The 2023 Ashes series will see a resurgent England side under Ben Stokes try and win back the little urn from Australia, with their last victory coming back in 2015.

There have been many classic contests between the two old foes over the years and we have picked out the five best to whet your appetite for this summer's battles.

5. Old Trafford, 1956 — England win by an innings and 170 runs

Forget the one-sided result, the performance of off-spinner Jim Laker was what makes this game famous.

After England made 459 all out in their first innings, the Aussies made a comfortable start to their reply.

After finding themselves 48-0, the tourists succumbed to Laker’s remarkable spell which saw him take 9-37 and reduce the Aussies to 84 all out.

Made to follow on by the delighted hosts, the Surrey spinner went one better second time around.

He took all 10 wickets for just 53 runs as Australia were skittled for 205 giving England a handsome win.

Laker’s 19 wickets in a game remains a world record in Test cricket.

4. The Oval, 1882 — Australia win by seven runs

The birth of The Ashes came in 1882 when Australia picked up their first ever victory on English soil.

There was a great deal of anger among English fans and the media with weekly paper The Sporting Times printing a mock obituary for English cricket.

It included the now famous line: "The body will be cremated and ashes taken to Australia."

Although it was a landmark moment in the history of The Ashes, the match was actually a poor advertisement for batting.

The Aussies made 63 batting first. England responded with 101 before the visitors’ 122 left the hosts needing just 85 to win.

A collapse from 70-5 to 77 all out meant Australia secured a remarkable victory, which would become known as the first Ashes Test.

3. Headingley, 2019 — England win by one wicket

England’s highest-ever fourth innings run chase came with The Ashes on the line and after they had been rolled out for just 67 in the first innings.

Set 359 to win and avoid going 2-0 down in the third match of the series, England were in a strong position at 245-4.

But a mini-collapse ensued as they lost five wickets in 16 overs to leave No11 Jack Leach walking out with 73 still needed to win.

Stokes was at the other end and over the course of the next hour or so played one of the greatest innings ever seen.

His unbeaten 135 included eight sixes, some of the most audacious shots you will see in Test cricket and superb marshalling of the strike to keep Leach at the non-striker's end for the majority.

There were LBW and run-out scares as the pair put on 76 for the final wicket to send the Leeds crowd wild and Aussies into despair.

2. Edgbaston, 2005 — England win by two runs

One of the most thrilling finishes to a Test match ever seen saw England edge home in the middle of the classic 2005 series.

England posted 407 in their first innings before Australia replied with 308 as the game hung in the balance.

Aussie quick Brett Lee and masterful leg-spinner Shane Warne reduced England to 131-9, before Simon Jones stuck with Andrew Flintoff to help the hosts reach 182.

The visitors’ target of 282 looked a long way off when they were 137-7, only for a fightback to take the game to England.

And it looked like Lee and Michael Kasprowicz were going to take Ricky Ponting’s side to a famous victory in front of a stunned Edgbaston crowd.

But with three runs needed to win, Kasprowicz gloved a Steve Harmison delivery down the leg side, wicket-keeper Geraint Jones took a diving catch and the Birmingham crowd erupted.

1. Headingley, 1981 — England win by 18 runs

The first lasting image from this thrilling Test win for England is Ian Botham wielding his bat like Thor's hammer. 

The second is England pace bowler Bob Willis taking what seemed like a three-mile run up to the crease, long hair flowing in his wake with the crowd yelling "come on Bob" with every step. 

Chasing Australia’s first innings score of 401-9 declared, Botham top scored with 50 out of England’s total of 174.

Following on, he hit a magnificent 149 not out as England recovered from 135-7 to 356 all out. 

The high-scoring Australians needed to reach a modest target of 130 for victory. Bob Willis had other ideas. 

The Warwickshire paceman devastated the Australian batting order taking eight wickets for 43 runs, as England skittled the Aussies for just 111. 

For the sheer drama and pace of a thriller with a huge twist at the end, this Ashes encounter cannot be beaten.