England vs Australia Test records: Know the highest total, best bowling figures, and more

England against Australia is one of cricket’s most intense rivalries. The first-ever Test in the history of the sport featured these two teams and Australia won that encounter at Melbourne in 1877.

A Test series between these two teams is popularly known as the Ashes. The term originated following a satirical obituary that was published in a British newspaper after Australia’s 1882 victory at the Oval, which was their first on English soil.

The obituary said that English cricket had died and "the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia". Ever since the 1882 series, the Ashes has taken on a mythical status in Test cricket with the world’s eyes on this encounter whenever Australia plays England in Tests.

The Ashes take place every two years and comprise five Tests. Both teams take turns in hosting the series alternately every couple of years.

These two sides have played each other most frequently in the history of Tests. In total, there have been 72 Ashes series and England has won 32 of them, while Australia has emerged triumphant on 34 occasions. Six series have ended in draws.

Australia will head into the upcoming 2023 Ashes series as holder of the urn, which is widely regarded as the trophy that the winners of the series receive. England last won an Ashes series in 2015.

Over the course of the numerous on-field battles between these two great cricket nations, several records have been created and here we take a closer look at some of those stats and records between England and Australia in Tests.

England vs Australia head-to-head in Tests

England vs Australia Test records and stats

Highest team total

The highest team total in England versus Australia Tests was made by the former in the fifth match of the 1938 series. Batting first, England posted a mammoth 903/7 declared thanks to a 364 by Leonard Hutton and centuries by Maurice Leyland and Joe Hardstaff. England then bowled out Australia for 201 and 123 to register an innings and 579-run win. 

Lowest team total

The lowest team total in this Test fixture is also held by Australia. In the first Test of the 1902 series, England made 376/9 declared while batting first. They then bowled out Australia for 36, which is the lowest team total in Tests between these sides. The Aussies were then asked to follow-on and they made 46/2 in their second innings to hold on for a draw.

Most runs

Sir Donald Bradman has scored the most runs in England versus Australia Tests. The Australian legend made an astonishing 5,028 runs against England in 37 matches. He scored his runs against the English at an average of 89.78 and his highest Test score of 334 also came against them. He notched a stunning 19 hundreds and 12 fifties against England. 

Most wickets

The legendary Shane Warne holds the record for most wickets for Australia against England in Tests. He took 195 wickets in 36 matches at an average of 23.25 and an economy of 2.52 against England. He had best bowling figures of 8/71 against the English. Warne’s 40 wickets in the 2005 Ashes series is the fifth most by a bowler in an Ashes series.

Highest individual score

In the same match that witnessed the highest team total in this fixture being recorded, Leonard Hutton made 364 - the highest individual score in England versus Australia Tests. His knock helped England make 903/7 declared and the English proceeded to bowl out the Aussies for 201 and 123 to register an innings and 579-run win. 

Best bowling figures

Jim Laker holds the record for best bowling figures in an inning in England versus Australia Tests. Part of a select group of players to take 10 wickets in an inning, Laker took all 10 wickets in the second innings of the fourth Test of the 1956 series between these teams. Playing in Manchester, England had initially made 459 in their first innings and then bowled out Australia for 84 in the visitor’s first innings as Laker accounted for nine scalps. He then went one better in the second innings by claiming 10/53 in Australia’s second innings to help England win the match by an innings and 170 runs. His overall figures in the game of 19/90 is also the best bowling figures in a match in England versus Australia Tests.

Highest partnership

Australia’s Sir Donald Bradman and Bill Ponsford hold the record for the highest partnership in England versus Australia Tests. In the fifth Test of the 1934 series between these teams, Australia chose to bat first and posted a mammoth 701. Sir Donald Bradman joined Bill Ponsford in the middle with the score on 21/1 and the duo went on to add 451 runs together for the second wicket. The partnership broke after Sir Donald Bradman was dismissed for 244, while Bill Ponsford went on the make 266 before getting out. Their partnership laid the foundation for a 562-run victory for Australia.

Photo Credit: Alamy