Welcome to the Evening Standard’s LIVE coverage of the Ashes.
England are out to make in five in a row on home soil against Australia the 2019 series gets under way at Egbaston this Thursday.
With England coming into this fresh off the back of their Cricket World Cup win, and the Aussies having selected the sandpaper trio of Cameron Bancroft, Steve Smith and David Warner, there’s plenty of talking points!
So sit back and let Will Macpherson and Malik Ouzia take you through the first Test.
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Aussies haven’t left with the urn for 18 years can England make it five home wins in a row?
2001 | Australia win 4-1
Their seventh straight Ashes win as they handed out thrashings at Edgbaston, Lord’s and Trent Bridge. Then, at Headingley, Mark Butcher’s 173* pulled one back as England chased 315. Skipper Steve Waugh returned from injury at the Oval to score a century and secure the series. Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne shared 63 wickets.
2005 | England win 2-1
The greatest series. 17 wickets fell on the opening day at Lord’s as McGrath’s brilliance carried Australia to victory. But when he went down injured at Edgbaston, England roared back, then dominated the draw at Old Trafford. At Trent Bridge, they crept home in another classic, then just held Australia off at the Oval thanks to a century from Kevin Pietersen.
2009 | England win 2-1
This series did not lack drama. At Cardiff, James Anderson and Monty Panesar batted for 69 balls to save the draw, then Andrew Flintoff’s final five-for sealed success at Lord’s. Australia followed a draw at Edgbaston with a thumping win at Headingley. That took it to the wire at the Oval, where Stuart Broad and Jonathan Trott propelled England to victory.
2013 | England win 3-0
An oft-forgotten series, partly because England were in the early stages of falling apart following an extraordinary run in which they reached World No1. England won a nailbiter at Trent Bridge, then comfortably at Lord’s. A draw at Old Trafford ensured the hosts retained the Urn before going 3-0 up at Durham, where Ian Bell (right) made his third century of the series.
2015 | England win 3-2
Australia won in London when the pitches were flat, England elsewhere when the pitches were livelier. Joe Root’s century set up victory at Cardiff, before Australia hitback at Lord’s. England then won at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge, where Stuart Broad’s 8-15 decided the series. Australia easily took the finale at The Oval but it was Alastair Cook celebrating
