Location England Nasser Hussain Steve Waugh | England Australia | |
 | ||
Date 5 July 2001 – 27 August 2001 Result Australia won the five-Test series 4–1 Player of the series Mark Butcher and
Glenn McGrath | ||
The 2001 cricket series between England and Australia for the Ashes was played in England from 5 July to 27 August 2001. Australia won the Test series 4–1 and retained the Ashes that had been in their possession since the 1989 Ashes series.
Contents
Glenn McGrath and Mark Butcher were named Players of the Series. The series also marked the retirement of former England captain Mike Atherton, who finished his international career after the Fifth and final Test.
First Test, 5 – 8 July 2001
The First Test was a comprehensive victory for Australia.
Adam Gilchrist was awarded man of the match for his 152, hit from just 143 balls, but it was Shane Warne who took the bowling plaudits. Warne's eight wickets for exactly 100 runs saw England dismissed for less than 300 in the first innings, despite a 103 run 10th wicket partnership between Alec Stewart and last man Andy Caddick. Australia were on the back foot in their innings, with three wickets down and still considerably in arrears, but they recovered to compile a 270 run lead, on the back of Gilchrist's counter-attacking and hundreds for Steve Waugh and Damien Martyn. England subsided in their second innings from 142-2 to be all out for just 164 runs.
Third Test: 2 – 6 August 2001
Australia retained the Ashes with a seven-wicket victory over England in the third Test at Trent Bridge. England won the toss and chose to bat first. England needed to win the game to give them an outside chance of winning the Ashes. But instead England were skittled for 185 all out, despite Trescothick's 69 and Stewart's 46. Glenn Mcgrath picked up 5 for 49. But Australia fared little better on a tricky pitch. Despite a good start from Michael Slater and Matthew Hayden Australia collapsed to 8-122. However, Adam Gilchrist blasted 10 fours and made 54, along with Gillespie who was stubborn for his 27. In spite of this they still succumbed to 190 all out, with Alex Tudor taking 5 for 44. England needed to take advantage and they did with Trescothick 32 and Atherton 51 but not for the first time in the series England collapsed as Shane Warne tore England apart with fine bowling taking 6 for 33. Jason Gillespie was also useful taking three lower order wickets. England were all out for 162 and set Australia a mediocre score of 158 which they achieved with ease in 30 overs despite losing three wickets and Steve Waugh to injury. Australia's Matthew Hayden and Mark Waugh made knocks of 42 each, getting them close to the target with Damien Martyn hitting the winning runs. The Ashes were retained by Australia in 3 very comfortable matches. Shane Warne got man of the match for his 8 wickets.