England bidding for fifth straight home Ashes win over Australia

2005 – England won 2-1

Remembered as one of the best Test series ever, England finally ended 20 years of Australia dominance with a thrilling 2-1 win. It looked like normal service would be resumed as the Baggy Greens, still full of the players that made them arguably the greatest team of all time, won handsomely at Lord's. The series turned on a memorable game at Edgbaston where Michael Vaughan's side stole a two-run victory from the jaws of defeat, having previously looked like stealing defeat from the jaws of victory in one of the most dramatic Tests ever played. England were one wicket away from another win in a drawn third Test at Old Trafford before they went ahead in an Ashes series for the first time since 1997 with another climactic win at Trent Bridge. A batting masterclass from Kevin Pietersen ensured England held on for a draw in the final Test at the Oval as they finally got their hands on the urn for the first time since 1987.

2009 – England won 2-1

With Australia playing without the likes of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer they appeared a much more beatable prospect, but it needed some last-wicket defiance by James Anderson and Monty Panesar to hold on for a draw in the first Test at Cardiff. That proved vital as England finally won an Ashes Test at Lord's for the first time in 75 years after some heroics from Andrew Flintoff, who announced his career would be ending after the series. Rain ruined the third Test at Edgbaston and Australia hit back at Headingley, winning by an innings after bowling their hosts out for 102 before lunch on the first day. That left Andrew Strauss' side needing to win the final Test at the Oval to regain the urn, something they managed with the help of debutant Jonathan Trott's century and a memorable run out from the departing Flintoff.

2013 – England won 3-0

England were a side at the top of their game having recently been to the summit of the world rankings and they dominated an Australia side who were rebuilding. Ian Bell's century and James Anderson's 10 wickets in the opening Test decided a tense match that had echoes of Edgbaston 2005 before Alastair Cook's men racked up a massive 347-run win at Lord's. Rain washed out the final day of the third Test at Old Trafford which meant that the Ashes were retained. Stuart Broad's match figures of 11 for 121 ensured they were won outright in the first ever Ashes Test at Durham and England were only denied a 4-0 win by bad light at the Oval.

2015 – England won 3-2

With England on the hunt for revenge from their 5-0 humbling Down Under 18 months previously, the series kicked off in Cardiff and England, courtesy of Joe Root's hundred, posted a sizeable 169-run win. But Australia rediscovered their love of Lord's and after Steve Smith scored a double century, the hosts were bowled out for 103 as Michael Clarke's men won by a mammoth 405 runs. The next game was at England's stronghold at Edgbaston and they enjoyed it as the dismissal of Australia for 136 in the first innings set up an eight-wicket win. In the fourth Test, Stuart Broad wrote himself into the history books as his eight for 15 at Trent Bridge helped bowl Australia out for just 60 on the first morning as the Ashes were regained with an innings victory. More Smith runs helped the tourists regain some pride at the Oval, but the urn was staying in England.