The Ashes start tonight and we couldn't be more excited!

We take a look at the top 10 England scores in Australia since the War, how we racked up the runs, which batsmen shone and how that affected the series.

If Ashes fever is taking hold, relax and enjoy reading 10 times when England put the Aussies to the sword

NUMBER 10:
Barber cuts down the Aussies

Date: 7th January 1966
Score: 488
Match: 3rd Test
Venue: Sydney

Bob Barber hit 185 and shared an opening partnership of 234 with Geoffrey Boycott (84). John Edrich also made three figures coming in at three (103), though England collapsed from 303/1 to 488 all out. Still, England’s bowlers skittled the Aussies twice, for 221 and 174 and they won the Test by an innings and 93 runs to go 1-0 up in the series after two drawn Tests.

NUMBER 9:

Cook can’t quite rustle up the win

Date: 26 Dec 2017 
Score: 491
Match: 4^th Test
Venue: Melbourne

After a series of low scores, Alastair Cook carried his bat for 244 – the highest individual post-War score by an Englishman in Australia – as England replied to Australia’s 327 to take a first innings lead of 164. They didn’t get to press home that advantage however in a rain-affected game, though after three straight defeats, a draw was a step in the right direction.

NUMBER 8:

Trott gets the runs at the MCG

Date: 26 Dec 2010
Score: 513
Match: 4^th Test
Venue: Melbourne

Having bowled out the Aussies for 98, England piled on 513 in their first innings, built around an opening partnership of 159 between Andrew Strauss (69) and Alastair Cook (82) before Jonathan Trott came in and made 168no. Australia could only make 258 in their second innings as England claimed victory by an innings and 157 runs to go 2-1 up with one to play.

NUMBER 7:

Tasty Cook innings still can’t see England home

Date: 25 Nov 2010
Score: 517/1d
Match: 1st Test
Venue: Brisbane

After scoring only 260 in their first innings, England came out to bat the second time facing a deficit of 221. They made somewhat of a better fist of it in their second innings, with Andrew Strauss (110) and Alastair Cook putting on 188 for the first wicket before Cook and Jonathan Trott put on an unbeaten 329 for the second. Cook made 235no and Trott 135no when England declared on 517/1, the match petering out to a draw to start the series.

NUMBER 6:

Denness restores some English pride

Date: 8 Feb 1975
Score: 529
Match: 6^th Test
Venue: Melbourne

Mike Denness (188) and Keith Fletcher (146) both hit centuries as England replied to Australia’s paltry 152 all out with a mammoth 529. The pair put on 192 for the fourth wicket to set up an innings and four run victory in the to restore a little bit of pride, making the series final score 4-1 to the Aussies.

NUMBER 5:

Colly can’t stop England’s wobble

Date: 1 Dec 2006
Score: 551/6d
Match: 2^nd Test 
Venue: Adelaide

Paul Collingwood hit 206 and Kevin Pietersen 158 as England piled on the first innings runs before declaring as they set about avenging their defeat in the 1^st Test. However, Australia replied with 513, bowled England out for 129 in the second innings and knocked off the 168 needed to win with ease to take a 2-0 lead and inflict one of the most embarrassing defeats in English cricket history.

NUMBER 4:

All round effort secures a draw

Date: 30 Dec 1965     
Score: 558
Match: 2^nd Test 
Venue: Melbourne

Replying to Australia’s 358, eight England players scored at least 40 as an all-round team effort got them to 558 and a 200-run first innings lead. John Edrich (109) and Colin Cowdrey (104) both made centuries, though Australia’s second innings 426 killed all hopes of a positive result and just like the 1st Test, the match was drawn.

NUMBER 3:

Openers keep England ahead

Date: 28 Nov 1986     
Score: 592/8d
Match: 2^nd Test 
Venue: Perth

Chris Broad (162) and Bill Athey (96) put on 223 for the first wicket as England put up a huge first innings score. David Gower (136) and Jack Richards (133) also made centuries as the tourists set up the game perfectly, and while Australia batted well enough to hold on for a draw, England maintained the series lead 1-0.

NUMBER 2:

KP goes nuts

Date:  3 Dec 2010    
Score: 620/5d
Match: 2^nd Test 
Venue: Adelaide

After bowling out Australia for 245, Alastair Cook (148) and Kevin Pietersen (227) batted beautifully to set up an innings victory, putting England 1-0 up in the series. This was the first of three victories by an innings in the series for England, who triumphed 3-1 to win the Ashes in Australia for the first time in 24 years.

NUMBER 1:

Cook helps England serve record total

Date:  3 Jan 2011    
Score: 644
Match: 5th Test 
Venue: Sydney

Alastair Cook hit 189 and Ian Bell (115) and Matt Prior (118) joined the party down the order as England posted their highest score in Australia in reply to the Aussies’ 280. The hosts could manage only one more run than their first innings total second time around as England wrapped up another innings victory and the 3-1 series win.

We have a plethora of player and team markets for each Test and the outright series in a cricketing battle where making a good start could be crucial. Here are some key Ashes spread betting picks from our site, correct as of Tuesday December 7th 20201:

• Spreadex Predicted Highest Team Series Score 530-540
• Spreadex Predicted Highest England Series Score 460-480
• Spreadex Predicted Highest Individual Player Score 225-235
• Spreadex Predicted Total Steve Smith Runs 495-525
• Spreadex Predicted Total Joe Root runs 455-485