# England cricket team Test results (1920–1939)

The England cricket team represented England, Scotland and Wales in Test cricket. Between 1920 and 1939, when competitive cricket was interrupted by the Second World War, England played 120 Test matches, resulting in 41 victories, 49 draws and 30 defeats. During this period, England faced India, New Zealand and the West Indies for the first time in Test cricket, having previously only played against Australia and South Africa. The emergence of Don Bradman as an extraordinary batsman for Australia led to England employing Bodyline tactics during the 1932–33 Ashes tour of Australia. The tactic, which involved bowling fast deliveries aimed at the batsman, created antagonism between the two teams. The England team of the era featured some of the country's best batsmen; Jack Hobbs, Wally Hammond and Len Hutton were all included in the ESPNcricinfo "all-time England XI" in 2009.
England faced Australia most frequently during this period—playing 49 matches against them—followed by South Africa. England won more matches than they lost against every team except Australia, against whom they won 15 matches and lost 22. They did not lose any matches against newcomers India or New Zealand, while against the West Indies they won 8 matches and lost 3. England won 14 matches by an innings, with their largest victory being by an innings and 579 runs against Australia during the 1938 Ashes series, the largest margin of victory by any team in Test cricket. Their largest victory by runs alone during this period was in the 1928–29 Ashes series against Australia, when they won by 675 runs, which is also an all-time record for any team, while they won by ten wickets on two occasions. Conversely, England suffered their largest defeat by runs alone, losing to Australia by 562 runs during the 1934 Ashes series, which ranks behind England's 675 runs victory as the second highest margin of victory by runs.

## Key

Key :
| Symbol | Meaning |
| No. (Eng.) | Match number for England (i.e. 150 was England's 150th Test match) |
| No. (Ove.) | Match number overall (i.e. 150 was the 150th Test match) |
| Opposition | The team England was playing against |
| Venue | The cricket ground where the match was played |
| (H) | Home ground |
| (A) | Away ground |
| Start date | Starting date of the Test match |
| Result | Result of the match for England |
| Series (result) | What series the match was part of, with the result listed in brackets; England's tally first (i.e. (2–1) means that England won two matches, and their opponents won one match) |

## Matches

England Test cricket results between 1920 and 1939 :
| No. (Eng.) | No. (Ove.) | Opposition | Venue | Start Date | Result | Series (result) |
| 124 | 135 | Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (A) | 17 December 1920 | Lost by 377 runs | 1920–21 Ashes series (0–5) |
| 125 | 136 | Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (A) | 31 December 1920 | Lost by an innings and 91 runs | 1920–21 Ashes series (0–5) |
| 126 | 137 | Australia | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (A) | 14 January 1921 | Lost by 119 runs | 1920–21 Ashes series (0–5) |
| 127 | 138 | Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (A) | 11 February 1921 | Lost by 8 wickets | 1920–21 Ashes series (0–5) |
| 128 | 139 | Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (A) | 25 February 1921 | Lost by 9 wickets | 1920–21 Ashes series (0–5) |
| 129 | 140 | Australia | Trent Bridge, Nottingham (H) | 28 May 1921 | Lost by 10 wickets | 1921 Ashes series (0–3) |
| 130 | 141 | Australia | Lord's, London (H) | 11 June 1921 | Lost by 8 wickets | 1921 Ashes series (0–3) |
| 131 | 142 | Australia | Headingley, Leeds (H) | 2 July 1921 | Lost by 219 runs | 1921 Ashes series (0–3) |
| 132 | 143 | Australia | Old Trafford, Manchester (H) | 23 July 1921 | Match drawn | 1921 Ashes series (0–3) |
| 133 | 144 | Australia | The Oval, London (H) | 13 August 1921 | Match drawn | 1921 Ashes series (0–3) |
| 134 | 148 | South Africa | Old Wanderers, Johannesburg (A) | 23 December 1922 | Lost by 168 runs | English cricket team in South Africa in 1922–23 (2–1) |
| 135 | 149 | South Africa | Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town (A) | 1 January 1923 | Won by 1 wicket | English cricket team in South Africa in 1922–23 (2–1) |
| 136 | 150 | South Africa | Kingsmead, Durban (A) | 18 January 1923 | Match drawn | English cricket team in South Africa in 1922–23 (2–1) |
| 137 | 151 | South Africa | Old Wanderers, Johannesburg (A) | 9 February 1923 | Match drawn | English cricket team in South Africa in 1922–23 (2–1) |
| 138 | 152 | South Africa | Kingsmead, Durban (A) | 16 February 1923 | Won by 109 runs | English cricket team in South Africa in 1922–23 (2–1) |
| 139 | 153 | South Africa | Edgbaston, Birmingham (H) | 14 June 1924 | Won by an innings and 18 runs | South African cricket team in England in 1924 (3–0) |
| 140 | 154 | South Africa | Lord's, London (H) | 28 June 1924 | Won by an innings and 18 runs | South African cricket team in England in 1924 (3–0) |
| 141 | 155 | South Africa | Headingley, Leeds (H) | 12 July 1924 | Won by 9 wickets | South African cricket team in England in 1924 (3–0) |
| 142 | 156 | South Africa | Old Trafford, Manchester (H) | 26 July 1924 | Match drawn | South African cricket team in England in 1924 (3–0) |
| 143 | 157 | South Africa | The Oval, London (H) | 16 August 1924 | Match drawn | South African cricket team in England in 1924 (3–0) |
| 144 | 158 | Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (A) | 19 December 1924 | Lost by 193 runs | 1924–25 Ashes series (1–4) |
| 145 | 159 | Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (A) | 1 January 1925 | Lost by 81 runs | 1924–25 Ashes series (1–4) |
| 146 | 160 | Australia | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (A) | 16 January 1925 | Lost by 11 runs | 1924–25 Ashes series (1–4) |
| 147 | 161 | Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (A) | 13 February 1925 | Won by an innings and 29 runs | 1924–25 Ashes series (1–4) |
| 148 | 162 | Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (A) | 27 February 1925 | Lost by 307 runs | 1924–25 Ashes series (1–4) |
| 149 | 163 | Australia | Trent Bridge, Nottingham (H) | 12 June 1926 | Match drawn | 1926 Ashes series (1–0) |
| 150 | 164 | Australia | Lord's, London (H) | 26 June 1926 | Match drawn | 1926 Ashes series (1–0) |
| 151 | 165 | Australia | Headingley, Leeds (H) | 10 July 1926 | Match drawn | 1926 Ashes series (1–0) |
| 152 | 166 | Australia | Old Trafford, Manchester (H) | 24 July 1926 | Match drawn | 1926 Ashes series (1–0) |
| 153 | 167 | Australia | The Oval, London (H) | 14 August 1926 | Won by 289 runs | 1926 Ashes series (1–0) |
| 154 | 168 | South Africa | Old Wanderers, Johannesburg (A) | 24 December 1927 | Won by 10 wickets | English cricket team in South Africa in 1927–28 (2–2) |
| 155 | 169 | South Africa | Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town (A) | 31 December 1927 | Won by 87 runs | English cricket team in South Africa in 1927–28 (2–2) |
| 156 | 170 | South Africa | Kingsmead, Durban (A) | 21 January 1928 | Match drawn | English cricket team in South Africa in 1927–28 (2–2) |
| 157 | 171 | South Africa | Old Wanderers, Johannesburg (A) | 28 January 1928 | Lost by 4 wickets | English cricket team in South Africa in 1927–28 (2–2) |
| 158 | 172 | South Africa | Kingsmead, Durban (A) | 4 February 1928 | Lost by 8 wickets | English cricket team in South Africa in 1927–28 (2–2) |
| 159 | 173 | West Indies | Lord's, London (H) | 23 June 1928 | Won by an innings and 58 runs | West Indian cricket team in England in 1928 (3–0) |
| 160 | 174 | West Indies | Old Trafford, Manchester (H) | 21 July 1928 | Won by an innings and 30 runs | West Indian cricket team in England in 1928 (3–0) |
| 161 | 175 | West Indies | The Oval, London (H) | 11 August 1928 | Won by an innings and 71 runs | West Indian cricket team in England in 1928 (3–0) |
| 162 | 176 | Australia | Brisbane Exhibition Ground, Brisbane (A) | 30 November 1928 | Won by 675 runs | 1928–29 Ashes series (4–1) |
| 163 | 177 | Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (A) | 14 December 1928 | Won by 8 wickets | 1928–29 Ashes series (4–1) |
| 164 | 178 | Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (A) | 29 December 1928 | Won by 3 wickets | 1928–29 Ashes series (4–1) |
| 165 | 179 | Australia | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (A) | 1 February 1929 | Won by 12 runs | 1928–29 Ashes series (4–1) |
| 166 | 180 | Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (A) | 8 March 1929 | Lost by 5 wickets | 1928–29 Ashes series (4–1) |
| 167 | 181 | South Africa | Edgbaston, Birmingham (H) | 15 June 1929 | Match drawn | South African cricket team in England in 1929 (2–0) |
| 168 | 182 | South Africa | Lord's, London (H) | 29 June 1929 | Match drawn | South African cricket team in England in 1929 (2–0) |
| 169 | 183 | South Africa | Headingley, Leeds (H) | 13 July 1929 | Won by 5 wickets | South African cricket team in England in 1929 (2–0) |
| 170 | 184 | South Africa | Old Trafford, Manchester (H) | 27 July 1929 | Won by an innings and 32 runs | South African cricket team in England in 1929 (2–0) |
| 171 | 185 | South Africa | The Oval, London (H) | 17 August 1929 | Match drawn | South African cricket team in England in 1929 (2–0) |
| 172 | 186 | New Zealand | Lancaster Park, Christchurch (A) | 10 January 1930 | Won by 8 wickets | English cricket team in New Zealand in 1929–30 (1–0) |
| 173 | 187 | West Indies | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown (A) | 11 January 1930 | Match drawn | English cricket team in the West Indies in 1929–30 (1–1) |
| 174 | 188 | New Zealand | Basin Reserve, Wellington (A) | 24 January 1930 | Match drawn | English cricket team in New Zealand in 1929–30 (1–0) |
| 175 | 189 | West Indies | Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain (A) | 1 February 1930 | Won by 167 runs | English cricket team in the West Indies in 1929–30 (1–1) |
| 176 | 190 | New Zealand | Eden Park, Auckland (A) | 14 February 1930 | Match drawn | English cricket team in New Zealand in 1929–30 (1–0) |
| 177 | 191 | New Zealand | Eden Park, Auckland (A) | 21 February 1930 | Match drawn | English cricket team in New Zealand in 1929–30 (1–0) |
| 178 | 192 | West Indies | Bourda, Georgetown (A) | 21 February 1930 | Lost by 289 runs | English cricket team in the West Indies in 1929–30 (1–1) |
| 179 | 193 | West Indies | Sabina Park, Kingston (A) | 3 April 1930 | Match drawn | English cricket team in the West Indies in 1929–30 (1–1) |
| 180 | 194 | Australia | Trent Bridge, Nottingham (H) | 13 June 1930 | Won by 93 runs | 1930 Ashes series (1–2) |
| 181 | 195 | Australia | Lord's, London (H) | 27 June 1930 | Lost by 7 wickets | 1930 Ashes series (1–2) |
| 182 | 196 | Australia | Headingley, Leeds (H) | 11 July 1930 | Match drawn | 1930 Ashes series (1–2) |
| 183 | 197 | Australia | Old Trafford, Manchester (H) | 25 July 1930 | Match drawn | 1930 Ashes series (1–2) |
| 184 | 198 | Australia | The Oval, London (H) | 16 August 1930 | Lost by an innings and 39 runs | 1930 Ashes series (1–2) |
| 185 | 200 | South Africa | Old Wanderers, Johannesburg (A) | 24 December 1930 | Lost by 28 runs | English cricket team in South Africa in 1930–31 (0–1) |
| 186 | 202 | South Africa | Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town (A) | 1 January 1931 | Match drawn | English cricket team in South Africa in 1930–31 (0–1) |
| 187 | 204 | South Africa | Kingsmead, Durban (A) | 16 January 1931 | Match drawn | English cricket team in South Africa in 1930–31 (0–1) |
| 188 | 206 | South Africa | Old Wanderers, Johannesburg (A) | 13 February 1931 | Match drawn | English cricket team in South Africa in 1930–31 (0–1) |
| 189 | 207 | South Africa | Kingsmead, Durban (A) | 21 February 1931 | Match drawn | English cricket team in South Africa in 1930–31 (0–1) |
| 190 | 209 | New Zealand | Lord's, London (H) | 27 June 1931 | Match drawn | New Zealand cricket team in England in 1931 (1–0) |
| 191 | 210 | New Zealand | The Oval, London (H) | 29 July 1931 | Won by an innings and 26 runs | New Zealand cricket team in England in 1931 (1–0) |
| 192 | 211 | New Zealand | Old Trafford, Manchester (H) | 15 August 1931 | Match drawn | New Zealand cricket team in England in 1931 (1–0) |
| 193 | 219 | India | Lord's, London (H) | 25 June 1932 | Won by 158 runs | Indian cricket team in England in 1932 (1–0) |
| 194 | 220 | Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (A) | 2 December 1932 | Won by 10 wickets | 1932–33 Ashes series (4–1) |
| 195 | 221 | Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (A) | 30 December 1932 | Lost by 111 runs | 1932–33 Ashes series (4–1) |
| 196 | 222 | Australia | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (A) | 13 January 1933 | Won by 338 runs | 1932–33 Ashes series (4–1) |
| 197 | 223 | Australia | The Gabba, Brisbane (A) | 10 February 1933 | Won by 6 wickets | 1932–33 Ashes series (4–1) |
| 198 | 224 | Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (A) | 23 February 1933 | Won by 8 wickets | 1932–33 Ashes series (4–1) |
| 199 | 225 | New Zealand | Lancaster Park, Christchurch (A) | 24 March 1933 | Match drawn | English cricket team in New Zealand in 1932–33 (0–0) |
| 200 | 226 | New Zealand | Eden Park, Auckland (A) | 31 March 1933 | Match drawn | English cricket team in New Zealand in 1932–33 (0–0) |
| 201 | 227 | West Indies | Lord's, London (H) | 24 June 1933 | Won by an innings and 27 runs | West Indian cricket team in England in 1933 (2–0) |
| 202 | 228 | West Indies | Old Trafford, Manchester (H) | 22 July 1933 | Match drawn | West Indian cricket team in England in 1933 (2–0) |
| 203 | 229 | West Indies | The Oval, London (H) | 12 August 1933 | Won by an innings and 17 runs | West Indian cricket team in England in 1933 (2–0) |
| 204 | 230 | India | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai (A) | 15 December 1933 | Won by 9 wickets | English cricket team in India in 1933–34 (2–0) |
| 205 | 231 | India | Eden Gardens, Calcutta (A) | 5 January 1934 | Match drawn | English cricket team in India in 1933–34 (2–0) |
| 206 | 232 | India | M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai (A) | 10 February 1934 | Won by 202 runs | English cricket team in India in 1933–34 (2–0) |
| 207 | 233 | Australia | Trent Bridge, Nottingham (H) | 8 June 1934 | Lost by 238 runs | 1934 Ashes series (1–2) |
| 208 | 234 | Australia | Lord's, London (H) | 22 June 1934 | Won by an innings and 38 runs | 1934 Ashes series (1–2) |
| 209 | 235 | Australia | Old Trafford, Manchester (H) | 6 July 1934 | Match drawn | 1934 Ashes series (1–2) |
| 210 | 236 | Australia | Headingley, Leeds (H) | 20 July 1934 | Match drawn | 1934 Ashes series (1–2) |
| 211 | 237 | Australia | The Oval, London (H) | 18 August 1934 | Lost by 562 runs | 1934 Ashes series (1–2) |
| 212 | 238 | West Indies | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown (A) | 8 January 1935 | Won by 4 wickets | English cricket team in the West Indies in 1934–35 (1–2) |
| 213 | 239 | West Indies | Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain (A) | 24 January 1935 | Lost by 217 runs | English cricket team in the West Indies in 1934–35 (1–2) |
| 214 | 240 | West Indies | Bourda, Georgetown (A) | 14 February 1935 | Match drawn | English cricket team in the West Indies in 1934–35 (1–2) |
| 215 | 241 | West Indies | Sabina Park, Kingston (A) | 14 March 1935 | Lost by an innings and 161 runs | English cricket team in the West Indies in 1934–35 (1–2) |
| 216 | 242 | South Africa | Trent Bridge, Nottingham (H) | 15 June 1935 | Match drawn | South African cricket team in England in 1935 (0–1) |
| 217 | 243 | South Africa | Lord's, London (H) | 29 June 1935 | Lost by 157 runs | South African cricket team in England in 1935 (0–1) |
| 218 | 244 | South Africa | Headingley, Leeds (H) | 13 July 1935 | Match drawn | South African cricket team in England in 1935 (0–1) |
| 219 | 245 | South Africa | Old Trafford, Manchester (H) | 27 July 1935 | Match drawn | South African cricket team in England in 1935 (0–1) |
| 220 | 246 | South Africa | The Oval, London (H) | 17 August 1935 | Match drawn | South African cricket team in England in 1935 (0–1) |
| 221 | 252 | India | Lord's, London (H) | 27 June 1936 | Won by 9 wickets | Indian cricket team in England in 1936 (2–0) |
| 222 | 253 | India | Old Trafford, Manchester (H) | 25 July 1936 | Match drawn | Indian cricket team in England in 1936 (2–0) |
| 223 | 254 | India | The Oval, London (H) | 15 August 1936 | Won by 9 wickets | Indian cricket team in England in 1936 (2–0) |
| 224 | 255 | Australia | The Gabba, Brisbane (A) | 4 December 1936 | Won by 322 runs | 1936–37 Ashes series (2–3) |
| 225 | 256 | Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (A) | 18 December 1936 | Won by an innings and 2 runs | 1936–37 Ashes series (2–3) |
| 226 | 257 | Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (A) | 1 January 1937 | Lost by 365 runs | 1936–37 Ashes series (2–3) |
| 227 | 258 | Australia | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (A) | 29 January 1937 | Lost by 148 runs | 1936–37 Ashes series (2–3) |
| 228 | 259 | Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (A) | 26 February 1937 | Lost by an innings and 200 runs | 1936–37 Ashes series (2–3) |
| 229 | 260 | New Zealand | Lord's, London (H) | 26 June 1937 | Match drawn | New Zealand cricket team in England in 1937 (1–0) |
| 230 | 261 | New Zealand | Old Trafford, Manchester (H) | 24 July 1937 | Won by 130 runs | New Zealand cricket team in England in 1937 (1–0) |
| 231 | 262 | New Zealand | The Oval, London (H) | 14 August 1937 | Match drawn | New Zealand cricket team in England in 1937 (1–0) |
| 232 | 263 | Australia | Trent Bridge, Nottingham (H) | 10 June 1938 | Match drawn | 1938 Ashes series (1–1) |
| 233 | 264 | Australia | Lord's, London (H) | 24 June 1938 | Match drawn | 1938 Ashes series (1–1) |
| 234 | 265 | Australia | Headingley, Leeds (H) | 22 July 1938 | Lost by 5 wickets | 1938 Ashes series (1–1) |
| 235 | 266 | Australia | The Oval, London (H) | 20 August 1938 | Won by an innings and 579 runs | 1938 Ashes series (1–1) |
| 236 | 267 | South Africa | Old Wanderers, Johannesburg (A) | 24 December 1938 | Match drawn | English cricket team in South Africa in 1938–39 (1–0) |
| 237 | 268 | South Africa | Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town (A) | 31 December 1938 | Match drawn | English cricket team in South Africa in 1938–39 (1–0) |
| 238 | 269 | South Africa | Kingsmead, Durban (A) | 20 January 1939 | Won by an innings and 13 runs | English cricket team in South Africa in 1938–39 (1–0) |
| 239 | 270 | South Africa | Old Wanderers, Johannesburg (A) | 18 February 1939 | Match drawn | English cricket team in South Africa in 1938–39 (1–0) |
| 240 | 271 | South Africa | Kingsmead, Durban (A) | 3 March 1939 | Match drawn | English cricket team in South Africa in 1938–39 (1–0) |
| 241 | 272 | West Indies | Lord's, London (H) | 24 June 1939 | Won by 8 wickets | West Indian cricket team in England in 1939 (1–0) |
| 242 | 273 | West Indies | Old Trafford, Manchester (H) | 22 July 1939 | Match drawn | West Indian cricket team in England in 1939 (1–0) |
| 243 | 274 | West Indies | The Oval, London (H) | 19 August 1939 | Match drawn | West Indian cricket team in England in 1939 (1–0) |

## Summary

| Team | Total matches | Total matches | Total matches | Total matches | Total matches | Home matches | Home matches | Home matches | Home matches | Home matches | Away matches | Away matches | Away matches | Away matches | Away matches |
| Team | Mat | Won | Lost | Draw | W/L | Mat | Won | Lost | Draw | W/L | Mat | Won | Lost | Draw | W/L |
| Australia | 49 | 15 | 22 | 12 | 0.681 | 24 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 0.500 | 25 | 11 | 14 | 0 | 0.785 |
| India | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | – | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | – | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | – |
| New Zealand | 12 | 3 | 0 | 9 | – | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | – | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | – |
| South Africa | 35 | 10 | 5 | 20 | 2.000 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 5.000 | 20 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 1.250 |
| West Indies | 17 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 2.666 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | – | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0.666 |
| Total | 120 | 41 | 30 | 49 | 1.366 | 58 | 20 | 9 | 29 | 2.222 | 62 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 1.000 |