The 2021–22 Ashes series, named the Vodafone Men's Ashes Series for sponsorship reasons, was a series of five
Test cricket matches that were contested between
England and
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
for
The Ashes. The series was played at five venues across Australia from 8 December 2021 and was scheduled to finish on 18 January 2022. Australia were the defending holders of the Ashes going into the series, having won in
2017–18 with the
2019 Ashes series
The 2019 Ashes series (officially the Specsavers Ashes Series for sponsorship reasons) was a series of Test cricket matches played between England and Australia for The Ashes in August and September 2019. The venues were Edgbaston, Lord's, Hea ...
ending in a draw. The series was part of the
2021–2023 ICC World Test Championship
The 2021–2023 ICC World Test Championship is the second edition of the ICC World Test Championship of Test cricket. It started on 4 August 2021 and is scheduled to finish on 31 March 2023. The venue for the final is yet to be announced.
The f ...
.
Australia retained the Ashes by winning the first three Test matches. The fourth Test ended in a draw, with Australia winning the fifth Test by 146 runs to win the series 4–0.
Squads
On 25 October 2021,
Ben Stokes
Benjamin Andrew Stokes (born 4 June 1991) is an English international cricketer who is the captain of the England Test team and plays for the England Twenty20 International (T20I) team. In domestic cricket, he represents Durham and has playe ...
was added to England's squad. On 7 December 2021,
James Anderson James Anderson may refer to:
Arts
* James Anderson (American actor) (1921–1969), American actor
*James Anderson (author) (1936–2007), British mystery writer
* James Anderson (English actor) (born 1980), British actor
* James Anderson (filmmake ...
was left out of the first Test as a precaution, despite being declared fit to play. On 7 January 2022,
Sam Billings was added to the squad as injury cover.
Jos Buttler was ruled out of England's squad for the fifth Test, after breaking a finger during the fourth Test.
On 17 November 2021,
Cricket Australia named a 15-member squad for the first two Test matches. On 19 November 2021,
Tim Paine resigned from the captaincy role and, on 26 November 2021, was replaced by
Pat Cummins as captain with
Steve Smith as Cummins' deputy. Paine then withdrew from the squad and announced he was taking an indefinite leave of absence from cricket. On 2 December 2021,
Alex Carey was added to Australia's squad as Paine's replacement and a wicket-keeper, receiving his maiden Test call-up in the process. Ahead of the second Test,
Josh Hazlewood was ruled out of Australia's squad due to a side strain picked up during the first Test of the series. Pat Cummins was ruled out of the second Test after being named as a close contact of a positive
COVID-19 case; Steve Smith was made captain, and
Michael Neser made his Test debut for Australia. During the fifth day of the second Test, Cricket Australia named an unchanged squad for the rest of the series. Ahead of the third Test, Australia also added
Scott Boland to their squad as a cover for their fast bowlers.
Notes
COVID-19 impact
The 2021–22 Ashes series took place against the backdrop of the ongoing
COVID-19 pandemic, which threatened to derail the series numerous times. As far back as June 2021, concerns had been raised that key England players could pull out of the tour if their families were not able to accompany them due to the Australian government's restrictions on international travel.
On the morning of the first day of the Second Test, Australian captain
Pat Cummins was ruled out of the match after he was deemed to be a close contact of someone with
COVID-19. In mid-December, a number of people at the match at Adelaide Oval tested positive, including members of the media.
On 31 December 2021,
Travis Head was ruled out of the fourth test due to contracting COVID-19.
Mitchell Marsh,
Nic Maddinson and
Josh Inglis were added to the squad as additional cover. Several key staff and officials, including ICC match referee
David Boon and England coach
Chris Silverwood were also forced to miss the fourth test; Boon had tested positive for COVID-19 while Silverwood was forced to isolate with his family following an outbreak of the virus in the England camp.
Venues
In May 2021, Cricket Australia (CA) announced that
The Gabba, the
Adelaide Oval, the
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), also known locally as "The 'G", is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Victoria. Founded and managed by the Melbourne Cricket Club, it is the largest stadiu ...
(MCG), the
Sydney Cricket Ground
The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) is a sports stadium in Sydney, Australia. It is used for Test cricket, Test, One Day International and Twenty20 cricket, as well as, Australian rules football and occasionally for rugby league, rugby union and as ...
and the
Perth Stadium would host the Test matches. However, in late November 2021, doubts were raised about the final Test taking place in Perth due to
COVID-19 restrictions.
Mark McGowan, the
premier of Western Australia, insisted on a 14-day quarantine period for everyone travelling into the state. On 6 December 2021, CA confirmed the fifth Test would not be held in Perth, and that the relocated Test would be played as a
day/night match. On 11 December 2021, CA confirmed that the venue for the fifth Test match would be the
Bellerive Oval, in
Hobart
Hobart ( ; Nuennonne/Palawa kani: ''nipaluna'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Home to almost half of all Tasmanians, it is the least-populated Australian state capital city, and second-small ...
. This was the first ever Ashes Test match to be played in Hobart.
Matches
First Test
Day one
Rory Burns was bowled for a
golden duck by
Mitchell Starc off the first ball of the series.
Dawid Malan was caught behind by
Alex Carey from a delivery by
Josh Hazlewood. Captain
Joe Root followed with a
duck after getting caught at first slip by
David Warner from a delivery by Hazlewood.
Ben Stokes
Benjamin Andrew Stokes (born 4 June 1991) is an English international cricketer who is the captain of the England Test team and plays for the England Twenty20 International (T20I) team. In domestic cricket, he represents Durham and has playe ...
was only able to score five runs before being caught out off a delivery by
Pat Cummins. Ultimately, England was dismissed for 147 in their first innings.
Although England was all out before tea, Australia were unable to begin their first innings due to weather.
Day two
Marcus Harris was only able to score three runs before being dismissed by
Ollie Robinson.
Marnus Labuschagne,
Steve Smith,
David Warner, and
Cameron Green
Cameron Donald Green (born 3 June 1999) is an Australian cricketer who plays for Western Australia and Perth Scorchers as an all-rounder. He made his international debut for the Australia national cricket team in December 2020.
Career
Green g ...
were dismissed in quick succession, going four for 29. England were unable to capitalise on three close opportunities to dismiss David Warner on 17, 48, and 60. Warner was able to score 94 runs before being caught out off a delivery by Robinson. Green was bowled out by Robinson in one ball.
Australia ended the day 7/343.
Travis Head was not out, having scored 112 runs with twelve fours and two sixes.
Day three
Australia were all out before lunch, with Travis Head bowled out off a
yorker from
Mark Wood. Australia's run total for the innings was 425, with Head contributing 152.
Haseeb Hameed and
Rory Burns were the first two batsmen for England's second innings. Burns was called out lbw with zero runs, but the call was overturned by
DRS. Burns was later dismissed for 13 and Hameed soon followed, being dismissed for 27. The next two batsmen, Dawid Malan and Joe Root, ended the day not out with 80 and 86 runs, respectively. As a result, England ended the day trailing Australia by 58 runs.
Day four
Despite strong performances in day three, Malan and Root were only able to add two and three runs on day four before falling.
Ollie Pope was the next to fall after being caught at the slip. The global broadcast from The Gabba was then cut off for approximately 30 minutes while the Test continued. After the broadcast was able to return, Stokes edged a ball from Pat Cummins and was caught out in the gully, leaving England 6/266. The next four batsmen,
Jos Buttler,
Chris Woakes,
Ollie Robinson, and
Mark Wood, were dismissed in quick succession, ending the innings. In total, England scored 297 with eight wickets and only 77 runs in day four.
With a target of 20 runs, Australia opened their second innings with
Alex Carey and
Marcus Harris. Carey was dismissed, but Harris was able to reach the target score before Australia's third batsman faced a ball.
Second Test
Day one
Despite testing negative to COVID-19,
Pat Cummins was forced to withdraw from the match and isolate in accordance with the South Australian government's public health regulations.
Steve Smith was appointed Australian captain for the first time since his comeback from the
Sandpapergate incident, while
Michael Neser was named as Cummins' replacement and hastily awarded his baggy green.
Smith won the toss and decided to bat first.
Marcus Harris and
David Warner opened the batting for the home team. However, Harris was out soon, caught by England wicketkeeper
Jos Buttler off the bowling of
Stuart Broad.
Marnus Labuschagne and Warner stabilized the innings putting on a partnership of 172 runs for the second wicket before Warner was out for 95, falling five short of a century, caught by Broad off the bowling of
Ben Stokes
Benjamin Andrew Stokes (born 4 June 1991) is an English international cricketer who is the captain of the England Test team and plays for the England Twenty20 International (T20I) team. In domestic cricket, he represents Durham and has playe ...
. Australia ended the day at 225 for two, with Labuschagne remaining not out at 95 (having been dropped twice by Buttler on 21 and 95) and Smith on 18 not out.
Day two
Early in the day, Labuschagne reached his sixth test hundred with a controlled edge past second slip to the boundary. Having come off 287 balls, it was the slowest Test century by an Australian since
Jason Gillespie's effort against
Bangladesh in 2006.
He was dismissed LBW shortly afterward on 103 by
Ollie Robinson, offering no shot to a delivery. Australia reviewed the decision, however, the decision by the on-field umpire stayed.
Travis Head joined the captain Smith at the wicket and the duo put on fifty runs for the fourth wicket before Head was bowled off a
full toss from the bowling of English captain
Joe Root.
Cameron Green
Cameron Donald Green (born 3 June 1999) is an Australian cricketer who plays for Western Australia and Perth Scorchers as an all-rounder. He made his international debut for the Australia national cricket team in December 2020.
Career
Green g ...
came to the crease but was back to the pavilion adding only two runs. Australia were at 294 for five. Wicketkeeper
Alex Carey joined Smith to put on 91 runs for the sixth wicket before Smith was out leg before to
James Anderson James Anderson may refer to:
Arts
* James Anderson (American actor) (1921–1969), American actor
*James Anderson (author) (1936–2007), British mystery writer
* James Anderson (English actor) (born 1980), British actor
* James Anderson (filmmake ...
for 93. Australia reviewed the decision but the on-field umpire's decision stayed as an 'umpire's call'. Carey brought up his fifty before being out for 51 caught at cover by
Haseeb Hameed off the bowling of Anderson. Australia brought up their 450 before declaring for 473 at the loss of 9 wickets.
England opened their innings with Hameed and
Rory Burns, both of whom were out for single digit scores bringing England to a total of 12 runs for the loss of two wickets. Hameed was out for 6 runs caught at
mid-on by
Mitchell Starc off the bowling of
Michael Neser, while Burns was out for 4 runs caught by Smith at second slip off the bowling of Starc.
England ended the day at 17 for two with
Dawid Malan remaining not out at one and
Joe Root remaining not out at 5.
Day three
Malan and Root resumed from their overnight positions and carried their bats through the first session with England getting to lunch at 140 runs for the loss of no additional wickets. Malan was unbeaten at 58 while Root was unbeaten at 40. Root was the first to be dismissed for 62 runs out caught by Smith at first slip off the bowling of Green. England were 150 for the loss of three wickets. Malan followed soon with the team adding 7 runs before Malan was out for 80 runs caught by Smith again at first slip off the bowling of Starc. England lost their next six wickets within 79 runs folding for a total of 236 runs. For the Australians Starc took four wickets conceding 37 runs, while spinner
Nathan Lyon took three wickets conceding 58 runs.
Australia chose not to enforce the
follow-on and ended the day 45 for one, with Warner
run-out in a mixup with batsman Harris, with a combination of Broad and Buttler dislodging the stumps. Harris remained unbeaten at 21 while Neser was not out having scored two runs.
Day four
England took the field without Root, who was being treated for a lower abdominal injury sustained in the warm up session. Stokes took over as captain during Root's brief absence. Despite this setback, England started the day well, dismissing Neser, Harris and then the captain Smith in quick succession to have Australia 55 for four. But then Robinson, who had taken two of the day's wickets, switched from seam bowling to off-spin, presumably to lift the over rate. Root returned soon afterwards to the field, but by that time Australia had steadied, Head having combined with Labuschagne and helping Australia end the first session 134 for four, leading by 371 runs.
Head was first to depart when play resumed, caught by Stokes at deep square leg off Robinson; his 51 had come off only 54 deliveries. Labuschagne also reached a half-century to back up his mighty first-innings effort before departing, also for 51, caught by Stokes (this time fielding at deep mid wicket) off the part-time leg spin of Malan, his first test wicket. Although wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, the remaining batters continued to add runs and when Smith declared at 230 for nine after Richardson had been dismissed, England had been set a winning target of 468 in the remaining four sessions.
England resumed their second innings chasing a target of 468 runs and were immediately down a wicket when Hameed was out for a duck caught by the wicketkeeper Carey off the bowling of
Jhye Richardson
Jhye Avon Richardson (born 20 September 1996) is an Australian cricketer. He made his debut in domestic cricket in October 2015, and made his international debut for the Australia national cricket team in February 2017.
Domestic and franchise c ...
. Malan joined Burns and the duo put on 44 runs before Malan was out for 20 runs leg before to Neser. Burns and Root followed soon after with England ending the day at 82 runs for the loss of four wickets.
Day five
Chasing a stiff target, England were at 142 runs for six wickets at dinner with Buttler at 16 and
Chris Woakes at 28. The duo added 61 runs for the seventh wicket before Woakes was out for 44 runs out, bowled Richardson. Buttler, having faced 207 deliveries, trod on his stumps trying to work a cut behind square; his was the ninth wicket and England were all out for 192. Australia won the game by 275 runs, going 2-0 up in the five-match series. Labuschagne was named player of the match for his century in the first innings and half century in the second innings, while Richardson was the pick of the bowlers, taking five wickets for 42 runs.
Third Test
Day one
England made four changes to its team, with
Jonny Bairstow,
Zak Crawley,
Jack Leach and
Mark Wood replacing
Stuart Broad,
Rory Burns,
Ollie Pope and
Chris Woakes. Australia also made some changes, with
Jhye Richardson
Jhye Avon Richardson (born 20 September 1996) is an Australian cricketer. He made his debut in domestic cricket in October 2015, and made his international debut for the Australia national cricket team in February 2017.
Domestic and franchise c ...
and
Michael Neser making way for
Pat Cummins returning as captain, and debutant
Scott Boland, a local boy who became only the fourth
Indigenous Australian cricketer to play at Test level.
After the start of play was delayed by rain,
England's batting woes at the top of the order continued, with Cummins having dismissed openers Hameed and Crawley with only 13 runs on the board. It was yet again up to Root and Malan to rescue the innings, and the pair added 48 runs before Malan lost his wicket on the last ball before lunch, caught in the slips by
Warner
Warner can refer to:
People
* Warner (writer)
* Warner (given name)
* Warner (surname)
Fictional characters
* Yakko, Wakko, and Dot Warner, stars of the animated television series ''Animaniacs''
* Aaron Warner, a character in ''Shatter Me s ...
off Cummins for 14.
England's score was 61 for three.
England found themselves in trouble early in the Test after being bowled out with 185 runs.
Warner and
Harris gave Australia its best start of the series, combining for an opening stand of 57 in 14 overs before Warner fell for a brisk 38 (off 42 balls) when a thick edge off Anderson was caught by Crawley at gully. Lyon was sent in as
nightwatchman for the remaining two overs as Australia ended the day's play at 61 for one.
Day two

The start of the second day was delayed by half an hour after it was revealed that four non-playing members of the England squad – two support staff and two family members – had tested positive to COVID-19. Australia increased their run total to 267 before being bowled out. Anderson claimed three more wickets to bring his total to 4/33 in the first innings.
England once again found themselves in trouble early in the innings.
Mitchell Starc dismissed
Zak Crawley and
Dawid Malan on consecutive deliveries in the fifth over. In the eleventh over,
Scott Boland dismissed
Haseeb Hameed and
Jack Leach in three balls. Day two ended with England 4/31 and trailing Australia by 51 runs.
Day three
In the fifth over of the day, Starc bowled
Ben Stokes
Benjamin Andrew Stokes (born 4 June 1991) is an English international cricketer who is the captain of the England Test team and plays for the England Twenty20 International (T20I) team. In domestic cricket, he represents Durham and has playe ...
out with England at 5/46.
Boland dismissed the next four batsmen (
Jonny Bairstow,
Joe Root,
Mark Wood, and
Ollie Robinson) with
ducks
Duck is the common name for numerous species of waterfowl in the family Anatidae. Ducks are generally smaller and shorter-necked than swans and geese, which are members of the same family. Divided among several subfamilies, they are a form t ...
from Wood and Robinson.
Cameron Green
Cameron Donald Green (born 3 June 1999) is an Australian cricketer who plays for Western Australia and Perth Scorchers as an all-rounder. He made his international debut for the Australia national cricket team in December 2020.
Career
Green g ...
bowled James Anderson out to end the Test with Australia winning by an innings and 14 runs. England's score of 68 runs was their lowest innings score on Australian soil since 1904; their previous lowest had also come at the MCG.
Boland earned the
Mullagh Medal
The Boxing Day Test match is a cricket Test match held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, involving the Australian cricket team and an opposing national team that is touring Australia during the southern summer. It begins annually on Boxing Day ...
after taking six wickets for seven runs during England's second innings.
Fourth Test
Fifth Test
Statistics
Leading runscorers
Abbreviations: ''H / S'' – Highest score in an innings; ''S / R'' – Strike rate: runs per 100 balls faced
Leading wicket-takers
Notes
References
External links
Series homeat
ESPNcricinfo
{{DEFAULTSORT:2021-22 Ashes series
The Ashes
International cricket competitions in 2021–22
Ashes series
Ashes series
Ashes
Ashes may refer to:
*Ash, the solid remnants of fires.
Media and entertainment Art
* ''Ashes'' (Munch), an 1894 painting by Edvard Munch
Film
* ''The Ashes'' (film), a 1965 Polish film by director Andrzej Wajda
* ''Ashes'' (1922 film), a ...