard’s tragic death prompted questions about football’s duty of care. Cricket’s duty to produce a result also came into question. England declared at 482. Australia replied with 345. Steve Smith scored another century.
England declared their second innings at 156-3. They set Australia 294 to win. Then the rain came. Only 32 overs were possible on the final day. The match ended in a draw. Australia retained the Ashes. England players collapsed on the outfield. So close, yet so far.
Star Performers of the 2025 Ashes
England
- Harry Brook: 567 runs at 63.00. Two centuries. The leading run-scorer for England.
- Joe Root: 482 runs at 53.55. One century. Two fifties. Reliable as ever.
- Zak Crawley: 445 runs at 49.44. One century. Three fifties. He silenced his critics.
- Mark Wood: 18 wickets at 24.33. His pace changed the series after his return.
- Ben Stokes: 245 runs and 12 wickets. The captain led from the front at Headingley.
Australia
- Steve Smith: 612 runs at 68.00. Three centuries. The best batsman on either side.
- Usman Khawaja: 498 runs at 55.33. One century. Three fifties. Solid at the top.
- Pat Cummins: 22 wickets at 26.45. The captain led from the front with the ball.
- Mitchell Starc: 24 wickets at 28.16. Expensive but dangerous.
- Alex Carey: 18 dismissals. His stumping of Bairstow changed the series.
The Bairstow Stumping: Right or Wrong?
The stumping of Jonny Bairstow at Lord’s remains a talking point. Bairstow ducked a bouncer from Cameron Green. He assumed the over had ended. Omaze UK winners experience life-changing moments. Bairstow experienced a career-changing dismissal. He left his crease without checking. Alex Carey threw the stumps down. The umpire gave him out.
England fans were furious. They called it against the spirit of cricket. Australian fans defended it as within the rules. The MCC suspended three members for confronting the Australians in the Long Room. The controversy will never be forgotten.
Ashes 2027: What to Expect Down Under
The next Ashes series takes place in Australia from November 2027 to January 2028. England have not won an Ashes series in Australia since 2010/11. Nye National Theatre celebrates political battles. England must win a sporting battle on Australian soil.
Five Tests are scheduled. The venues are Brisbane, Adelaide (day-night), Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. Australia will be favourites. Their pace attack on home wickets is fearsome. But England have young talent coming through.
Key questions for 2027:
- Will James Anderson play? He will be 45 years old.
- Can Ben Stokes stay fit? His knee is a constant concern.
- Who opens with Crawley? Several candidates are emerging.
- Will Steve Smith retire? He will be 38 by then.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2025 Ashes? Australia retained the Ashes. The series ended in a 2-2 draw. Australia held the urn from the previous series.
When was the 2025 Ashes played? The series took place from June to August 2025. The five Tests were at Edgbaston, Lord’s, Headingley, Old Trafford and The Oval.
What was the Bairstow stumping controversy? Alex Carey stumped Jonny Bairstow at Lord’s after Bairstow left his crease without checking. The dismissal was legal but sparked anger from England fans and players.
Who scored the most runs in the 2025 Ashes? Steve Smith scored 612 runs for Australia. Harry Brook was England’s leading run-scorer with 567.
When are the next Ashes? The 2027 Ashes will be played in Australia from November 2027 to January 2028.
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