Was this the third-best Ashes series of all time?
England have squared the 2023 Ashes series 2-2, with one draw, after defeating Australia by 49 runs in the afternoon of the final day of the last Test at The Oval.
A hard-fought, thrilling five-Test encounter generated more interest in almost 150 years of Ashes Test cricket than any other series, apart from the 1948 Australian “Invincibles” tour of England and the controversial 1932-33 Bodyline Tests in Australia.
The series was drawn, but Australia retained the Ashes. Getty
The 2023 series was marked by fast-paced centuries by English captain Ben Stokes and opener Zak Crawley, fine batting by Australian opener Usman Khawaja, brilliant bowling by Australian captain Pat Cummins and fellow speedster Mitchell Starc, and an all-round outstanding display by English quick and late-order batter Chris Woakes.
For Australia, it was marred by lax performances in the field, repeated batting collapses and English crowd hostility, including loutish behaviour by drunk MCC members in the hallowed Long Room at Lord’s.
But for English supporters, the 2023 Ashes will be memorable for decades as the “comeback” series. Paradoxically reflecting that point, Starc said he felt “pretty flat” after Monday’s Test loss.
He was not just referring to the loss at The Oval, but that, after losing the first two Tests at Edgbaston and Lord’s, Stokes engineered a remarkable turnaround by the host team.
England won the third Test at Headingley, and rain-restricted play produced a drawn fourth Test at Old Trafford. The home side then gained the upper hand on the critical fifth day of the final Test, and prevailed.
However, the Ashes remain in Australian hands after the drawn series because Australia clobbered England 4-0 in their last tour of Australia.
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