The Ashes series in pictures

England won the final Test at the Oval but Australia retained the urn.

By Press Association Published: 15 September 2019 - 7.27pm

England

Cricket

Ben Stokes

Australia retained the Ashes after a 2-2 series draw but England’s victory in the final Test at The Oval denied the tourists a first a win on English soil since 2001.

Steve Smith dominated the series with the bat, scoring 774 runs while Ben Stokes, Stuart Broad and Jofra Archer all shone for England.

Here, the PA news agency looks at the series in pictures.

The series kicked off at Edgbaston on August 1 (Nick Potts/PA)

England’s all-time leading wicket-taker James Anderson managed just four overs before suffering a calf injury that would rule him out of the rest of the series (Mike Egerton/PA)

Steve Smith scored 144 in the first innings and 142 in the second. It was his first Test appearance since March 2018 after his ball-tampering ban (Nick Potts/PA)

Nathan Lyon took six wickets in England's second innings to seal victory for Australia and take a 1-0 series lead

Nathan Lyon, centre, took six wickets in England’s second innings to seal victory for Australia and take a 1-0 series lead (Nick Potts/PA)

All of the first day of the second Test was washed out at Lord’s (Mike Egerton/PA)

Andrew Strauss rang the bell to start day two with sons Luca and Sam as the ground turned red in aid of the Ruth Strauss Foundation (John Walton/PA)

Smith was struck on the neck by a bouncer from debutant Jofra Archer. He returned to bat and made 92 but was ruled out of the rest of the Test and the third match at Headingley with concussion (Mike Egerton/PA)

Ben Stokes scored an unbeaten century in England’s second innings before they declared to set Australia a 267-run victory target (John Walton/PA)

Archer returned six wickets on debut but Smith's replacement Marnus Labuschagne (left) scored a half-century as Australia secured a draw

Archer returned six wickets in the match on debut but Smith’s replacement Marnus Labuschagne, left, scored a half-century as Australia secured a draw (John Walton/PA)

Archer kept up his form in the third Test at Headingley, taking six for 45 as Australia were bowled out for just 179 (Mike Egerton/PA)

But Australia hit back in style to bowl England out for just 67 as only Joe Denly made double figures (Mike Egerton/PA)

Marnus Labuschagne battled against England's pace attack to score a half-century in both innings as England were set a daunting target of 359 to save the Ashes

Labuschagne battled against England’s pace attack to score a half-century in each innings as England were set a daunting target of 359 to save the Ashes (Tim Goode/PA)

After England had batted themselves into a solid position, Jonny Bairstow’s dismissal for 36 opened the door for Australia who soon had England nine wickets down, still 73 runs short of their victory target (Tim Goode/PA)

But Stokes' incredible unbeaten 135, including eight sixes, carried England to a famous one-wicket win as Leach held firm at the other end

But Stokes’ incredible unbeaten 135, including eight sixes, carried England to a famous one-wicket win as Jack Leach held firm at the other end (Mike Egerton/PA)

Smith returned from concussion at Old Trafford and scored 211 in the first innings as Australia claimed control (Mike Egerton/PA)

Mitchell Starc played his first match of the series and took three wickets to take a 196-run first innings lead

Mitchell Starc played his first match of the series and took three wickets to set up a 196-run first innings lead (Mike Egerton/PA)

David Warner endured a miserable series for Australia - including being dismissed seven times by Stuart Broad - and bagged a pair at Old Trafford

David Warner, left, endured a miserable series for Australia – including being dismissed seven times by Stuart Broad, right, – and bagged a pair at Old Trafford (Martin Rickett/PA)

But Jason Roy had an equally tough debut series for England, making a high score of just 31 at Old Trafford before being dropped for the final Test (Mike Egerton/PA)

Despite a resilient display by England’s batsmen, Australia claimed victory at Old Trafford to ensure they had retained the Ashes (Mike Egerton/PA)

Australia captain Tim Paine made the questionable decision to bowl first in the final Test at The Oval and Jos Buttler (pictured) made a rapid 70 to post a strong England total

Australia captain Tim Paine made the questionable decision to bowl first in the final Test at The Oval and Jos Buttler, pictured, made a rapid 70 in a strong England total (John Walton/PA)

Jofra Archer took six wickets in the first innings once again

Archer took six wickets in the first innings once again (Mike Egerton/PA)

Joe Denly attended the birth of his second child at the end of the first day and he hit a Test-best 94 on the third to put England in a commanding position

Denly attended the birth of his second child at the end of the first day and he hit a Test-best 94 on the third to put England in a commanding position (Mike Egerton/PA)

Archer, right, and Australia’s Matthew Wade engaged in a fierce battle as the batsman made a century to give Australia hope of an unlikely run chase of 399 (Mike Egerton/PA)