The world was a vastly different place by the time that the Ashes resumed in 1920/21 after the ravages of war.
The tour also became infamous for England cricket supporters as their side became the first to lose all the Tests in a series.
The action began in Sydney, where Australia batted first, having won the toss, Herbie Collins top-scoring with 70, as they compiled 267. In reply, England were dismissed for 190, despite Frank Woolley’s 52.
Australia then pressed home their advantage by making 581 second time round. Collins scored 104 this time, while captain Warwick Armstrong scored 158. There were also half-centuries for Warren Bardsley, Charles Macartney and Johnny Taylor.
Set the impossible task of making 659 to win, England were all out for 281, despite 59 from Jack Hobbs and fifties from ‘Young Jack’ Hearne and Patsy Hendren. Australia had won by 377 runs.
It was off to Melbourne for the second Test, which began on New Year’s Eve, 1920. Australia took control from the start, racking up 499, Nip Pellew making 116, Jack Gregory exactly 100, and Collins 64.
Hobbs scored a hundred and Hendren got 67, but England could only manage 251 in reply, Gregory taking 7-69. Following-on, England were then bowled out for just 157, despite 50 from Woolley. The home side had won this time by an innings and 91 runs.
The teams moved to Adelaide for the third Test, a match dominated by bat. Again, Australia batted first, with Collins leading the way with 162, as they made 354. England responded in kind, taking a first-innings lead as they racked up 447 of their own, Jack Russell with an unbeaten 135 and Woolley with 79.
But Australia piled on the runs in their second innings, with three men making it into three figures – Charles Kellaway, Armstrong, and Pellew, as they racked up 582. England were set 490. Despite 123 from Hobbs and 59 from Russell, they fell 120 short.
For once, England won the toss and batted first in the fourth Test in Melbourne. This time it was Harry Makepeace who shone, making 117 out of 284. Armstrong, though, scored unbeaten 123, as Australia made 389 in reply.
In the second innings, Wilfred Rhodes scored 73, whilst captain Johnny Douglas chipped in with 60. But England’s 315 meant Australia needed 211 to win. They got there or the loss of two wickets, Jack Ryder and Jack Gregory sharing an unbroken stand of 130 for the third wicket.
The series ended where it had begun, back in Sydney. Again, England batted first, but, despite 53 from Woolley, they were limited to 204. Macrtney’s 170 and Gregory’s 93 then helped Australia to 392, and put them in a potentially winning position again.
Second time round, Douglas top-scored with 68 as England reached 280. But needing just 93, Australia cruised home for the loss of just one wicket.