When was the last Ashes whitewash? How many times have England or Australia won 5-0? History of one-sided series
Updated 22/12/2025 at 12:56 GMT
Uh oh. England are 3-0 down in the 2025/26 NRMA Insurance men’s Ashes - meaning not only a quickfire series defeat, but that Brendon McCullum's boys are also staring down the barrel of the ultimate humiliation. Nothing pleases Australian cricket fans more than producing a whitewash of the old enemy. Find out if they can do it again live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Highlights: Australia wrap up Ashes series win as England's record chase falters
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The first three Tests of the 2025/26 NRMA Insurance men’s Ashes could hardly have gone any worse for England.
As both Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum acknowledged in the wake of the third Test loss, Australia have "outplayed" their old rivals with the bat, the ball and on the field.
The comprehensive beat-down across the board resulted in a 3-0 lead - firstly thanks to a two-day demolition in Perth, then another eight-wicket win in Brisbane, followed by a tense 82-run victory in Adelaide.
The triumph, which took a mere 11 days, means Australia will hold on to the urn until at least the summer of 2027 - ensuring a full decade of dominance.
After what will have been a sombre Christmas, the tourists now simply need to avoid a series whitewash.
The two remaining Tests will take place in Melbourne and Sydney either side of the turn of the year, exclusively live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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'I would have walked straight to my hotel' - Langer criticises Smith shot selection
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Is there precedence for a whitewash? You bet there is. Allow us to take a trip down memory lane...
When was the last Ashes whitewash?
The most recent 5-0 humbling came in the 2013/14 tour Down Under, as Australia took out their frustration of seven years without the urn.
Mitchell Johnson had been dropped for a demoralising defeat in England in the summer of 2013 - both Ashes tours strangely taking place in the same year to better accommodate the ICC Cricket World Cup.
That seemingly spurred Johnson on beyond belief, as he produced a magnificent set of performances to be named Player of the Series.
England were in disarray during the tour, on and off the field, with Kevin Pietersen memorably sacked from England duty afterwards.
Claims of fallouts in the squad were rife, in particular over Pietersen's widely reported lack of support for skipper Sir Alastair Cook.
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England 'got in own way' for first nine days of Ashes - McCullum
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Johnson took nine wickets as England were eaten up by the 'Gabbatoir' in the opener, before dispatching another eight while Australia declared in both innings in Adelaide.
A century from Stokes was outweighed by tons from Steve Smith and David Warner in Perth, before more drama in the England ranks as Graeme Swann announced his sudden retirement.
The Boxing Day Test saw England lead for the first time after the first innings, but were skittled for just 179 in the second as Johnson won Man of the Match once more.
Cook won the toss for the first time in Sydney to round off the series, but it brought around no change in fortunes.
The tourists crumbled to 23/5 in their first innings, and after being set a target of 448 in the second, lasted 32 overs as they fell 281 runs short.
Since this 5-0 series triumph, Australia have also won 4-0 on two occasions (2017/18 and 2021/22) due to rain-affected draws.
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Australia produced 'good old-fashioned grind' to retain urn - Cummins
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When did England last win a Test in Australia?
Those two draws, with a helping hand from the weather, mark England's best results since the tour of 2010/11.
England retained the urn thanks to a 3-1 series win, with their most recent victory down under coming at Sydney Cricket Ground in the fifth Test.
That one also saw two days of reduced play thanks to the rain, yet England still produced a demolition job.
The future captain, Player of the Series and top scorer Cook led the charge with a knock of 189 as part of a 644 total, hit in response to Australia's 280.
He, and England, did not need to bat again, as the hosts were bowled out for just one more run, 281, in their final innings of a disastrous series.
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The winning moment as Australia clinch Ashes glory in just 11 days
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How many times have Australia whitewashed England?
Australia have three times produced a 5-0 series victory over their arch-enemies.
In addition to the aforementioned 2013/14 series, they did the same seven years earlier in response to the instant-classic tour of England in 2005.
After England regained the urn in dramatic fashion for the first time since 1989, the return in Australia was arguably the most hotly-anticipated series of all-time. Just two hours were needed for tickets to sell out.
Captain Michael Vaughan and key bowler Simon Jones both missed the tour through injury, but the squad still boasted legends such as Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff, Andrew Strauss and a young Cook.
The other side was even more stacked, though: Ricky Ponting, Justin Langer, Michael Clarke, Johnson, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath and of course Shane Warne. And crucially, they all had revenge on the mind.
That marked the first whitewash in almost a century, in the first series with Test status after World War I. Again on home soil, Australia eased to a 5-0 win in 1920/21.
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'Execution hasn't been anywhere near good enough' - Stokes
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Have England ever whitewashed Australia?
England have enjoyed a whitewash win over Australia, but with a couple of fairly large asterisks.
Firstly, of their four to-nil series wins, none were over five Tests. Secondly, each of them came in the 19th century.
The most recent was in the English summer of 1890, winning a two-match series as part of their early dominance of the Ashes, retaining the urn at the first seven times of asking.
In 1887/88, there was just one match in Australia, and the tour down under a year earlier had two outings. In 1886, on home soil, England won three of three at Old Trafford, Lord's and The Oval, respectively.
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Watch every ball of the Ashes live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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