The 2010–11 Ashes series (known as the Vodafone Ashes Series for sponsorship reasons) was the 66th series of
Test cricket
Test cricket is a Forms of cricket, format of the sport of cricket, considered the game’s most prestigious and traditional form. Often referred to as the "ultimate test" of a cricketer's skill, endurance, and temperament, it is a format of i ...
matches played to contest
The Ashes
The Ashes is a Test cricket series played biennially between England and Australia. The term originated in a satirical obituary published in a British newspaper, '' The Sporting Times'', immediately after Australia's 1882 victory at The Oval, ...
. The series was played in Australia as part of the
England cricket team's tour of the country during the 2010–11 season. Five
Test
Test(s), testing, or TEST may refer to:
* Test (assessment), an educational assessment intended to measure the respondents' knowledge or other abilities
Arts and entertainment
* ''Test'' (2013 film), an American film
* ''Test'' (2014 film) ...
s were played from 25 November 2010 to 7 January 2011. England won the series 3–1 and retained the Ashes, having won the previous series in
2009
2009 was designated as the International Year of Astronomy by the United Nations to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei's first known astronomical studies with a telescope and the publication of Astronomia Nova by Joha ...
by two Tests to one. It was the first time in 24 years that England had won the Ashes in Australia. As of
2023
Catastrophic natural disasters in 2023 included the Lists of 21st-century earthquakes, 5th-deadliest earthquake of the 21st century 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes, striking Turkey and Syria, leaving up to 62,000 people dead; Cyclone Freddy ...
, it remains the most recent occasion that a visiting team has won an Ashes series, and the last time that England has won a Test series in Australia.
Background
Prior to the start of the 2010–11 Ashes series, Australia had won 31 series to England's 29. The remaining five were draws. England won the most recent series in
2009
2009 was designated as the International Year of Astronomy by the United Nations to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei's first known astronomical studies with a telescope and the publication of Astronomia Nova by Joha ...
by two Tests to one, but Australia had
whitewashed the last one held on Australian soil (the
2006–07 series), winning 5–0. The last time England won the Ashes on Australian soil was in
1986–87.
The two countries also met in the
2010 ICC World Twenty20
The 2010 ICC World Twenty20 was the third edition of the Men's T20 World Cup, formerly known as the ICC World Twenty20, an international Twenty20 cricket tournament that was held in the West Indies between 30 April and 16 May 2010. It was wo ...
final in Bridgetown, Barbados on 16 May, with England winning by seven wickets with three overs to spare to claim their first ICC world championship. The two sides also played each other in England in June and July 2010 in a five-match
ODI series
Series may refer to:
People with the name
* Caroline Series (born 1951), English mathematician, daughter of George Series
* George Series (1920–1995), English physicist
Arts, entertainment, and media
Music
* Series, the ordered sets used i ...
as a prelude to the upcoming summer. England won the first three ODIs to claim the series, but the Australians won the last two.
The Australians remained in England to face
Pakistan
Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...
, losing both
Twenty20 International
Twenty20 International (T20I) is a form of Twenty20 cricket, in which each team plays a single innings with a maximum of twenty overs. The matches are played between international teams recognized by the International Cricket Council (ICC). ...
s and drawing a two-
Test
Test(s), testing, or TEST may refer to:
* Test (assessment), an educational assessment intended to measure the respondents' knowledge or other abilities
Arts and entertainment
* ''Test'' (2013 film), an American film
* ''Test'' (2014 film) ...
series 1–1. England, meanwhile, beat
Bangladesh
Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, eighth-most populous country in the world and among the List of countries and dependencies by ...
2–1 in a
three-match ODI series and beat Pakistan in a
controversial series – 3–1 in a four-match Test series, 2–0 in two T20Is and 3–2 in a five-match ODI series.
In the weeks leading up to the Ashes, Australia faced both
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
and
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...
in
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
and
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
respectively. Australia played India in two
Tests
Test(s), testing, or TEST may refer to:
* Test (assessment), an educational assessment intended to measure the respondents' knowledge or other abilities
Arts and entertainment
* ''Test'' (2013 film), an American film
* ''Test'' (2014 film) ...
and three
ODIs
ODIS, or the Offender Data Information System is a web based, computerized records management software application to improve the capture, maintenance and quality of law enforcement data that is capable of running in any combination of centraliz ...
during October. They lost both Tests, and lost the ODI series 1–0, with the first and third games washed out without any cricket played. Sri Lanka faced Australia during the early part of November with Sri Lanka winning the only Twenty20 International and winning the ODI series 2–1.
Venues
As with other recent Ashes series in Australia, this series was played at the main cricket grounds in Australia's five largest cities. Tickets for the Ashes series started selling on 25 July 2010, and within a week many Test days were sold out.
Squads
The England squad was announced on 23 September 2010. In addition to England's 16-man squad, a 15-man Performance Programme squad was named that also toured Australia during the series. That squad arrived in Brisbane on 13 November, before playing a four-day match against a Queensland XI (25–28 November) and a Western Australia XI (7–10 December) in Perth before departing on 16 December.
A 17-man Australian squad was announced on 15 November 2010 for the first Ashes Test, and the squad was reduced to 13 five days later. The players included in that initial squad but who were not part of a final Test squad are marked with an asterisk below. In addition to the original 17-man squad, left-arm spinner
Michael Beer and left-handed opening batsman
Phillip Hughes
Phillip Joel Hughes (30 November 1988 – 27 November 2014) was an Australian Test cricket, Test and One Day International (ODI) cricketer who played domestic cricket for South Australia cricket team, South Australia and Worcestershire County C ...
were later called up for the final three Tests. When captain
Ricky Ponting
Ricky Thomas Ponting (born 19 December 1974) is an Australian cricket coach, commentator, and former player. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time and is the most successful captain in international cricket history, ...
was ruled out of the final Test with a broken finger,
Michael Clarke took over as captain and
Brad Haddin became vice-captain.
Matches
First Test
On the opening day,
Peter Siddle – celebrating his 26th birthday – took a
hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick is the achievement of a generally positive feat three times in a match, or another achievement based on the number three.
Origin
The term first appeared in 1858 in cricket, to describe H. H. Stephenson taking three Wick ...
and achieved his best Test career figures to date with 6/54. He dismissed
Cook
Cook or The Cook may refer to:
Food preparation
* Cooking, the preparation of food
* Cook (domestic worker), a household staff member who prepares food
* Cook (profession), an individual who prepares food for consumption in the food industry
* C ...
(caught
Watson),
Prior
The term prior may refer to:
* Prior (ecclesiastical), the head of a priory (monastery)
* Prior convictions, the life history and previous convictions of a suspect or defendant in a criminal case
* Prior probability, in Bayesian statistics
* Prio ...
(bowled) and
Broad (lbw) to take the first Ashes hat-trick since
Darren Gough
Darren Gough (born 18 September 1970) is a retired English cricketer and former captain of Yorkshire County Cricket Club. The spearhead of England's bowling attack through much of the 1990s, he is England's second highest wicket-taker in one-d ...
took three wickets in Sydney in
1999
1999 was designated as the International Year of Older Persons.
Events January
* January 1 – The euro currency is established and the European Central Bank assumes its full powers.
* January 3 – The Mars Polar Lander is launc ...
.
The hat-trick reduced England from a comfortable 4/197 to 7/197, and England were eventually all out in their first innings for 260. Debutant
Xavier Doherty took his first Test wicket by dismissing
Ian Bell
Ian Ronald Bell (born 11 April 1982) is an English former cricketer who played international cricket in all formats for the England cricket team and county cricket for Warwickshire County Cricket Club. A right-handed higher/middle order batsm ...
during the innings.
In reply, Australia were reduced to 5/143, before
Michael Hussey
Michael Edward Killeen Hussey (born 27 May 1975) is an Australian cricket coach, commentator and former international cricketer, who played all forms of the game. Hussey is also widely known by his nickname 'Mr Cricket'. Hussey was a relative la ...
(195) and
Brad Haddin (136) compiled a partnership of 307 runs, a record sixth-wicket partnership at the Gabba, to guide Australia to finish on 481 all out.
Although bowler
Steven Finn finished with figures of 6/125 on his Ashes debut, England conceded a 221-run first innings deficit.
But in the second innings, England responded with an impressive top-order performance.
Strauss
Strauss, Strauß, or Straus is a common Germanic surname. Outside Germany and Austria ''Strauß'' is usually spelled ''Strauss'' (the letter " ß" is not used in the German-speaking part of Switzerland). In classical music, "Strauss" most com ...
(110) and Cook (235 not out) made a 188-run opening partnership; an English record at the ground, during which they overtook
Jack Hobbs and
Herbert Sutcliffe
Herbert Sutcliffe (24 November 1894 – 22 January 1978) was an English Professionalism#Sports, professional cricketer who represented Yorkshire County Cricket Club, Yorkshire and England national cricket team, England as an opening batsman. A ...
as England's highest-scoring pair of opening batsmen.
Jonathan Trott
Ian Jonathan Leonard Trott (born 22 April 1981) is a South African-born English former professional cricketer who played international cricket for the England cricket team and is the current head coach of the Afghanistan cricket team. Domestical ...
(135 not out) then joined Cook for an unbeaten 329-run partnership before England declared on 1/517 in anticipation for a draw. Cook's score of 235 not out broke
Don Bradman
Sir Donald George Bradman (27 August 1908 – 25 February 2001), nicknamed "The Don", was an Australian international cricketer, widely acknowledged as the greatest batsman of all time. His cricketing successes have been claimed by Shane ...
's record for the highest Test score at the Gabba.
With the target at 297 runs from 41 overs for victory, Australia moved to 1/107, with
Ricky Ponting
Ricky Thomas Ponting (born 19 December 1974) is an Australian cricket coach, commentator, and former player. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time and is the most successful captain in international cricket history, ...
making a quick 51, before a draw was declared.
Second Test

For the second Test, Australia made two changes to its fast bowling attack; dropping
Mitchell Johnson
Mitchell Guy Johnson (born 2 November 1981) is a former Australian cricketer, who played all forms of the game for his national side. He is a left-arm fast bowler and left-handed batsman. He represented Australia in international cricket from ...
and
Ben Hilfenhaus and bringing in
Doug Bollinger and
Ryan Harris. England fielded an unchanged side.
After electing to bat first, Australia made their worst start to a Test match in 60 years.
Simon Katich hesitated when Shane Watson called for a single and was run out without facing a ball by
Jonathan Trott
Ian Jonathan Leonard Trott (born 22 April 1981) is a South African-born English former professional cricketer who played international cricket for the England cricket team and is the current head coach of the Afghanistan cricket team. Domestical ...
, who registered a direct hit with just one stump to aim at. Anderson then had Ponting caught by
Graeme Swann at second slip with the next delivery for a golden
duck
Duck is the common name for numerous species of waterfowl in the family (biology), family Anatidae. Ducks are generally smaller and shorter-necked than swans and goose, geese, which are members of the same family. Divided among several subfam ...
. Katich's diamond duck was the first by an Australian since Wayne Phillips against the West Indies in Port of Spain in 1983-84. In his next over, Anderson then got Clarke to edge to Swann to leave Australia at 3/2.
Michael Hussey
Michael Edward Killeen Hussey (born 27 May 1975) is an Australian cricket coach, commentator and former international cricketer, who played all forms of the game. Hussey is also widely known by his nickname 'Mr Cricket'. Hussey was a relative la ...
made 93 before Swann had him caught by Collingwood and Australia were bowled out just before stumps on Day 1 for 245.
On the second day, England captain
Andrew Strauss
Sir Andrew John Strauss (born 2 March 1977) is an English cricket administrator and former player, formerly the Director of Cricket for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). He played county cricket for Middlesex County Cricket Club, Middl ...
was dismissed for a single in the first over of the day's play, bowled by a Bollinger delivery that he left alone. At the close of day two,
Alastair Cook
Sir Alastair Nathan Cook (born 25 December 1984) is an English former cricketer and former captain (cricket), captain of the England Test Cricket, Test and One-Day International, ODI teams. He is considered one of the greatest opening batsmen ...
had made 136 not out; when combined with his score of 235 not out in the second innings of the first Test, Cook broke the England record for runs scored and minutes at the crease without being dismissed. This consisted of 371 runs in 1,022 minutes of play.
Early on the third morning,
Kevin Pietersen
Kevin Peter Pietersen (born 27 June 1980) is a former England international cricketer. He is regarded as one of the greatest England batsmen to have played the game, and renowned for his competitive, and often controversial nature. He was a ri ...
reached his first century since March 2009 before Cook was out for 148. Supported first by
Paul Collingwood
Paul David Collingwood (born 26 May 1976) is an English cricket coach and former player, who played in all three formats of the game internationally for England cricket team, England. He played for Durham County Cricket Club. Collingwood was a ...
(42) and then
Ian Bell
Ian Ronald Bell (born 11 April 1982) is an English former cricketer who played international cricket in all formats for the England cricket team and county cricket for Warwickshire County Cricket Club. A right-handed higher/middle order batsm ...
(68 not out), Pietersen reached the second double-century of his career. Pietersen was finally out for a Test-best 227 before England declared on 5/620. This was the first time that the England team had passed the 500 run mark in successive innings in the Ashes and left Australia needing 375 runs to make England bat again.
Australia began batting early on day four and started a fightback before losing the wicket of
Michael Clarke (80) off the last ball of the day from Pietersen's part-time off-spin. Although Hussey completed a half-century, England took the final six wickets in the final morning session to win by an innings and 71 runs, beginning with Steven Finn taking the key wicket of Hussey by getting him into a mistake on a pull shot that went to Anderson at mid-on. Anderson then claimed the next two, including notably Ryan Harris on a first-ball LBW. With two first-ball
ducks
Duck is the common name for numerous species of waterfowl in the family (biology), family Anatidae. Ducks are generally smaller and shorter-necked than swans and goose, geese, which are members of the same family. Divided among several subfam ...
, Harris became only the second Australian in Test cricket to earn a king pair (the first being
Adam Gilchrist
Adam Craig Gilchrist (; born 14 November 1971) is an Australian cricket commentator and former international cricketer and List of Australia national cricket captains, captain of the Australia national cricket team. He was an attacking left-h ...
against India in Kolkata in 2000–01). Swann then provided the finishing touch with his 10th five-wicket haul in Tests and first against Australia by claiming the last three wickets of North, Doherty and Siddle; the wicket of North was originally not called but confirmed LBW by
DRS. The result was the 100th time England had beaten Australia in a Test match.
Third Test

Following an innings defeat, Australia made four changes, with pace bowlers Johnson and Hilfenhaus returning in place of Bollinger and Doherty,
Steve Smith (at that time considered an all-rounder) replacing North in the middle-order, and opener
Phillip Hughes
Phillip Joel Hughes (30 November 1988 – 27 November 2014) was an Australian Test cricket, Test and One Day International (ODI) cricketer who played domestic cricket for South Australia cricket team, South Australia and Worcestershire County C ...
replacing the injured Katich. Australia's bowling attack comprised four main pace bowlers and Smith as the main spinner. England made one change, with
Chris Tremlett chosen to replace the injured Broad.
On the first day, Tremlett marked his return to Test cricket with three top-order wickets as Australia were reduced to 5/69. However, the middle-lower order rescued Australia with
Michael Hussey
Michael Edward Killeen Hussey (born 27 May 1975) is an Australian cricket coach, commentator and former international cricketer, who played all forms of the game. Hussey is also widely known by his nickname 'Mr Cricket'. Hussey was a relative la ...
,
Brad Haddin and
Mitchell Johnson
Mitchell Guy Johnson (born 2 November 1981) is a former Australian cricketer, who played all forms of the game for his national side. He is a left-arm fast bowler and left-handed batsman. He represented Australia in international cricket from ...
scoring half-centuries. Australia were finally bowled out for 268 runs.
On the second day, England reached 0/78 before suffering a batting collapse with Johnson taking 6/38. In a spell costing just 7 runs, he accounted for Cook (32), Trott (4), Pietersen (0) and Collingwood (5) to leave England 5/98. Strauss and Bell made half-centuries before Johnson took two further wickets as England were all out for 187.
Starting their second innings with a lead of 81 runs, Australia lost Hughes, Ponting and Clarke cheaply before Hussey and Watson steadied the innings with a 113-run partnership. Watson fell five short of his century, but Hussey recorded his second century of the series before a late flurry of wickets left Australia being bowled out for 309. Hussey was last-man-out for 116 and that wicket completed Tremlett's maiden Test five-wicket haul.
Needing 391 runs for victory, England quickly collapsed to 5/81. Johnson picked up two more wickets, and
Ben Hilfenhaus collected his first since the opening over of the series as the openers and Pietersen fell cheaply.
Ricky Ponting
Ricky Thomas Ponting (born 19 December 1974) is an Australian cricket coach, commentator, and former player. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time and is the most successful captain in international cricket history, ...
damaged a finger parrying Trott to wicket-keeper Haddin in the penultimate over, before
Paul Collingwood
Paul David Collingwood (born 26 May 1976) is an English cricket coach and former player, who played in all three formats of the game internationally for England cricket team, England. He played for Durham County Cricket Club. Collingwood was a ...
was caught behind off Harris from the last ball of the day. On day four, the remaining England batsmen were quickly bowled out within ten overs. The final five wickets fell for just 42 runs with
Ryan Harris taking 6/47. England were all out for 123 and lost the game by 267 runs. For his combined 63 runs and 9/82, Johnson won the Man of the Match award.
Fourth Test
Despite being the series' leading wicket-taker, Steven Finn was rested by England for the much-anticipated
Boxing Day Test and replaced by
Tim Bresnan, who had been with Collingwood, Broad and Swann in the T20 side that had beaten Australia in the
ICC World Twenty20 Final back in May.
James Anderson was cleared to play after a slight side strain. Australia were unchanged, with
Ricky Ponting
Ricky Thomas Ponting (born 19 December 1974) is an Australian cricket coach, commentator, and former player. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time and is the most successful captain in international cricket history, ...
also cleared to play despite a fractured little finger on his left hand.
Strauss won the toss and elected to bowl. Watson was dropped twice without scoring off Anderson before Tremlett claimed his wicket. Tremlett later had Ponting caught behind before Anderson took the vital wicket of Hussey, who had achieved at least fifty in every innings of the series, in the last over before lunch. None of the Australian batsmen offered much resistance as they were bowled out for 98 before tea: their lowest Ashes total at the
MCG. All ten dismissals were
catches behind the stumps, with
Matt Prior
Matthew James Prior (born 26 February 1982) is a South African-born English former cricketer, who played for England in Test cricket and for Sussex County Cricket Club in domestic cricket. He was a wicket-keeper and his aggressive right-handed ...
becoming the fourth English wicket-keeper to take six catches in an innings; of the remaining catches, two were taken at slip and two at gully. Anderson and Tremlett took four wickets each while Bresnan took the remaining two.
In reply, England's openers advanced to 0/157 at the end of the first day's play before both fell early the following morning. Australia reviewed a caught-behind appeal for Pietersen when on 49, which upheld
Aleem Dar's not out verdict; however, Ponting continued to debate the decision with both umpires and was fined 40% of his match fee. Pietersen was out soon after for 51 and was followed by Collingwood (8) and Bell (1). Prior was then given out caught behind early in his innings; however, Dar called for the third umpire for a suspected no ball. This was confirmed and Prior continued to support Trott, eventually making 85 while Trott achieved his fifth Test century and eventually finished not out on 168 as England reached 513 all out.
Australia had a bright spot in Victoria native and state captain Siddle, who took a six-wicket haul, but they lost Harris for the rest of the series when he fractured his ankle in a run-up.
By the time they began their second innings, Australia were in a worse situation than at Adelaide, needing to make 415 runs just to make England bat again, a man down (Harris being unable to bat after his ankle injury), and with more than half the match left to play. Australia got off to a quick start before Hughes was run out off Swann's bowling. Bresnan then took three wickets – Watson
lbw, captain Ponting
bowled
In cricket, the term bowled has several meanings. First, it is the act of propelling the ball towards the wicket defended by a batter.
Second, it is a method of dismissing a batter, by hitting the wicket with a ball delivered by the bowler. ...
and Hussey
caught
Caught is a method of dismissing a batsman in cricket. A batsman is out caught if the batsman hits the ball, from a legitimate delivery, with the bat, and the ball is caught by the bowler or a fielder before it hits the ground.
If the catch ...
for a
duck
Duck is the common name for numerous species of waterfowl in the family (biology), family Anatidae. Ducks are generally smaller and shorter-necked than swans and goose, geese, which are members of the same family. Divided among several subfam ...
– to leave Australia 104/4. Australia finished day 3 on 169/6, 246 runs behind. An 86-run partnership on the fourth morning between Haddin and Siddle delayed the inevitable, but after Swann had Siddle caught by Pietersen at long-on, Bresnan dismissed Hilfenhaus for a pair to seal the match. Australia were bowled out for 258 and England retained the Ashes, winning by an innings and 157 runs to go up 2–1 in the series with one match left to play.
The losses at Adelaide and Melbourne also meant that it was the first time that Australia had ever lost two Tests in a home series by an innings.
Fifth Test

Prior to the fifth Test match,
Ricky Ponting
Ricky Thomas Ponting (born 19 December 1974) is an Australian cricket coach, commentator, and former player. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time and is the most successful captain in international cricket history, ...
was declared unfit to play due to the injury to his left little finger.
Michael Clarke became Australia's
43rd Test captain, while
Brad Haddin assumed vice-captain responsibilities.
Usman Khawaja
Usman Tariq Khawaja (; born 18 December 1986) is an Australian international cricketer who represents the Australia national cricket team in Test cricket and Queensland cricket team, Queensland. Khawaja made his first-class cricket debut for N ...
made his Test debut in place of Ponting and became the first Pakistani Australian to play for Australia. Spinner
Michael Beer also made his Test debut, and became the 10th spinner to feature in the Australian side since
Shane Warne
Shane Keith Warne (13 September 1969 – 4 March 2022) was an Australian international cricketer whose career ran from 1992 to 2007. Warne played as a right-arm leg spin bowler and a lower-order right-handed batter for Victoria, Hampshire ...
's retirement in 2007.
Clarke won the toss and elected to bat in overcast conditions. Watson, Hughes, Khawaja and Clarke all passed 30, but none of the top order reached a half-century. After Hussey was dismissed by all-rounder Collingwood, playing in his final Test having announced his retirement from Test cricket on the fourth morning, Smith and Siddle soon followed to leave Australia at 8/189. However, 53 from Johnson and 34 from Hilfenhaus allowed Australia finish on 280 all out.
England's openers batted positively, with Strauss making 60 off 58 balls before being bowled by Hilfenhaus. Fellow opener Cook continued his excellent form, making his third century and passing 700 runs for the series.
After Cook departed for 189,
Ian Bell
Ian Ronald Bell (born 11 April 1982) is an English former cricketer who played international cricket in all formats for the England cricket team and county cricket for Warwickshire County Cricket Club. A right-handed higher/middle order batsm ...
made his first century in Ashes cricket in his 18th Test match against Australia.
There was minor controversy when Bell overturned a caught-behind dismissal whilst on 67 – it was overturned because ''Hotspot'' showed no edge on the bat, but Snickometer (which was shown by the broadcaster, but at that time was not used in the referral process) detected an edge. After England passed 500 for the fourth time in the series, wicketkeeper
Matt Prior
Matthew James Prior (born 26 February 1982) is a South African-born English former cricketer, who played for England in Test cricket and for Sussex County Cricket Club in domestic cricket. He was a wicket-keeper and his aggressive right-handed ...
reached his fourth Test hundred, his first against Australia, from just 109 balls – the fastest English Ashes century since
Ian Botham in 1981 at
Old Trafford
Old Trafford () is a football stadium in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England, and is the home of Manchester United. With a capacity of 74,197, it is the largest club football stadium (and second-largest football stadium overall after W ...
.
His century meant that six out of England's top seven had made centuries during the series. England reached 644 before being bowled out, their highest ever total in an Ashes Test in Australia.
Needing 364 to make England bat again, several Australian batsmen again made starts before getting out. Watson made a brisk 38 before a mix-up left both him and Hughes at the same end for an easy run-out, the third run-out of the series that he was involved in. Clarke scored 41 in his second innings as captain and Haddin made 30, but Tremlett then tempted Haddin into playing a bouncer behind to Prior before clean-bowling Johnson with his next delivery, prompting an extra half hour of play on Day 4. In an eighth-wicket partnership worth 80 runs, Smith made an unbeaten half-century and Siddle made 43; however, after Siddle was removed, Hilfenhaus soon departed for just 7 before Tremlett took the final wicket: Beer bowled, playing on, for 2. Australia's total was 281 and England won by an innings and 83 runs. This was the third time they had won by an innings in the series – the first time a touring side had ever won three Tests by an innings during a single series.
Cook was named Man of the Series after scoring 766 runs for England, and also Man of the Match for his 189 runs in the first innings.
Statistics
Individual
Team
Other
;England
* In the 2nd innings of the 1st Test,
Alastair Cook
Sir Alastair Nathan Cook (born 25 December 1984) is an English former cricketer and former captain (cricket), captain of the England Test Cricket, Test and One-Day International, ODI teams. He is considered one of the greatest opening batsmen ...
achieved his maiden Test double-century and his then highest Test score of 235 (not out). This was also the highest Test innings score for a batsman at
the Gabba
The Brisbane Cricket Ground, commonly known as the Gabba, is a major sports stadium in Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, Australia. The nickname Gabba derives from the suburb of Woolloongabba, in which it is located. Over the years, the Gab ...
.
* In the 1st innings of the 2nd Test,
Ian Bell
Ian Ronald Bell (born 11 April 1982) is an English former cricketer who played international cricket in all formats for the England cricket team and county cricket for Warwickshire County Cricket Club. A right-handed higher/middle order batsm ...
reached a career total of 4,000 runs when he scored 68 (not out).
* In the 1st innings of the 2nd Test,
Kevin Pietersen
Kevin Peter Pietersen (born 27 June 1980) is a former England international cricketer. He is regarded as one of the greatest England batsmen to have played the game, and renowned for his competitive, and often controversial nature. He was a ri ...
hit 227, his highest Test score.
* In the 2nd innings of the 3rd Test,
James Anderson reached a career total of 200 wickets when he had
Peter Siddle caught out.
* In the 2nd innings of the 3rd Test,
Chris Tremlett achieved his first five-wicket haul.
* In the 1st innings of the 4th Test,
Andrew Strauss
Sir Andrew John Strauss (born 2 March 1977) is an English cricket administrator and former player, formerly the Director of Cricket for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). He played county cricket for Middlesex County Cricket Club, Middl ...
reached a career total of 6,000 runs.
* In the 1st innings of the 4th Test,
Matt Prior
Matthew James Prior (born 26 February 1982) is a South African-born English former cricketer, who played for England in Test cricket and for Sussex County Cricket Club in domestic cricket. He was a wicket-keeper and his aggressive right-handed ...
reached a career total of 2,000 runs.
* In the 1st innings of the 5th Test,
Alastair Cook
Sir Alastair Nathan Cook (born 25 December 1984) is an English former cricketer and former captain (cricket), captain of the England Test Cricket, Test and One-Day International, ODI teams. He is considered one of the greatest opening batsmen ...
reached a career total of 5,000 runs; he was the second-youngest player to reach this landmark, after
Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar (; ; born 24 April 1973) is an Indian former international cricketer who List of India national cricket captains#Men's cricket, captained the Indian national team. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketer ...
.
He also made his third century of the series and stands as the series' highest run-scorer.
* In the 1st innings of the 5th Test, England scored their highest team total ever in Australia.
* In the 1st innings of the 5th Test, England's 6th, 7th and 8th wicket partnerships all made 100, the first time this has ever happened in Test cricket.
* England amassed a total of nine centuries off six batsmen. This is a record for England in the Ashes.
* England surpassed 500 runs four times. This is the first time they had done so in any series.
* England became the first touring team to win three matches by an innings in a Test series.
* England won the Ashes in Australia for the first time in 24 years.
;Australia
* In the 1st innings of the 1st Test,
Peter Siddle took a
hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick is the achievement of a generally positive feat three times in a match, or another achievement based on the number three.
Origin
The term first appeared in 1858 in cricket, to describe H. H. Stephenson taking three Wick ...
. This was the
first Test hat-trick by an Australian since
Glenn McGrath in 2000 and the first in an Ashes series since
Darren Gough
Darren Gough (born 18 September 1970) is a retired English cricketer and former captain of Yorkshire County Cricket Club. The spearhead of England's bowling attack through much of the 1990s, he is England's second highest wicket-taker in one-d ...
in 1999. Overall, it was the 38th Test hat-trick, the 11th by an Australian, and the 9th by a Victorian. The hat-trick was taken on his 26th birthday, 25 November 2010.
* In the 2nd innings of the 3rd Test,
Ryan Harris achieved his first five-wicket haul.
* Australia's first-innings total of 98 in the 4th Test was its lowest first-innings ever in a Melbourne Test and its lowest completed first innings score in a home Ashes Test since 1936.
* Captain
Ricky Ponting
Ricky Thomas Ponting (born 19 December 1974) is an Australian cricket coach, commentator, and former player. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time and is the most successful captain in international cricket history, ...
averaged 16.14 runs across the series, the lowest average by an Australian captain in an Ashes series in Australia since
Brian Booth in
1965–66.
Media
Television
*
Nine Network
Nine Network (stylised 9Network, and commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of the five main free-to-air television ...
: Australia
*
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is a group of British broadcasting of sports events, subscription sports channels operated by the satellite television, satellite pay television company Sky Group (a division of Comcast), and is the dominant subscription television ...
: United Kingdom and Ireland (
HD) Highlights
ITV4
ITV4 is a British free-to-air television channel which first aired on 1 November 2005. It is owned by ITV plc.
The channel focuses primarily on general entertainment programming targeting a male audience, including action series and films, ...
[Under a separate deal](_blank)
negotiated with Cricket Australia
Cricket Australia (CA) is the governing body for professional and amateur cricket in Australia. It was originally formed in 1905 as the 'Australian Board of Control for International Cricket'. It is incorporated as an Australian Public Company ...
, highlights of the series were aired on the terrestrial broadcaster ITV.
*
Star Cricket
Star Sports Network is a group of Indian pay television sports channels owned by JioStar, a joint venture between Viacom18 and Disney India, The network currently holds rights of flagship tournaments like International Cricket Council events, I ...
: India
*
Willow Cricket: USA
*
GEO Super: Pakistan
*
SuperSport: South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya
*
Sky Network Television
Sky Network Television Limited, more commonly known as Sky, is a New Zealand broadcasting company that provides pay television services via satellite television, satellite, media streaming services, and broadband internet services. Sky had 1,0 ...
: New Zealand (
HD)
*
Asian Television Network: Canada
*
Orbit Showtime: Middle East
Radio
*
ABC Radio Grandstand
ABC Sport, formerly ABC Radio Grandstand, is a live radio sports focused commentary and talk-back program which runs on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) local radio network across Australia and on one digital-only station.
History ...
: Australia
*
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. The station replaced the BBC Home Service on 30 September 1967 and broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes from the BBC's headquarters at Broadcasti ...
and
BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra
BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra (formerly BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra) is a British digital radio in the United Kingdom, digital radio station owned and operated by the BBC, and specialising in extended live sports coverage. It is a sister station ...
: England
Notes
References
External links
The Ashes 2010–11 on CricInfo
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ashes Series 2010-11
2010-11
Ashes series
2010 in English cricket
2011 in English cricket
International cricket competitions in 2010–11