Australia retained the Ashes in 1968 after the series was drawn.
They started the five-match Test series in the best possible way with a convincing win at the first Test at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. There they won the toss and batted making 357, with Paul Sheahan making 88, Doug Walters 81, and Ian Chappell 73. England were then bowled out for 165, Bob Cowper taking 4-43 and Graham McKenzie 3-33.
The second time round, Walters top-scored with 86 as Australia were all out for 220. Set 413, England were dismissed for 253, despite an undefeated 87 from Basil D’Oliveira, as the Australian bowlers shared the wickets. Australia had won by 159 runs.
Rain ruined England’s chances of victory at the second Test, at Lord’s, after they had won the toss and chosen to bat. Colin Milburn scored 83 and Ken Barrington 75 as they declared on 351/7.
David Brown took 5-42 and Barry Knight 3-16, but although Australia followed on and were 127/4, there was not enough time left in the game to force a result.
England had the better of the third Test, at Edgbaston, Birmingham as well, but again had to settle for a draw in the end.
Again, they took control of the match after winning the toss and batting, captain Colin Cowdrey with 104, Tom Graveney with 96, and John Edrich with 88 out of 409. In reply, Chappell made 71 but Australia were dismissed for 222, with six wickets for the spin pair of Derek Underwood and Ray Illingworth.
England chose not to enforce the follow on. They rested their bowlers and declared on 42/3. But set 330, Australia were 68/1 when the two captains shook hands.
The fourth Test, at Headingley, Leeds also saw little difference between the two sides.
This time Australia batted and made 315, Ian Redpath top-scoring with 92, while Chappell scored 65. England almost matched that with 302, with John Edrich and Roger Prideaux sharing a stand of 123 for the first wicket and Underwood making 45 not out.
Chappell also scored heavily in the second innings as well with 81, and Walters made 56, as Australia reached 312. England were set 326, but they could only manage 230/4 when the series ended.
England did at least have the satisfaction of drawing the series by winning the fifth and final Test at the Oval. There England won the toss and piled on the runs thanks to Edrich’s 164 and D’Oliveira’s 158, helping them post 494.
Captain Bill Lawry then scored 135 and Redpath 67, but Australia were still bowled out for 324. Batting again, England were dismissed for 181, Cowdrey top-scoring for them with 35.
Then, with time running out after rain, Underwood took 7-50 as Australia were bowled out for 125 in their second innings. England won by 226 runs with 15 minutes to spare.