1946/47
Australia are in a much better shape for this series than England where little serious cricket has taken place on which to select the touring party. and many cricketers are still in uniform or of doubtful fitness. Many, of course, on each side had lost much of their cricket career. Even among survivors of the war, some are now too old to start or will take too long to regain fitness. Hedley Verity would surely have been on the tour but had died in action in 1943. There was though a great determination that cricket should resume at all levels as quickly as possible and some new players are on tour. Hammond retains the captaincy but his involvement is perhaps best forgotten. Doubts had been expressed about Bradman, at 38, but these are soon dispelled and with the emergence of new bowlers Australia are clearly the stronger side. A novelty for Australia was that the tests were limited to 6 days, so draws would be possible.

The last test of 1938 was Australia's heaviest ever defeat in these matches. The first of 1946-7 is their biggest ever victory. Bradman survives a nervous start and a very good looking appeal for a catch at slip leads the way, with help from Hassett McCool and Miller. To give Australia a good looking score. England had no answer to Miller in the first and Toshack in the second on a pitch made unplayable by 2 inches of rain. Edrich makes 16 in 105 minutes, an innings which reminded those who had seen it of Hammond's 32 at Brisbane 10 years earlier. The effects of a still more extreme storm, with gale force winds and hail during which the covers and stumps float away, are somehow cleared away and the English have nowhere to hide.

The second test:- England's batsmen attempt to play the flighted spin of Johnson and McCool from the crease with disasterous effect. Edrich has a good game, his 71 in the 1st innings precedes 119 in the second. In between however Bradman and Barnes (234 each) take Australia to another huge score. At 247/3 England look likely to hold on for a draw but Hammond fails again and an innings defeat could not be avoided. In Australia' 659/8 dec Evans does not concede a bye.

England start the third test well, despite injuries to Voce and Edrich, and reduce Australia to 192/6, before McCool's century rallies the tail. A patchy England innings keeps them in touch. Morris is the hero of the first half of Australia's second innings and then Lindwall's century shows that he is not just a promising fast bowler. Bradman has yet to work out the subtleties of time limited cricket under Australian conditions and 551 is much too large a target for England. A century opening stand between Washbrook (112) and Hutton makes the draw look the likeliest outcome but wickets fall steadily until Bedser and Yardley, with the help of a short rain delay, see out time. Hammond passes Grace's 39 catches in Ashes tests in this Test.

The 4th Test - another test where the bat rules the ball. Hutton and Washbrook again start England off with a century stand, as they do again in the second innings. Against some very fast and usually short pitched bowling from Miller and Lindwall. Compton scores an imposing hundred and a good score was achieved (it would have been more but Lindwall took the last 3 England wickets in 4 balls). Hassett and Morris grind out the foundations of a strong reply which is completed by a cavalier unbeaten century from Miller, picked largely for his bowling. England's 2nd innings was less impressive although Compton scores another good, unusually defensive, century. Evans plays a remarkable innings defending for 95 minutes before scoring the first of his 10 runs. After the declaration Australia do not chase the target instead Morris makes his second hundred of the match, and third in a row, as he and Bradman play out a tame draw. This was Hammond's final test and he looks quite out of his depth.

A closely fought match on a difficult pitch marks Yardley's first test in charge. Edrich and Hutton add 150 for the second wicket but the second day is rained off. Hutton is stricken with tonsilitis on the rest day and cannot continue. The remaining England batsmen are blown away by Lindwall. Although the pitch is not easy, Australia start with a century stand between Barnes and Morris. Bedser takes both their wickets then Wright bowling slower than his usual pace presents his side with an unlikely first innings lead. Lindwall has Fishlock out lbw with the first ball of England's second innings and only Compton seems to be able to play McCool's leg breaks and googlies. England's bowlers fight well but Bradman and Hassett make enough to allow Miller to bludgeon Australia to victory with a day and 5 wickets to spare.
Australia 3 England 0.

1948
One of the strongest ever teams to leave Australia goes undefeated throughout the tour. Bradman is feted everywhere on his final tour. Lindwall and Miller are a fearsome as an opening attack with the not inconsiderable skill of Johnston to follow. England have the nucleus of a good side. Yardley is a shrewd captain; Compton and Edrich have displayed their great batting talents the previous season. Bedser is the best fast medium bowler in the world, and in the right conditions almost unplayable, Hutton is the best opening batsman since Hobbs and Washbrook an ideal partner. Laker is yet to be become the force he will be in later years but shows great promise. Some other selections are to say the least questionable.

It appeared unlikely that England can make anything of the first test when Johnston reduces them to 74/8 but Bedser and Laker more than double the total. Australia have few problems amassing a huge lead led by Bradman and Hassett. England's second knock is much better but frequent breaks for rain and bad light do not help them. Lindwall and Miller bowl too short and Compton masters the tricky conditions until he is out hit wicket avoiding a Miller. bouncer. The lead when England are finally all out though is small and Australia easily negotiate an 8 wicket win.

England start better at Lord's but Australia's depth of batting proves decisive. An injury to Miller prevents him bowling, but Lindwall's pace Johnston's swing and Johnson's offspin all cause problems. Australia with Barnes sharing century stands with Morris and Bradman declared with a lead of almost 600. Toshack ensured England fell over 400 short.

Old Trafford for the 3rd test. Compton top-edges a ball from Lindwall into his forehead and retires hurt. He returns with the score 119/5 with the outer man stitched and the inner man "fortified". From that point on he shines. A stand of 121 with Bedser and runs with all his other partners gives a personal 145* and 363 for his team. Pollard pull drives a ball at Barnes fielding at silly mid-on results in Barnes being unable to open the innings for Australia. Bedser and Pollard exploit the lack of a regular opener and Australia do not recover. Hutton has been dropped and replaced by Emmett who looks out of his depth and fails in each innings so Washbrook and Edrich are left to build the lead. With an advantage of over 300 England dared to hope for a win, but Australia reach 94/1 when rain ended the match.

On to Headingley and one of the most remarkable games in the whole Ashes history. Hutton and Washbrook give England a great start with a century opening stand. Washbrook is joined by Edrich for another. When Washbrook is out Bedser comes in as nightwatchman and is unbeaten until 3:30 in the afternoon of the next day. 423/2 should lead to an enormous score but it was not to be and England are dismissed just shy of 500, still a mountain for the Australians to climb. The first 2 Australian wickets go cheaply, including Bradman failing at Headingley! Harvey then joins Miller and they set about a recovery that keeps England's lead to less than 40. First Washbrook and Hutton then Compton and Edrich contribute rapid century stands to give England a lead of exactly 400 with a day to play. So Australia are set 404 in just 15 minutes under a full day's play. Such a score had never been made to win a test match and the pitch is taking spin. England are not without problems, with Evans missing stumping Morris, Crapp dropping Bradman, the lack of a second specialist spinner and Laker's troubles with his length. When Morris is out after a remarkable partnership of 301 the result that had seemed impossible a few hours before is now inevitable. Bradman's 173* gives him 963 runs in 4 matches at Headingley at an average of 192. He scored a century in every test he played on the ground. This is his 29th test century and he needs just 4 more runs for 7000 in tests at an average of over 100.

The weather intervenes in the final Test. A sodden pitch proves unplayable and England are humiliatingly dismissed for 52 (Lindwall 6 wickets). The pitch is easier and the bowling less deadly when Australia bat. They have a lead of 65 when Bradman comes in to a standing ovation for his final test innings. An aggressive field sees Bradman push his first ball, bowled by Hollies, to silly mid off. His second he misses. No one before or since has received a standing ovation of such intensity after a 2 ball innings for 0. Morris leads Australia to a commanding lead, and on a poor wicket, ultimately a winning one. Only Hutton (last out in the first innings), looks like scoring runs although Compton stays for a while. With over a day to spare the "best of all touring teams" had wins by an innings to take the series 4-0.
Australia 4 England 0.

1950/51
But for Compton's terrible form and a couple of questionable pieces of captaincy this should have been a close series. The England team were not the underprepared team of 4 years earlier and the Australians not quite so strong. The first two games were close but went Australia's way. In the third Injuries wrecked England's bowling attack. Overall though England's bowling was too dependant on Bedser in magnificent form and Hutton who hardly failed even in the very worst conditions. Iverson, a large 35 year old with just 1 year's first class experience who held the ball between middle finger and thumb and could spin it either way with no visible change, took 21 wickets at under 16 each. The first test, at Brisbane, started with Australia dismissed on a good pitch for what seemed an inadequate score with Bedser taking 4/45. After rain washed out the second day the pitch was completely different. Johnson taking 5/35 before England declared at 68/7 Hutton having been held back for the pitch to improve was 8 not out. Australia were in still worse trouble Bailey (4/22) and Bedser were unplayable and Australia declared at 32/7 to try to beat the tourists before conditions changed. At the close England were 30/6 with Hutton still to bat. Hutton was soon in on the 4th morning and though the pitch had improved and it was clear he only needed one partner to take England to the win their were just to few wickets left and Australia duly won by 70 runs. At Melbourne Bedser and Bailey again proved difficult for the home sides batsman who were dismissed on the first day. England though seemed to have failed miserably in reponse at 61/6. The all rounders pulled it round and the Australian's score was just bettered. Brown this time lead the bowling as Australia's second attempt was slightly less successful than their first. England's reply needing only 179 again relied almost solely on Hutton and with Johnston taking 4/26 that wasn't enough, Australia winning by 28 runs. At Sydney England's innings was perhaps more important for the injuries to 2 bowlers than for the total, which looked below par on a good pitch. Miller bowled superbly to take 4/37. With only 3 main line bowlers it was almost bound to be a struggle to contain the Australian line up, and a struggle it was with the home team making the highest total of the series, Miller making an uncharacteristically careful 145*. Iverson now bemused England with figures of 6-27 and Australia had won the series with an easy win after 2 close contests. On to Adelaide. Statham had flown out to prop up the injury ravaged MCC bowling. It made little difference Morris batting for nearly 8 hours to score 206 as Australia made a good total. The reply was almost a solo effort as Hutton carried his bat for 156 out of 272 the next highest score being 29. Australia then piled on the runs to set an impossible target Burke making 101* and Miller being out for 99, bowled by Wright more or less at the same time as (familiar phrase) led them from 171-1 to 246-9 Reg Simpson, still there 8 short of a fine century. Tattersall the number 11 was made of sterner stuff and made 10 of a stand of 74 which took to Simpson to 156*, and gave England a reasonable lead. Australia were 4 down before they got the lead and after some resistance from the middle order Bedser , (5/59) wrapped up the innings to complete 10 wickets in the match. With few problems Hutton then steered England to an 8 wicket win, their first since the Oval over 12 years earlier.

Australia 4 England 1.

1953
1953 in England was above all a year for celebrations, with the coronation of both nation's Queen. Indeed either team could have been celebrating the victory in a close fought contest. Lindwall and Miller were a great opening attack though England had Bedser , not as frightening but at the peak of his powers. In batting if Compton could regain form to back up Hutton the Home side had perhaps the advantage though Hassett and Harvey were not far behind. As the series unfolded Lindwall was magnificent but Bedser was at times unplayable. Hutton was in fine form but no other player on either side could average over 40. The weather played no small part in the series indeed every game was in some way rain affected save for one of the most famous draws in Ashes history. The first test at Trent Bridge would probably be known as Bedser 's match had England won. In poor light and damp conditions Hassett fought his way to a fine century. Bedser and Bailey wrapped up the last six wickets for 5 runs. Lindwall, Hill and Davison dismissed England very cheaply before Bedser returned the compliment with interest. Rain then spoiled what could have been a thrilling finish and England batted out time with little trouble. On to Lord's. Another Hassett century, another Bedser 5 wicket haul, another Hutton hundred and another Lindwall "5fer" left the match more or less level after the first two innings. Miller (109) and Morris gave the Australian 2nd innings a good start after Hassett went very early. Others then chipped in and the third good total of the match was posted. Lindwall and Johnston had England at 12/3 and then 73/4 before Bailey joined Watson with over 5 hours to go. They were parted over 4 hours later after Watson had completed a century in his first Ashes test. Bailey soon followed but the match had been saved, Brown, (the chairman of selectors, called into the team on Hutton 's insistence) among those batting well enough to see out time. Manchester rain spoiled a third test notable for yet another 5 wickets in an innings for Bedser , a century for Harvey and an extrordinary Australian collapse in the 2nd innings, the match ending with Australia 35/8 a lead of just 77. Bailey prevented Australia taking a win at Headingley. Lindwall (5/54) ripped the life out of England's first innings, Bedser (6/95) could not prevent the visitors getting a 99 run lead. A much better knock by England was long extended by another dour Bailey performance (38 in 262 minutes) His bowling was even more frustrating for the Australian's needing 177 in 115 minutes when they looked like succeeding he bowled down the leg side to a defensive field that he changed almost every ball. On then to the Oval with the series still at 0-0. Whilst Lord's has always been a good ground for Australia the other London test has favoured England. So it proved in 1953 and in a manner which foreshadowed future ashes battles. England's most effective bowler in a reasonable Australian first innings was Trueman in his first Ashes test. England just past them. Australia started well enough 2nd time around but Lock (5/45) and Laker (4/75) changed 59/1 to first 85/6 then 162 all out. Hutton was run out early but May and then Compton joined Edrich to win the game.

England 1 Australia 0.

1954/55
England left for Australia after a first ever loss to Pakistan at the Oval. This loss, though hardly an ideal omen, was occassioned in part by the selector's and captain experimenting with the side for the Ashes tour. Hutton was convinced the way to win in Australia was pace pace and more pace. The tour party included Tyson, Bailey, Loader, Bedser and Statham, no place could be found for Trueman. The tour started badly with only Hutton amongst the batsmen finding any form. Godfrey Evans was struggling for fitness and Appleyard and Wardle the spinners seemingly unable to adjust to Australian pitches. Hutton got almost everthing wrong in the first test but from then on the tide turned with a vengance. Brisbane. Hutton became the first visiting captain in Australia to disobey Grace's dictum and to ask his opponents to bat. Grace was not proved wrong. The pitch was dead, he had selected no spinner and Australia amassed the small matter of 601/8 (Harvey 162, Morris 153) all the England bowlers conceding centuries save Edrich who had 28 taken off just 3 overs. England could not match them, 4 wickets went down for 25 before Cowdrey and Bailey restored a small amount of pride. It was a small amount though and they were asked to follow on over 400 behind. Compton batted at number 11 after breaking a finger on the fence while fielding. A century stand between Edrich and May offered some encouragement but with Compton still only going to bat at the end it was not nearly enough and Australia won by an innings and 154 runs. Sydney and at 111/9 England looked due for another pasting. Australia did better but not by enough to have justified putting England in, and in England's second innings Cowdrey and May (104) led a recovery from 55/3. Lindwall knocked Tyson out with a bouncer (perhaps the most ill advised ball in test cricket until de Villiers took the title by hitting Malcolm at the Oval in 1994). At the end of the 4th day Australia were 72/2. An the 5th day - Tyson. Now comfortable with the shorter run he had tried in the first innings and in the state match before the test and inspired by the indignity of being hit by a fellow fast bowler, the typhoon blew away all resistance. He took 6/89, 10/144 in the match. The revival had started. At lunch on the first day at Melbourne Miller had figures of 9 overs 8 maidens 5 runs 3 wickets. Cowdrey (109) lead a recovery with his first test century helped by first Bailey then Evans. Archer's medium pace (4/33) then wrapped up the tail. Australia were fairing no better on a cracked and untrustworthy pitch. They went into the rest day 40 behind. When the teams returned on the Monday morning the pitch was smooth and reliable, having been illegally watered. The tail were able to add 80 runs to give the home side the lead. Statham still finished with 5/60. Now it was England's turn to benefit from the changed pitch. May playing a powerful innings and Bailey, in typical vein, holding things up while the pitch again dried. As a Sydney, the Australian innings was starting well on the fourth evening. The final day though started with the pitch back to its unpredictable worst. Tyson (7/27) was unplayable and Statham at the other end offered little respite. Adelaide for the fourth test where Australia, batting first posted their first 300+ total since the first test. England bettered them but there the batsmens dominance ended. First Appleyard then Tyson and Statham ripped the home side out for 111. 94 to retain the Ashes seemed simple enough but Miller had England 18/3 and then took a fine catch to make it 49/4 one more wicket fell but England did finally make it. Rain should have completely spoiled the final test. No play was possible until after lunch on the 4th day. Hutton then ended his Ashes career on the fourth ball he faced. Graveney (111) though became the 100th century maker in Ashes tests. Compton , May and Bailey (who, believing this to be Lindwall's final Ashes match,deliberately gave the great bowler a 100th Ashes wicket) all contributed to England's 371/7 dec. The 5th day ended with Australia 82/2 and a draw seeming certain. Wardle then seemed to mesmerise the batsmen and Australia were asked to follow on. More wickets followed but their was not enough time left to force a win and when Hutton bowled Benaud with the last ball of the match only 6 wickets were down.

England 3 Australia 1.

1956
If England selection panels should last 1000 years men may still say, "this was their finest hour". Washbrook (41 years old), Shepherd (after giving up full time cricket for the cloth and having played just 4 innings in the season) and Compton (after having a kneecap removed) all recieved surprise recalls and all had decisive influences on the contest. More than this though 1956 will be remembered as a wet summer with play often interrupted and pitch preparation more so. Above all else this was Laker's year. The Australian's lost their first County match since before the first world war when Surridge's all conquering Surrey team beat them very easily with two bowlers who had not been selected for the last Ashes tour. Laker took all ten wickets in the first innings and Lock seven in the second. Only McDonald looking to know how to play the turning ball on a dry wicket. At Trent Bridge Rain spoiled the contest between two injury hit sides, Australia had Lindwall and Davidson injured, England, Compton , Statham, Trueman and Tyson. England had the best of the first three innings (Laker taking 4 wickets in Australia's first) and Australia's assault upon a testing target of 258 in 4 hours was curtailed when they lost 3 wickets scoring 41, Burke and Burge played out the last 2 hours with little trouble. Never again said pundits in more than one newspaper column would a bowler take all ten wickets against an Australian XI. Lord's as usual proved a difficult venue for the home team. McDonald and Burke started with a big stand so a total of 285 must have disappointed Australian supporters. It was though more than 100 better than England's. Only May with two fifties was a Match for Miller (5/72 and 5/80) Trueman also had 5 (for 90) in Australia's second innings. Langley had a record haul of 9 (8 ct 1 st) and with Evan's getting 7, 16 wickets fell to the keepers in an easy Aussie win. Headingley saw the first inspired England recall with Washbrook helping his captain May (101) pull England's first innings together after a disasterous start. Trueman took McDonald's wicket in each innings but Laker (5/58 and 6/55) Lock had the other 18 as Australia collapsed twice and lost by an innings after following on. Old Trafford, a Lancashire stage for a Yorkshireman who played for a southern county. David Shepherd was the selectorial surprise this time and he obliged with a century (113) as did Richardson (104) the pitch appeared full of runs and England amassed 459 in only 491 minutes, although Benaud got some turn. Indeed Australia started well, the spin twins were on early but the opening stand was approaching fifty before Laker and Lock changed ends. From the Stretford end Laker had McDonald caught by his partner and bowled Harvey for a duck. After tea Lock spoiled the set by having Burke caught by Cowdrey. On a wicket almost unchanged since England had made over 400 the rest of the visiting batsmen surrendered to Laker. Lock became more and more frustrated as his county colleague put the Australians to the sword. In his frustration he bowled faster and faster and so less dangerously. In doing so he made an historic event possible. Laker had taken 9 for 37. Following on that eveving McDonald retired hurt and Harvey was caught off a Laker full toss. Rain on Saturday meant only 45 minutes play, time enough for Burke to fall in Laker's leg trap. At 84/2 overnight with McDonald now restored saving the game seemed very possible, particularly with more rain forecast. Not much play was possible on Monday so England needed 8 wickets in 3 sessions. Lunch on Tuesday was reached without further mishap but then out came the sun. Craig went for 38 and was followed by Miller, Mackay and Archer; all for ducks. Benaud and McDonald steadied things again and at tea Australia were 181/6. The interval disturbed McDonald's concentration though and a great innings was ended on the resumption. 3 hours left for 3 wickets, with rain all around the ground the tail attempted resistance but in vain. Laker took them all and finished the most remarkable piece of spin bowling in top class cricket history with 10/53, 19/90 in the match. Lock on a pitch made for his bowling and in a summer in which he himself had a clean sweep had match figures of 1/106. On to the Oval and another gamble for the selectors. Compton again proved worth their faith. Archer snuffed out what was looking to be a good England score and after Tyson had inspired Laker and Lock to reduce Australia to 47/5 Miller lead a recovery and the scores were close. England batted well around the rain a second time and May set a target of 248 to level the series in 2 hours. The target was not remotely achievable as Laker took more wickets to take his total for the series to 46. Australia finishing on 27/5.

England 2 Australia 1.

1958/59
Australia 4 England 0.

1961
Australia 2 England 1.

1962/63
Australia 1 England 1.

1964
Australia 1 England 0.

1965/66
Australia 1 England 1.

1968
Australia 1 England 1.