The 1894 - 1895 tour of Australia saw a return to the five Test match series. Indeed the interest in cricket in Australia had increased dramatically in recent years, and because of the high profile, both Melbourne and Sydney authorities agreed to promote a joint England tour for the first time. Saying this, it was England's turn to send a below strength side to Australia, with 5 of their best players declining to travel.

The first Test in the series was held in Sydney, and Australia batting first, soon found themselves in trouble at 3 for 21. However thanks to some superb batting from Giffen (161) and George (201), recovered to 586 all out. Considering the weak batting, England played well as a a team but didn't do enough to avoid a request to follow on, scoring only 325 runs. England scored 437 in reply to the request with Albert Ward scoring 117, leaving Australia needing only 177 runs for victory. At the close of play on the 5th day Australia were 2 for 113, therefore pushing the Test match into a sixth day for the very first time. It proved to be a negative omen for the Australian's as they crumbled, partly due to the weather and partly because of some superb bowling from Peel and Briggs. The last 5 Australian wickets fell for only 8 runs, England winning the match by 10 ! This was also the last Test won for 87 years by a team who had been asked to follow on.

Melbourne hosted the second Test, and this was to prove as just as exciting. Arthur Coningham caused two firsts in Test cricket as he came into bowl. He took a wicket with his first ball in Test cricket, it was also the first ball in the match and the first time it had ever happened. Yet again, this proved to be another player destined to break records and only be given one Test to play. England scrapped to a score of 75 runs on an awkward pitch, turner doing most damage with 5 - 32. The wicket still playing up and England's fightback caused Australia to end their innings 123 all out. The wicket eased and England's batting improved, so much so that all the English batsmen scored double figures. Stoddart was the main contributor with a score of 173 runs from a team total of 475. Australia scored 333 to loose by 94 runs. The remarkable Giffen (who had taken over the captaincy from Blackham) scored 277 runs and 14 wickets in the first two Tests without being on the winning side.

The Third Test went Australia's way winning by 382 runs, Giffen again scoring a fifty and taking 5 wickets in England's first innings. Iredale scored a well-rounded innings with a knock of 140 for Australia as they piled on the pressure, pressure that England couldn't handle and Trott again causing problems by taking 8 - 43. The series was now finely balanced at 2-1 in England's favour. The excuse given by the English at the time of this heavy defeat was the extraordinary temperatures in Adelaide at the time of 155F.

The English captain put the Australian's in to bat in the 4th Test at Sydney and they soon found themselves in all sorts of trouble at 6 - 51. However Graham, who had been recalled for this match scored a match turning century of 105, guiding his side to finish all out for 284. England could not match the Australian resolve and fell apart and out of the game, scoring only 65 and 72. Giffen and Callaway took 5 wickets a piece in the first innings and Trott took 8 wickets in the second. England had no excuses after this heavy defeat as they were soundly beaten by a better team. During the match, Johnny Briggs became the first player to take 100 Test wickets, but only because Australia had batted first. Turner achieved the feat when England batted in their first innings. The series was now tied at 2 games each, and Melbourne beckoned to see if an outright winner could be found.

There was great public interest for this deciding rubber, Australia batting first played well and amassed a strong total of 414. England in reply made 385, the main contributors being Maclaren scoring 120 before he was given out 'hit-wicket' and once again peel with 73. Although all but one of the Australian batsmen reached double figures, they were bowled out for 267, leaving England chasing 297 to win the game and the series. England's chances of a win looked grim as they soon found themselves 2 for 28, but when Brown came in, things changed. He scored the quickest 50 and 100 in a Test match, 28 and 95 minutes respectively, and was finally out for 140. England went on to win the match by 6 wickets. This was also A.E.Trott's final game for Australia, he later played twice for England playing against South Africa. England had retained the Ashes by 3 rubbers to 2 in a highly contested series.