England face uphill task to end 55-year Ashes drought

England host Australia at Wembley on Saturday in the first of a three-Test rugby league series when the list of “first since” references could fill the match-day programme as the hosts seek to overturn decades of Kangaroo dominance.

- 

It is the first “Ashes” series between the sport's original big two for 22 years, when Australia swept to a 3-0 whitewash over the side then competing as Great Britain.

That extended a run of Australian dominance that dates back to 1970 — the last time Great Britain won a series - and was their 13th successive triumph in a contest that began 117 years ago.