Few sporting rivalries can match the history, intensity and prestige of the Ashes. Contested between England and Australia since 1882, the five-Test series has become a stage where reputations are forged, legends are born and every run carries extra weight. Conditions are demanding, pressure is relentless and success is never easily earned.
Across more than a century of competition, only the very best batters have managed to thrive consistently in Ashes cricket. While dozens have passed 2,000 career runs, just a select few have climbed beyond the 3,000-run milestone, cementing their place in the game’s most storied rivalry. What follows is a look at the players who have scored the most runs in Ashes history- and the modern stars who may yet join them.
Sir Donald Bradman
It is no surprise that Sir Donald Bradman sits comfortably atop the list for most runs scored in Ashes history. Universally regarded as the greatest Test batter of all time, Bradman amassed a staggering 5,028 runs against England between 1928 and 1948- a record that remains untouched.
Across 37 Ashes Tests, Bradman scored 19 centuries, seven more than any other player in the history of the contest. His dominance was highlighted by his iconic 334 at Headingley in 1930, a world-record Test score at the time, later surpassed only by Len Hutton’s 364 in 1938. He added another triple century- 304 in 1934, again at Leeds- and finished with an extraordinary eight scores of 200 or more against England.
Bradman’s Ashes batting average of 89.78 still defies belief. Although marginally lower than his career Test average of 99.94, it remains miles ahead of any other player to have featured in cricket’s oldest and most celebrated rivalry. No one has come close to matching his sustained dominance in the Ashes.
Steve Smith
Steve Smith is the only current player in the top five all-time Ashes run-scorers and the leading run-getter of the modern era in this historic rivalry. As of the ongoing 2025–26 series, he has scored 3,665+ runs in Ashes Tests, and he’s still adding to that tally, making him second only to Don Bradman on the list.
Smith has 13 centuries in Ashes matches, the most by any player since Bradman retired and the second most ever behind Bradman’s 19. His batting average against England has consistently hovered above 57, showcasing his ability to dominate in both home and away conditions.
One of his standout performances came in 2017 at Perth, where he scored 239, his highest Ashes score-an innings that helped Australia to an innings victory.
Smith’s hunger for runs, remarkable consistency and knack for producing big innings in high-pressure moments have cemented his place as one of the greatest batters in Ashes history and arguably the most prolific of the modern era.
Jack Hobbs
England great Sir Jack Hobbs sits third on the all-time list of Ashes run-scorers, having amassed 3,636 runs in the historic rivalry. His Ashes career spanned an extraordinary 22 years, concluding in 1930, just as Don Bradman was beginning his era of dominance.
Hobbs scored 12 centuries and 15 fifties, giving him 27 scores of 50 or more- a tally second only to Bradman. His consistency and adaptability across vastly different conditions made him the backbone of England’s batting through the early decades of the Ashes.
With 3,636 runs, Hobbs remains England’s highest-ever Ashes run-scorer, and his longevity and reliability ensured England remained competitive during the formative years of cricket’s greatest rivalry.
Allan Border
Former Australia captain Allan Border ranks among the finest players in Ashes history, having scored 3,222 runs against England. Renowned for his resilience, grit and ability to withstand pressure, Border played 42 Ashes Tests and became a pillar of Australian batting during a challenging era for the team.
Across 73 innings- more than any other player in the top eight Ashes run-scorers- Border registered seven centuries and 26 scores of 50 or more, repeatedly rescuing Australia from difficult positions. His consistency is reflected in an outstanding Ashes average of 55.55.
One of the defining moments of his Ashes career came in 1993, when he marked his final series with a magnificent 200 not out at Headingley, a performance emblematic of his durability and class.
Ultimately, it was Border’s exceptional longevity and unwavering consistency that secured his place as one of the most prominent and respected figures in the history of the Ashes.
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Steve Waugh
Rounding out the top five Ashes run-scorers is Steve Waugh, who etched his name into the record books with 3,173 runs against England. A central figure in Australia’s most dominant era, Waugh helped drive a remarkable run of eight consecutive Ashes series victories following the 1986–87 campaign.
Although he suffered six ducks in Ashes cricket and never scored a double century against England, Waugh’s overall output was formidable. He struck 10 centuries and 14 fifties, finishing with an outstanding Ashes average of 58.75. His relentless competitiveness and mental toughness made him a constant thorn in England’s side.
Waugh endured defeat in his first Ashes series in 1986–87, but thereafter became a cornerstone of the Australian team that dominated the rivalry through to his final Ashes appearance in 2003. That historic winning streak- Australia’s longest ever against England- eventually ended in the unforgettable 2005 series, two years after his retirement.
With four Australians occupying the top five places, Waugh stands out as another Ashes great whose runs, leadership and fighting spirit left lasting scars on England’s bowlers and fans alike.
