How many times has England won the Ashes?

As of April 2014 England has won the Ashes series 31 times and Australia 32 times. The Ashes is a series of Test cricket matches with each match being played over five days.

The Ashes series was established in 1882 when Australia beat England for the first time on English soil. The Sporting Life newspaper published a satirical obituary stating English cricket had died and the ashes had gone to Australia. Three weeks later the English cricket team travelled to Australia and played three Test matches, winning two and making good on team captain Hon. Ivo Bligh's promise to bring the Ashes back to England.