England successfully regained the Ashes in 1926, winning the last match in the series after the first four matches were drawn.
The series started in disappointing fashion. A little over 17 overs was all that was possible at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, with the rest of the match rained off. England scored 32 without loss in that time.
There was better fortune with the second Test, at Lord’s. Australia, winning the toss, batted first, and made 383, Warren Bardsley dominating their innings with 193.
England responded strongly by declaring on 475/3. Jack Hobbs made 119, Patsy Hendren an unbeaten 127, whilst Frank Woolley hit 87 and Herbert Sutcliffe 82. Batting again, Charles Macartney was 133 not out as Australia reached 194/5 before the match was declared a draw.
Bat again had the better of proceedings in the third Test, at Headingley, Leeds. Australia batted first, and three men – Macartney (151), Bill Woodfull (141), and Arthur Richardson (100) made hundreds.
Responding to the Australian score of 454, England were bowled out for 294 first time round, despite 76 from George Macauley. Following on they reached 254/3 in their second innings, Sutcliffe with 94 and Hobbs 88, with no result possible in the game.
Weather again had a part to play in the fourth Test, at Old Trafford, Manchester. Again, Australia batted first, making 335 with Macartney making 108 and Woodfull 117.
England reached 305/5 in reply, Ernest Tyldesley with 81 and Hobbs with 74, but rain put paid to any hope of a result.
That meant it all came down to what happened in the fifth Test at The Oval.
This time it was the turn of England to bat first, having won the toss, Sutcliffe top-scoring with 76, as they were dismissed for 280. Australia, in reply, recovered from 122/6 to finish on 302, largely due to Jack Gregory (73), and captain Herbie Collins (61).
It rained thereafter, and Hobbs (100) and Sutcliffe (161) put on a masterclass of batting on a wet wicket. England compiled 436, setting Australia 415 to win.
But Harold Larwood, yet to become the man everyone feared, took 5/34; Wilfred Rhodes, past his prime, got 4/44; and Australia were bowled out for 125.
England won by 289 runs.