Editing The Ashes (section)

===2017 to present===
During the buildup, the [[2017–18 Ashes series]] was regarded as a turning point for both sides. Australia were criticised for being too reliant on captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner, while England was said to have a shoddy middle to lower order.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/97160/australia-cricket-team-over-reliant-on-steve-smith-david-warner-feels-michael-slater |title=Australia over-reliant on Smith, Warner, feels Slater |website=[[CricBuzz]] |date=18 September 2017 |access-date=2 May 2020 |archive-date=13 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813144424/https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/97160/australia-cricket-team-over-reliant-on-steve-smith-david-warner-feels-michael-slater |url-status=live }}</ref> Off the field, England all-rounder [[Ben Stokes]] was ruled out of the side indefinitely due to a police investigation.

Australia won the first Test match in Brisbane by 10 wickets<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/42132855|title=Ashes: Australia beat England by 10 wickets in first Test|work=BBC Sport|date=27 November 2017|access-date=19 June 2018|archive-date=19 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619161907/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/42132855|url-status=live}}</ref> and the second Test at Adelaide by 120 runs in the first ever day-night Ashes test match. Australia regained The Ashes with an innings and 41 run win in the third Test at Perth; the final Ashes Test at the WACA Ground.<ref name="reclaim">{{Cite news |url=http://www.cricket.com.au/news/match-report/day-five-australia-england-third-magellan-ashes-test-video-highlights-live-scores-stream-waca/2017-12-18 |title=Ruthless Australia regain the Ashes |work=Cricket Australia |access-date=18 December 2017 |archive-date=26 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126190949/http://www.cricket.com.au/news/match-report/day-five-australia-england-third-magellan-ashes-test-video-highlights-live-scores-stream-waca/2017-12-18 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Prior to the [[2019 Ashes series]], both teams were considered to have very strong bowling attacks but struggling batting orders. Australia had its top-order batsmen [[David Warner (cricketer)|David Warner]], [[Steve Smith (cricketer)|Steve Smith]] and [[Cameron Bancroft]] available for international selection after being banned from international cricket for 9–12 months following the [[2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal|ball-tampering scandal]] in South Africa, during which time [[India national cricket team|India]] had won its first ever Test series in Australia.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/969301 |title=India secure historic series victory |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=24 July 2019 |archive-date=7 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107232946/https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/969301 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, Australia recovered to win the [[Sri Lanka cricket team in Australia in 2018–19|Test series]] against Sri Lanka 2–0.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1047647 |title=Starc takes ten as Australia sweep series |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=24 July 2019 |archive-date=4 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190204174352/https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1047647 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Despite winning the [[2019 Cricket World Cup Final|Cricket World Cup]] in July 2019 for the first time, England had also been criticised for its fragile top-order in Tests. The retirement of opener [[Alastair Cook]] in August 2018 ensured potential top-order batsmen [[Rory Burns]], [[Joe Denly]] and [[Jason Roy]] were able to secure a place in the side. Despite losing a Test series 2–1 in their [[England cricket team in the West Indies in 2018–19|tour of the West Indies]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/47217347 |title=England in West Indies: Tourists claim consolation 232-run victory as hosts win series 2-1 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=12 February 2019 |archive-date=12 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212210303/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/47217347 |url-status=live }}</ref> England then improved to win the [[Irish cricket team in England in 2019|one-off Test against Ireland]], by 143 runs. The 2019 series was eventually drawn 2–2, with Australia retaining the Ashes.

The [[2021–22 Ashes series]] was played from December 2021 through January 2022,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/2021-2022-summer-of-cricket-schedule-fixture-season-australia-ashes-dates-venues-england-india/2021-05-19 |title=Fixture confirmed for dual Ashes series, Afghan Test |work=Cricket Australia |access-date=19 May 2021 |archive-date=18 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518203135/https://www.cricket.com.au/news/2021-2022-summer-of-cricket-schedule-fixture-season-australia-ashes-dates-venues-england-india/2021-05-19 |url-status=live }}</ref> and featured the first Ashes Test match to be played in Tasmania, at [[Hobart]]'s [[Bellerive Oval]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-14/tasmanians-celebrate-fifth-ashes-test-beginning-in-hobart/100757020|title=Tasmanians gather to watch historic fifth Ashes Test at Bellerive Oval in Hobart|date=14 January 2022|access-date=17 January 2022|publisher=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]|archive-date=17 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117011141/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-14/tasmanians-celebrate-fifth-ashes-test-beginning-in-hobart/100757020|url-status=live}}</ref> Australia retained the Ashes in the 2021–22 Ashes series, after comfortably beating England 4–0.

England were the hosts of the five Test matches of the [[2023 Ashes series]]. The series got off to a good start for Australia as they won the first two Tests to go 0–2 up. The hosts won the third Test to put the series at 1-2 for the visitors. England needed to win the fourth Test in a hope to not only level the series but prevent Australia from retaining the Ashes. The match looked good for England to win, but [[rain]] intervened on the last two days and forced a draw, thus Australia retained the Ashes with the series at 1–2 after four Tests.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Australia retain Ashes after fourth test washout |url=https://supersport.com/cricket/england-v-australia-the-ashes-2023/news/636db311-c468-424b-b952-a6ee74799793/australia-retain-ashes-after-fourth-test-washout |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=SuperSport |language=en}}</ref> The fifth and final Test was played at [[The Oval]]. During the contest [[Stuart Broad]] announced that he would retire from cricket at the end of the match.<ref>{{Cite web |title=World reacts to stunning Stuart Broad retirement news |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/3610356 |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=www.icc-cricket.com |language=en}}</ref> England went on to win the final Test match to draw the series at 2-2.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Ashes {{!}} 2023 The Ashes {{!}} Live Score, Schedule, News |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/the-ashes-2023-1336037 |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=World reacts to thrilling drawn Ashes series |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/3612212 |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=www.icc-cricket.com |language=en}}</ref>