The 2023 Ashes series, a five-act drama of breathtaking skill, raw emotion, and unrelenting tension, has been consigned to the history books. A 2-2 draw, with Australia retaining the urn, feels like a fittingly unresolved conclusion to a contest that ebbed and flowed from the first ball at Edgbaston to the last at The Oval. The scoreline, however, barely scratches the surface of the stories told over six glorious weeks. So, as the dust settles and the players nurse their physical and psychological wounds, it's time to hand out some entirely unofficial, but deeply considered, awards.
Player of the Series: The Unshakeable Usman
In a series featuring the world's number one batter, a generational English captain, and a host of fast-bowling titans, the most valuable player was the man who provided its bedrock: Usman Khawaja. While others flickered with brilliance, Khawaja burned with a steady, defiant flame. His 496 runs at an average of 49.60 were the most by any player, but the numbers only tell half the story. It was the context and the manner that defined his contribution.
At Edgbaston, with Australia wobbling, his first-innings 141 set the tone for the entire tour, a masterclass in concentration and technique. At Lord's, he grafted for a vital 77. Most importantly, at Manchester, with England's mammoth 592 looming like an executioner's axe over Australia's hopes of retaining the urn, Khawaja's epic 111 from 173 balls consumed time and hope in equal measure. He was the immovable object to England's irresistible force, the calm, adhesive presence that allowed the fireworks of Head, Marsh, and Cummins to detonate around him. As former England captain Michael Vaughan put it, "Khawaja has been the difference. He's been the rock. England haven't had a player who has consistently absorbed pressure like he has."
Moment of the Series: The Stokesian Miracle at Lord's
Choosing a single moment from such a rich tapestry is a fool's errand, but one stands apart for its sheer, jaw-dropping audacity and its seismic impact on the series narrative. It came on the fourth afternoon at Lord's, with Australia seemingly cruising to a 2-0 lead. England, following on, were 45-4, still 121 runs from making Australia bat again. Ben Stokes walked out, his knee creaking, his team on the brink. What followed was not just an innings, but a declaration of war.
The highlights – the sixes off Cummins, the reverse hits, the calculated carnage – are etched into memory. But the moment that crystallised the insanity was the shot that brought up his century. Facing a bouncer from Cameron Green, Stokes shuffled across, got into a preposterous position, and flat-batted the ball over the deep point boundary for six. It was a shot of pure imagination and power, defying physics and conventional batting logic. It turned the match, and arguably the series, on its head. While England ultimately lost, Stokes' 155 announced that this England side would not go quietly, igniting a fire that burned for the next three Tests.
The 'Best Back Spasm' Award: Lyon's Limp & Wood's Roar
Cricket is a game of fine margins, and sometimes those margins are decided by a twinge in a key muscle. The pivotal injury of the series was undoubtedly Nathan Lyon's calf tear at Lord's. Australia's premier spinner, a workhorse and a tactical genius, breaking down mid-match was a catastrophic blow. His absence for the final three Tests:
- Deprived Australia of control and wicket-taking threat on later days.
- Forced Pat Cummins into marathon bowling spells, testing his endurance to the limit.
- Exposed a lack of depth in Australia's spin resources, fundamentally altering their balance.
Conversely, England's own injury saga had a happier ending. Mark Wood, missing the first two Tests, announced his return at Headingley with the most explosive spell of the series. Clocking 96.5mph, he didn't just take wickets; he shattered Australian morale and electrified the Leeds crowd. His five-wicket haul, including the crucial scalp of Usman Khawaja, was a testament to raw pace as a game-changing weapon. For turning a potential weakness into a decisive strength, Wood's comeback gets an honourable mention in this category.
Services to Tourism: The Barmy Army's Bassist
The Ashes is as much about the theatre in the stands as the battle in the middle. And no individual contributed more to the soundtrack of the summer than the Barmy Army's trumpeter and, more notably, their bassist. While the trumpet provided the melody, it was the relentless, rhythmic thump of the bass guitar that became the pervasive heartbeat of England's fightback. From "Sweet Caroline" to "Stokes the Fire", the bass lines provided the communal glue for the crowds.
His dedication was unparalleled, providing a soundtrack for every session, in every ground, in all weathers. He became a cult figure, with even Australian fans acknowledging his commitment. In an era where crowd atmosphere is sometimes manufactured, this was organic, persistent, and powerfully effective. For providing the relentless backing track to England's resilience and ensuring no day's play was ever silent, the Barmy Army's bassist wins the Services to Tourism award hands down. He didn't just visit the venues; he sonically colonised them.
Best Supporting Role: The Unheralded Heroes
Beyond the headline acts, several players delivered performances that were critical to the plot:
- Chris Woakes (England): The ultimate 'home conditions' specialist. Returning at Headingley, he took 19 wickets in three Tests at 18.14, providing control, crucial wickets, and vital lower-order runs. He was the quiet engineer of England's comeback.
- Mitchell Starc (Australia): Often the erratic foil to Cummins and Hazlewood's metronomy, Starc's moments of devastating, series-shaping spells – like his 5-wicket haul at The Oval – were priceless.
- Zak Crawley (England): Embodied the 'Bazball' ethos with his stunning 189 at Manchester, the innings that broke the game open. Finished as the series' leading run-scorer from either side, silencing many critics and proving the perfect aggressive foil at the top of the order.
In the end, the 2023 Ashes refused to bow to a simple narrative. It was a clash of philosophies, a test of endurance, and a celebration of individual brilliance within a team context. Australia proved their champion pedigree by retaining the urn in alien conditions, while England reaffirmed their revolutionary spirit by clawing back from the abyss. The shared spoils feel unsatisfying to some, but they perfectly capture the essence of a series where neither side deserved to lose. Roll on 2025/26.