Australia have drawn first blood in the much-anticipated Ashes 2025-26 series, securing an 82-run victory over England in the opening Test at the Adelaide Oval on 21 December. The win extends Australia's dominance in the historic rivalry and gives them a crucial 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Alex Carey's All-Round Masterclass Earns Top Honour
The hero of the match was undoubtedly wicket-keeper batsman Alex Carey, who was deservedly awarded the Player of the Match. Carey played a pivotal role with both bat and gloves. In the first innings, he scored a magnificent century, laying a solid foundation for Australia's total. He followed it up with a crucial 72 runs in the second innings, ensuring England were set a daunting target.
His brilliance wasn't limited to batting. Behind the stumps, Carey was exceptionally sharp, finishing the match with 6 catches and a swift stumping. Reflecting on the win, Carey expressed his joy at performing in front of the home crowd and emphasised the team's focus on staying in the moment despite the high stakes of an Ashes contest. He also reserved special praise for teammate Travis Head's monumental innings.
Travis Head Cements His Adelaide Oval Legacy
Speaking of Travis Head, the left-hander played a knock for the ages, smashing 170 runs off just 219 balls. This innings wasn't just about the runs; it was about creating history. With this century, Head achieved a remarkable feat at the Adelaide Oval, scoring his fourth consecutive Test century at the venue.
His incredible sequence at Adelaide includes:
- 175 vs West Indies in 2022
- 119 vs West Indies in early 2024
- 140 vs India in December 2024
- 170 vs England in this Ashes Test
This purple patch has seen him amass 786 runs in just 8 Tests at Adelaide at a staggering average of 87.33. By scoring four tons in a row at a single ground, Head has joined an elite Australian club featuring legends like Sir Donald Bradman, Michael Clarke, and Steve Smith. He is also the only left-handed Australian batter to accomplish this milestone. Notably, Australia has won nine of the last ten Test matches in which Head has scored a hundred.
Australia's Commanding Hold Over The Ashes Rivalry
This victory reinforces Australia's historical upper hand in cricket's oldest rivalry. In the overall Ashes series tally, Australia leads 34 to England's 32, with seven series ending in draws. Australia are the current holders of the urn.
Looking at the broader head-to-head record across all 361 Tests played between the two nations, Australia's advantage is even more pronounced with 152 wins to England's 112. Recent history heavily favours the Aussies. They have retained the Ashes since the 2017-18 series, with England's last series win coming way back in 2015.
England's last triumph on Australian soil was even longer ago, during the 2010-11 tour. The previous series in England (2023) ended 2-2, allowing Australia to retain the urn, while the 2021-22 home series was a dominant 4-0 victory for the hosts.
With this emphatic win in Adelaide, Australia have set the tone for the 2025-26 Ashes. England now face a formidable challenge to stage a comeback as the action moves to the next Test.
