Having been whitewashed on their last tour of Australia, England were determined to do better on home soil in 1921. There was an improvement, but not much of one, as England sued 30 different players across all five tests, a record that stands to this day.
The tone was set for what was to come in the first Test at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. England won the toss and batted first, but they were bundled out for just 112, Jack Gregory taking 6-58. In reply, Warren Bardsley made 66, as Australia were 232 all out.
Second time round, England could only total 147. Ted McDonald, who had taken three wickets in the first innings, took 5-32 this time. That left Australia with the simple task of getting 25 runs, which they did without losing a wicket.
The second Test at Lord’s was almost as one-sided.
England again batted first, but despite 95 from Frank Woolley, they were all out for 187, McDonald with four more wickets, while Arthur Mailey claimed 4-55. Australia then batted themselves into a strong position, with Bardsley making 88 and Gregory 52, with the visitors scoring 342.
In their second innings, England did better, thanks to Woolley’s 95 and 40 from Alfred Dipper. But their total of 283 meant that Australia needed 129 to win this time, a target they reached for the loss of two wickets.
The third Test at Headingley, Leeds provided confirmation that the Ashes would be staying in Australia.
This time it was the tourists who batted first, scoring 407. Charles Macartney led the way with 115. He was ably supported by 77 from captain Warwick Armstrong and half-centuries form Nip Pellew and Johnny Taylor. In reply, Johnny Douglas hit 75 and George Brown 57, but England could only muster 259.
Australia then consolidated that advantage by declaring on 273/7 in their second innings, 92 of them from Tommy Andrews. Set 422 to win, England were all out for 202, losing by 219 runs.
England finally stopped the rot of losing matches with a draw at Old Trafford, Manchester, and they had the better of a weather-affected match.
Batting first, they reached 372/4 before declaring, opener Jack Russell scoring 101, and Ernest Tyldesley 78. They then bowled out Australia for 175, Cec Parkin taking 5-38.
However, England could only reach 44/1 in their second innings before rain brought a premature end to proceedings.
The tour ended at the fifth Test at The Oval. England batting first reached 403/8 before they declared, Phil Mead with an unbeaten 182, while captain Lionel Tennyson made 51.
Australia, though, came close to parity. They scored 389 in turn, Tommy Andrews with 94, Johnny Taylor with 75, and Macartney contributing 61.
With no chance of securing a positive result, England settled for batting practice, reaching 244/2 before the draw was declared, Russell with an undefeated 102 and George Brown with 84.