English cricket team in Australia in 2013–14

Squads

±Late addition

Background

The two teams were meeting after a gap of less than six months. These back to back Ashes series were being staged after 38 years, reminiscent of the 1970s. The move was initiated keeping in mind the 2015 World Cup that Australia and New Zealand were to host. The previous edition of the Ashes was played in England in July 2013 with England emerging comfortable winners. England had won the previous three editions of the Ashes and were tipped to win this edition as well. They were looking to emulate a feat that had not been achieved since the 1890s, win four Ashes on the trot. Simply going by Australia's performances in the recent past, it was assumed that the result was a foregone conclusion. Australia's batting was clearly found wanting in the previous series and they had lost matches from seemingly comfortable situations, as was seen in Durham and Lord's. The series had was also shadowed by the controversy surrounding Stuart Broad's refusal to walk in the previous series after clearly edging Ashton Agar to Michael Clarke in the first test at Trent Bridge. He was dubbed a 'smug pommie cheat' by sections of the media and with coach Darren Lehman's unsavory comments, things were even more interesting.

First-class: Western Australia Chairman's XI v England XI

The England cricket team arrived in Australia in late-October looking to get the tour off to a good start but, the Chairman's XI were more than a match for them. Chris Lynn was loaned to WA by Queensland, overlooked for their Sheffield Shield clash being played at the same time. This move paid off as Lynn made a blistering 104, only his third first-class century as each of WA's top four batsmen made half centuries. England's fast-bowling trio of Chris Tremlett, Boyd Rankin and Steven Finn struggled for line and length on the WACA wicket and Chairman's XI declared at 5-451. England began to fight back however as Michael Carberry made 78 and both Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell made centuries, the former didn't get out and made 113 and the latter retired on 115. England were eventually bowled out for 391 and half-centuries to Mitchell Marsh and Lynn meant that the game ended in a draw.

First-class: Australia A v England XI

England turned things around against Australia A as the tourists piled on the runs. Australia A were luckless in the field as England's captain, Alastair Cook and Michael Carberry both made 150 each as England ended Day 1 on 0-318. The rain was relentless on Days 2 and 3, no play was possible and the game was headed for a certain draw after which both Cook and Carberry retired. On Day 4, Joe Root made 58 and Ben Cutting was the pick of the bowlers. England finally put Australia A out of their misery and declared at 7-430. Only 31 overs were bowled as Alex Doolan made 31 as another tour match went down as a draw.

First-class: Cricket Australia Invitational XI v England XI

England were dominant early on against the Invitational XI taking 5-93 in just over 30 overs. Ed Cowan provided the only resistance with 51, until the New South Wales duo of Ryan Carters and Peter Nevill fought back with 94 and 83, respectively. The partnership was broken on Day 2 and the visitors were left chasing 304. They passed the total easily as Cook, Trott, Kevin Pietersen and Root all made half-centuries, despite James Muirhead's 4 wickets. Aaron Finch made a half-century as his side made 261 leaving England with 148 to win and Carberry's fifty ensured that England won by 7 wickets.

Two-day: Cricket Australia Chairman's XI v England XI

After losing the first test at The Gabba, the England side headed to Traeger Park in Alice Springs for a two-day game against the Cricket Australia Chairman's XI. In what proved to be a rough first day for England, Gary Ballance was the only man to pass fifty as the tourists made a modest 7-212 before declaring. Steven Cazzulino and Marcus Harris both fell short of half-centuries as the Chairman's XI declared at 8-254. England batted for only 16 more overs for 1-47 of which, Carberry made 37 as yet another tour match was a draw.

50-over: Prime Minister's XI v England XI

Former Australian fast bowler, Brett Lee, was chosen to captain of Prime Minister's XI. This was substantiated as the 37-year-old took the wicket of England captain Alastair Cook. Gary Ballance and Jos Buttler both scored fifties as England made their way to 264. The England bowlers did the rest of the work, led by Ravi Bopara. Brad Hodge and ACT batsman Michael Spaseski provided the only resistance as the Prime Ministers' XI were bundled out for just 92.

Batting

Bowling

1st ODI

England lost early wickets but, Gary Ballance and Eoin Morgan both made half-centuries to steady the ship as England made 269. A 163 run-partnership between David Warner and Aaron Finch, during which the latter became the first Victorian to score an ODI hundred at the MCG, helped Australia cruised to a six-wicket win with 26 balls to spare.

2nd ODI

A remarkable match began well for the tourists. Ian Bell made a half-century but, Jos Buttler fell one short. The English continued to score frequently and Eoin Morgan blasted 106 as England reached 300. The Australians responded well, both Shaun Marsh and Glenn Maxwell scored fifties but, the Australians collapsed to 9-244 and a comeback seemed unlikely. However, James Faulkner, aided by tail-ender Clint McKay, calmly backed himself to find the required boundaries, which he did with regularity as he smashed the required 57 to carry Australia to a heart-stopping one-wicket victory with three balls to spare.

3rd ODI

Alastair Cook's side won the toss on a pitch favouring the side batting first and made a swift start, yet found themselves fatally slowed as much by their own lack of conviction as Australia's neat bowling and high class fielding. Eoin Morgan was the only bastman to pass fifty for the tourists, his innings cut short thanks to a great return catch by Dan Christian amidst some controversy. Australia's chase was not quite perfect, as no batsman made a hundred and wickets were lost to loose strokes, but fifties to David Warner and Shaun Marsh meant Australia cruised to a 7 wicket victory to win the series 3-0.

4th ODI

After 91 days on a gut-wrenching tour that brought defeat and despair, England beat Australia for the first and only time on the tour. Cook made 44, Buttler hit 71, 55 from Bell as well as 70 from Ben Stokes helped England reach 316. Despite 108 from Aaron Finch, the Australians lost too many wickets and no pyrotechnics from James Faulkner could steal the game away as England cruised to victory by 57 runs.

5th ODI

Australia started slowly losing 4-64 before 56 from George Bailey and cameos down the order helped Australia to a mediocre 217. Cook, Root and Morgan all contributed useful scores to take England close, but it was left to Ravi Bopara to try to take his team to a second win in a row. He seemed likely to carry them there, until falling victim to an odd stumping by Matthew Wade. Good defensive bowling meant the Australians could celebrate a narrow victory and a series win.

Batting

Bowling

1st T20I

A 106-run partnership set the tone for Australia's dominance as Aaron Finch made 52 and a returning Cameron White made 75. Debutant Chris Lynn smashed 33 as the Australians reached 213 from their 20 overs. England lost wickets frequently and a quick-fire 65 from Ravi Bopara wasn't enough to prevent Australia from winning the game by 13 runs.

2nd T20I

Good-bowling from Josh Hazlewood and defensive fielding meant England could only reach 130 thanks in part to Jos Buttler who top-scored with just 22. Cameron White again put on a show with 58 and Australia's captain George Bailey hit 60 to ensure the target was reached in less than 15 overs.

3rd T20I

Once again Cameron White scored quickly and made 41 as cameos from Aaron Finch, Ben Cutting and 49 from George Bailey ensured the Australians made a big total of 195. 34 from Eoin Morgan was the only highlight for England as they slumped to just 111 giving the Australians a 3-0 series victory.