In 2001, the Australia national cricket team toured England and Ireland to play county matches and the 2001 Ashes series.

Australia comfortably won the Test series 4–1 and retained the Ashes, which were in their possession since 1989.

The England captain Michael Atherton finished his international career after the fifth and final test of the series.

[1] Buchanan had previously led the Queensland cricket team to their first Sheffield Shield title.

[6] Much of the team prior to the series had been playing in English County Cricket competitions.

[7] During the selection of the team, batsman Justin Langer was originally not chosen by Steve Waugh.

However, Justin Langer replaced Michael Slater for the last match of the Ashes series.

[8] The selection committee for the 2001 team was Trevor Hohns, Andrew Hilditch, David Boon and Allan Border.

McGrath and Warne were described as "unstoppable", combining 63 wickets at 18, becoming "one of the most dominant one-two acts" in an Ashes series.

[19] Originally in the team party, Nathan Bracken was chosen to play in the one-day tests but injured a shoulder.

[22] Captain Steve Waugh did not travel for the Ireland leg of the tour due to his calf injury.

[25] The Irish team had no players from the 1993 competition but Derek Heasley, Andy Patterson and Kyle McCallan had both played in 1997.

[30] England was all out for less than 300 runs in the first innings, despite a 103-run partnership between Alec Stewart and Andy Caddick for the 10th wicket.

Shane Warne took 6 for 33 in the first innings with Jason Gillespie taking 3 low order wickets making England out for 162.

During the 2001 Ashes series, McGrath passed Dennis Lillie's record of 355 dismissals, becoming the highest wicket taker among Australian fast bowlers.

It was termed by Adam Gilchrist, the Australian wicket keeper, as "one of the great Ashes innings".