Bill Lawry took over the captaincy from Bobby Simpson for the series and Colin Cowdrey was named captain for the home side. Old Trafford hosted the first game of the series and Australia made a good start scoring 357. In reply England, after a good start by Boycott and Edrich (86 for the first wicket) collapsed to 165 all out, Cowper taking 4 wickets. Narrowly failing to enforce the follow on, Australia struggled and scored 220, Pocock the pick of the bowlers (6 for 79). England couldn't handle the Australian attack and lost the match by 159 runs.

Rain played a big part in the second test match at Lord's. Pocock and D'Oliveira were both strangely left out of the England side but it turned out not to be a problem. The home side batted well and scored a solid351 for 7 declared, Milburn and Barrington top scoring with half centuries. Brown then took 5 wickets as Australia toppled to 78 all out and only rain saved them from likely defeat.

Edgbaston was a little different however rain did fall again to make the result a formality. Colin Cowdrey celebrated his 100th cap (a record at the time) with a century and helped his side to 409. In scoring his century, Cowdrey became the second player after Hammond to score 7,000 Test runs. Australia in reply scored 222, Chappell and Cowper scoring 50's. The third day was then lost to rain and although England tried to push for a result declaring their 2nd innings on 3 for 143, more rain fell to leave the game drawn with Australia on 1 for 68.

Without the captains in the 4th Test match (both Cowdrey and Lawry were injured at Edgbaston), Graveney and Jarman captained their countries for the only time in their careers. Scores were very close after the first innings, Underwood taking 4 wickets and Connolly 5. Setting England 326 runs to win after scoring 312 in their second innings (Illingworth taking 6 wickets), the home side never looked like reaching the target and the game ended in a stalemate at 4 for 230.

The Ashes retained; all that was left for Australia to do was to win the series outright now, however England had other ideas. The final test was played at the Oval; D'Oliveira was recalled and scored 158 and helping England to a strong total of 494 all out. Lawry helped Australia avoid the follow on with a fighting 135. England were dismissed cheaply in their second innings for 181, leaving 352 runs to win. At 5 for 85 on the final day, Australia looked well and truly beaten but the defeat was put on hold as rain fell and the ground was covered with water. The sun finally came out and the spectators helped the ground staff mop up and play resumed at 4.45pm, 75 minutes left to play. With 5 minutes to spare, England took the last wicket to level the series at 1 game each. Even so, Australia yet again retained the Ashes.