Records almost tumbled not for the quantum of runs scored or for wickets scalped but for how long the entire game lasted. An Ashes rivalry that spans more than a century saw Test matches end inside two days in over hundred years.

Australia won, England lost, but Test cricket barely survived

The final Test between Australia and England will start on Sunday (Jan 4) with the hosts leading 3-1. England were forced to make the changes after Gus Atkinson injured his hamstring, while Jofra Archer was also ruled out due to injury-related issues.

Ashes: Shoaib Bashir, Matthew Potts included in 12-man squad for SCG Test

Having lost in the vicinity of AUD$5 million (US$3.3 million) for the two-day Test in Perth after 19 wickets fell on day one, CA are staring another massive loss in the face if the MCG Test ends inside six sessions despite a record crowd of 94,199 on day one and another sell-out on day two.

Ashes: Cricket Australia CEO hints at intervening on pitches, says 'short Tests are bad for business'

Playing on Day 2, England chased down 175 runs in the final session, meaning the Aussies were condemned to their first loss of the season. Despite the defeat, Australia remain top of the standings at the end of 2025 while England made no progress, having won the Ashes Test by four wickets.

Updated WTC standings: England halt Australia's perfect record with Boxing Day Test win, India stay sixth

Playing at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in the traditional year-ending fixture, England's four-wicket victory ended their almost 15-year winless streak on Australian soil in red-ball format.

Ashes: England end winless streak on Australian soil, clinch Boxing Day Test on Day 2

Playing in the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Marnus Labuschagne's controversial dismissal adds more fuel to the fire, with snicko already under the radar. 

Watch: Marnus Labuschagne leaves in anger as another DRS call adds to controversy in Ashes

Having opted to bowl first after winning the toss, the decision by Ben Stokes proved right as Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson enjoyed their outing by breaking the back of Australia’s batting order. 

Watch: Steve Smith stunned as Josh Tongue castles Australian stand-in skipper in Boxing Day Test

Playing at the Adelaide Oval, Australia need four more wickets on Day 5 of the Test to win the Ashes 3-0 with two matches to go. At Stumps on Day 4, England closed at 207/6, needing 228 more runs to win. 

Australia edge closer to retaining Ashes as England survive Day 4 after Zak Crawley's resistance

Playing at the Adelaide Oval, Australia’s Travis Head smashed a brilliant unbeaten 142 at Stumps on Day 3, meaning the hosts now lead by 356 runs in the second innings as the Aussies closed at 271/4. 

Ashes: Travis Head leads Australia into pole position as England fight to save Adelaide Test

Playing in the third Test, having already lost the opening two matches of the Ashes, England were reduced to 213/8 at Stumps on Day 2 and now fight for survival. 

Ashes 2025-26: Snicko errors take spotlight as England fight for survival in Adelaide Test

Alex Carey, who came into bat at six, slammed his latest ton to help the hosts recover after a poor start to their innings. 

Ashes: Carey, Khawaja shine as Australia recover after poor start on Day 1 of Adelaide Test

Australia have been convincing winners in the opening two Test matches of the Ashes as they look to seal the series in Adelaide. The hosts have a 100 percent record not just in the Ashes but also in the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, winning all five matches so far.

Ashes 2025-26: David Warner warns England ahead of third Test, asks visitors to be wary of Head, Khawaja

Set a paltry target of 65 for victory, Australia captain Steve Smith pulled Gus Atkinson for a huge six over square leg to get the job done in style.

Ashes 2025-26: Australia crush England by eight wickets, lead series 2-0

Australia made light work of England in the opening Ashes Test as they wrapped up the affairs on Day 2 at the Optus Stadium. With bowlers dominating Day 1 of the Test with 19 wickets, it was the Mitchell Starc and Travis Head show that stole the spotlight.

Ashes: Michael Vaughan questions England's pink-ball Test preparations, says 'what harm is it playing...'

Had Day 3 been sold out, it would have set a new record for an Ashes Test at a non-Melbourne venue. CA are headed for an estimated loss of more than AU$3 million ($1.94 million) from ticket revenue for days three and four.

Ashes 2025-26: Brilliance on the field, but Cricket Australia to lose THIS whopping amount after two-day Test

With bowlers dominating Day 1 of the Test with 19 wickets, it was the Mitchell Starc and Travis Head show that stole the spotlight as Australia beat England by eight wickets.

Ashes 2025-26: Starc, Head wreak havoc as Australia wrap Perth opener on Day 2, take 1-0 lead

For the second straight innings, he dismissed English opener Zak Crawley for a duck, having also done so in the first innings. However, it was Mitchell Starc’s effort to clutch Crawley that made the headlines when he completed the return catch.

Watch: Mitchell Starc clutches one-handed stunner as Zak Crawley fails to break the duck in Perth Test

On Day 1 of the first Ashes Test of the 2025-26 series in Perth, 19 wickets crashed. But this isn’t the highest tally ever. Here’s a look at the five Ashes matches where the most wickets fell on the opening day.

5 times most wickets fell on Day 1 of an Ashes Test

Having opted to bat first after winning the toss, England batter Zak Crawley was dismissed on the final ball of the opening over of the Ashes when the duck was yet to be broken on the scorecard.

Unbelievable! History scripted at Ashes as Australia-England openers register THIS unwanted feat

As the Ashes begins, here’s a look at the five key battles that could shape the outcome of Test cricket’s oldest rivalry.

Ashes 2025-26: 5 key battles that could decide the series

Ashes 2025-26 preview: The battle for the Urn begins as England look to end 14  years of agony in Australia

Ashes 2025-26: Mitchell Marsh back in Sheffield Shield frame, raising fresh Test selection talks

Here is a look at five biggest win margins in Ashes history by runs only as England and Australia square off in the latest series starting from November 21. The biggest win in the history of the Ashes came in 1928 as England beat Australia. 

5 Biggest win margins in Ashes history (by runs only)

From Alastair Cook to Graham Gooch, here is a look at batters with most runs in a single edition of Ashes featuring England batters only. The list also features legendary batters like Wally Hammond, Herbert Sutcliffe and David Gower who scored tons of runs.

From Alastair Cook to Graham Gooch, 5 batters with most runs in a single edition of Ashes (English batters only)

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Australia won, England lost, but Test cricket barely survived

Ashes: Shoaib Bashir, Matthew Potts included in 12-man squad for SCG Test

Ashes: CA CEO hints at intervening on pitches, says 'short Tests are bad for...'

WTC standings: England halt Australia's perfect record with Boxing Day Test win

Ashes: England end winless streak in Australia, clinch Boxing Day Test on Day 2

Watch: Labuschagne leaves in anger as another DRS call adds to Ashes controversy

Watch: Smith stunned as Tongue castles Australia skipper in Boxing Day Test

Australia edge closer to retaining Ashes as England survive Day 4 in Adelaide

Ashes: Head leads Aussies into pole position as England face Adelaide heat

Ashes: Snicko errors take spotlight as England fight for survival in Adelaide

Ashes: Carey, Khawaja shine as hosts recover after poor start on Day 1

Ashes 2025-26: David Warner warns England ahead of third Test

Ashes 2025-26: Australia crush England by eight wickets, lead series 2-0

Ashes: Michael Vaughan questions England's pink-ball Test preparations, says 'what harm is it playing...'

Ashes 2025-26: Cricket Australia to lose THIS whopping amount after two-day Test

Ashes 2025-26: Starc, Head wreak havoc as Australia wrap Perth opener on Day 2

Watch: Starc clutches one-handed stunner as Crawley fails to break the duck

5 times most wickets fell on day 1 of an Ashes Test

History scripted at Ashes as Aus-Eng openers register THIS unwanted feat

Ashes 2025-26: 5 key battles that could decide the series

Ashes 2025-26 preview: England look to end 14 years of agony in Australia

Ashes: Marsh back in Sheffield Shield frame, raising fresh Test selection talks

5 Biggest win margins in Ashes history (by runs only)

5 batters with most runs in a single edition of Ashes (English batters only)