Australia not only retained the Ashes when they visited England in 1909, but they won the series as well.
All that though seemed very unlikely after the first Test in Edgbaston, Birmingham. After winning the toss and choosing to bat, Australia were bowled out for just 74, Colin Blythe taking 6-44 and George Hirst 4-28. In return, England were limited to only 121, Warwick Armstrong taking 5-25 for the Australians.
The second time round, Australia were dismissed for 151, both Syd Gregory and Vernon Ransford making 43, whilst Blythe and Hirst took five more wickets apiece. Set 105 to win, England reached their target without losing a wicket.
Australia levelled the series in the second Test at Lord’s.
This time England batted first and made 269, Jack King top-scoring with 60. In reply, Ransford scored an unbeaten 143, as Australia took a first innings lead, compiling 350.
Armstrong then helped Australia bowl England out for just 121, taking 6-35. Australia needed just 41 to win, which they managed for the loss of just one wicket.
Headingley paid host to the third Test, with again Australia batting first. This time they made 188, with Gregory making 46 and Ransford 45. In reply, Johnny Tyldesley scored 55 and Jack Sharp 61, but England were limited to just 182, thanks to Charles Macartney, who took 7-58.
Australia extended their narrow lead by making 207 second time round, Armstrong top-scoring with 45. Set 214, England crumbled to 87, Macartney taking four more wickets and Tibby Cotter 5-38. Australia won by 126 runs.
The fourth Test in Manchester was another low-scoring match. Again, England seemed to take an early grip by bowling out Australia for 187, Barnes and Blythe both taking five wickets. But England’s batting failed again, and they were dismissed for just 119, Frank Laver taking 8-31.
Australia then pressed home their advantage in their second innings, Victor Trumper with 54 and Macartney with 51, enabling the visitors to declare on 279/9.
England needed 308, but despite 58 from George Spooner, they ran out of time. They had reached 108/3 when the match was declared a draw.
The series conclude at The Oval, where Australia again batted first Warren Bardsley with 136 and Trumper with 73 inspiring them to 325.
At last England did better with the bat, and made 352 in reply, Jack Sharp leading the way with 105, while Wilfred Rhodes scored 66 and C.B. Fry 62.
Bardsley, though, made the destiny of the series safe by scoring his second century of the match, this time 130. He supported by Gregory who made 74 and Noble with 55.
They helped Australia declare on 339/5. England had reached 104, chasing a total of 313, when the draw was declared.