It was Australia's turn to play hosts in the 1924 - 1925 series as England under the leadership of Gilligan arrived to battle for the Ashes. The party included seven players from the squad that lost 5 - 0 four years earlier in England. Collins who was only in his second Ashes series was captain for Australia.

Australia got off to a great start in Sydney as both the captain and Ponsford who was on debut, scored centuries. England who were chasing 450 runs opened their innings with a new partnership; Hobbs and Sutcliffe, and they proceeded to score 157 before the fall of the first wicket. Only Hendren offered any additional resistance and England fell for 298, 152 runs short. Australia in their second innings piled on the runs and scored a total of 452, Taylor the only player to register a century. Tate bowled well and took 5 wickets for 98 runs. England again opened with Hobbs and Sutcliffe and again they scored a three-figure partnership. Both Woolley and Sutcliffe scored centuries and England posted a record score of 411 for the final innings. Unfortunately it wasn't enough and England lost the first Test by 193 runs.

Melbourne saw Bill Ponsford become the first player to score a century in his first two Tests (110 in the first and 128 in the second). Along with a century from Richardson Australia posted their highest score of 600. In reply Hobbs and Sutcliffe then took over and made the 3rd day their own as they batted all day. The were finally out for 154 and 176 respectively, and like the first innings at Sydney, the rest of the team failed and England were all out for 479. Australia then struggled to score 250 with Tate taking another 5-wicket haul (6 - 99) and Woolley taking 4. To win the second match England needed to score 372 runs but they fell 82 runs short, despite Sutcliffe scoring his third century in as many innings. Maurice Tate had now taken 20 wickets in the first two Tests.

Australia were now confident of retaining the Ashes as they moved on to Adelaide. Injuries certainly helped them, as two of England's bowlers had to retire when the home side were in trouble at 3 for 22. Tate and Gilligan were the first two players to leave. At 6 for 119 Freeman followed his fellow players and because of the lack of depth in the bowling, Ryder made 201 not out and Australia finally scored 489. Because of the injuries, Hobbs batted at number 5 and Sutcliffe at number six. Hobbs made another century as the tourists made a valiant 365. Rain then helped England skittle out Australia for 250 but found the 375 runs required for victory just 12 runs too many. England had now lost 8 Test matches in a row.

Melbourne witnessed England winning the first toss of the series and it paid off as Hobbs and Sutcliffe scored another century partnership. Sutcliffe then became the first batsman to score four centuries in and Ashes series as England scored 548. Australia were never in the race as they scored 269 and 250 and finally lost their first match of the series and first in 17 Tests.

The fifth and final Test match saw the debut of Leg-Spinner Clarrie Grimmett. He bowled England ragged and took 11 wickets in and Australian 307 run victory. No one excelled with the bat in this Test and was the first match of the series without a century being scored by either team.

Sutcliffe ended the averages on top and created a series record with his 734 runs at an average of 81.55.

Tate narrowly lost out on a bowling record as he took 38 wickets at a cost of 23.18