The 2019 Ashes ended on Sunday with England winning the fifth and final Test against Australia at The Oval by 135 runs. The result meant that the series ended as a 2-2 draw and the hosts retained the coveted urn.
On Sunday, Australia were set an unlikely target of 399 to win and despite a century from Matthew Wade, they were bowled out for 263, with Stuart Broad and Jack Leach taking four wickets each.
The drawn series was, perhaps, a fair result as both teams had their moments right through the five matches. The standout performer was, of course, Steve Smith who had a sensational return to Test match cricket.
The right-hander scored 774 runs in the series and was a big reason why his team remained competitive throughout. He was fittingly awarded the player of the series trophy.
There were plenty of firsts in this Ashes series, with both teams putting in some spectacular performances.
Here’s a look at some of the statistics at the end of the series:
- Sunil Gavaskar in WI in 1971 - 4 Tests, 8 inns, 774 runs, ave 154.80, 4 100s, 3 50s.
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) September 15, 2019
- Steve Smith in Eng in 2019 - 4 Tests, 7 inns, 774 runs, ave 110.57, 3 100s, 3 50s.#Ashes19 #Ashes2019 #EngvAus #AusvEng
Tim Paine reviews in #Ashes2019
— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) September 15, 2019
As batsman: Reviews 2; Struck Down 2
As captain: Reviews 14; Struck Down 12; Umpire's call 1; Overturned 1
This is only the second Ashes series in which five different bowlers have taken 20+ wickets (Archer, Broad; Cummins, Hazlewood, Lyon).
— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) September 15, 2019
Previously: the six-Test 1978-79 series (Hogg, Hurst for Aus; Botham, Willis, Miller for Eng).
Finishing 2-2, the 2019 Ashes is the 6th drawn Anglo-Australian Test series, and the first since 1972.
— Fox Sports Lab (@FoxSportsLab) September 15, 2019
While retaining the Ashes by virtue of winning the 2017/18 series at home, Australia has not won a series in England since 2001. #Ashes
Ashes series drawn level (previous winner)
— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) September 15, 2019
1-1 in 1938 (Aus)
1-1 in 1962/63 (Aus)
1-1 in 1965/66 (Aus)
1-1 in 1968 (Aus)
2-2 in 1972 (Eng)
2-2 in 2019 (Aus) *#Ashes2019
Cummins goes!
— Victor Tarapore (@VictorTarapore) September 15, 2019
- Before #Ashes19, Test batting avg: 20.30. It's now 18.15.
- 3rd time Broad's dismissed Cummins
- 23rd wicket for Broad in #Ashes19: He's only taken more in the 2011 Pataudi Trophy (25).
- 40th time Bairstow's caught one off Broad#MakeStatsGreatAgain #ENGvAUS
1972 - This is the first men's #Ashes series to be drawn since 1972. Level. pic.twitter.com/kVnL2q9Kv3
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) September 15, 2019
Stuart Broad has taken 4+ wickets in an innings 4 times in 6 Tests this summer. He'd done so just 3 times in his previous 33 Tests, since June 2016, including once in his last 19 home Tests.
— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) September 15, 2019
He's averaged 5 wickets per Test this summer; 3.2 per Test at home from 2016-18.