Top 5 batting performances in history of Ashes
Let's take a look at the top five batting performances of the Ashes history with the 2025/26 season beginning on November 21 at the Optus Stadium in Perth. Both captains, Ben Stokes and Steve Smith, are part of the best batting performances.
The 2025/26 edition of the Ashes begins on November 21 at the Optus Stadium in Perth, as the stadium, making its debut in 2018, will host its first-ever Ashes Test, having missed out on the chance in the last edition. There is an enticing excitement around the series, especially due to the project of Bazball, designed for the trip among the visitors, led by captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum.
Ahead of another chapter in the history book of the two teams, let’s take a look at the best batting performances in Ashes history, which is consisted of Don Bradman, Steve Smith, and others. It might not be the highest individual score of the rivalry, but it has been one of the best knocks regarding the situation and atmosphere of the game.
Let’s take a look at the top five batting performances in history of Ashes-
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Don Bradman (Australia)
The former Australia captain, Don Bradman, was the most successful batter of the Ashes rivalry as the right-handed batter collected 5028 runs in 63 innings at an average of nearly 90 and a strike rate of 58.07 with the help of 19 centuries and 12 half-centuries at the best score of 334.
His highest score of 334 is the second-best individual score in Ashes history. That knock came in 1930 at Leeds in Headingley. The tourists batted first to post 566 runs in the first innings as Bill Woodfull’s 50 was the second-best knock of the scorecard after Bradman’s 334.
England were bundled out for 391 in the second innings and were forced to follow on, to which they gathered 95/3 as the game ended in a draw.
2. Steve Smith (Australia)
Smith sits as the third leading run-getter in the history of the Ashes with 3417 runs in 66 innings at an average of 56, scoring 12 centuries and 13 fifties at the best score of 239. He is just around 200 runs away from overtaking Jack Hobbs to claim the second spot on the list.
The Australian captain marked his return to the game after a one-year suspension in 2019 at Edgbaston. In the first innings, the visitors were cruising at 122/8 with Smith playing the lone hand. But he smashed a fine knock of 144 runs with 16 fours and two sixes before repeating the heroics in the second innings with 142, thanks to 14 boundaries.
3. Alastair Cook (England)
Alastair Cook has a decent record in the history of the Ashes. The former England opening batter and the captain of the side, smashed 2493 runs in the red-ball format against Australia at an average of over 40 with the help of five centuries and 11 half-centuries at the best score of 244.
His best knock of 244 came during England’s trip down under in 2017. At the iconic MCG, the southpaw carried his bat for the hostile 409-ball innings, which was decorated with 27 boundaries as he spent over 144 overs in the middle. Time was not enough for the result as England completed a draw.
4. Ben Stokes (England)
2019 was a golden period for the England side as they won the ODI World Cup for the very first time. A couple of weeks later, the focus shifted to the Ashes at home. They lost the opening clash at Edgbaston and drew the second one at Lord’s as the eyes turned to the third game at Leeds in Headingley.
Following the target of 359, the hosts were nine down for 286 runs as the defeat looked inevitable for England. Stokes, who was on 61, refused to give up and charged against the Australian bowlers right, left, and center. Thanks to several big shots against a clinical opponent bowling line-up, he remained unbeaten on 135 and leveled the series at 1-1.
5. Adam Gilchirst (Australia)
During the second Test of the Ashes 2006/07, England were struggling against the hosts after the first two games. The third fixture was a do-or-die encounter for the visitors. Taking a lead of around 29 runs in the completion of the respective first innings of both sides, Australia came heavily against the poms.
The wicket-keeper batter, Adam Gilchrist, nailed a fiery unbeaten century of 57 deliveries, which is still the fastest ton in the history of the Ashes. His unbeaten 102-run knock was hard to breach as the England side lost the clash by a huge margin of 206 runs.
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