Everything you need to know for the 2025-26 Ashes series in Australia

Ben Stokes and his English side are coming down under for one of the most eagerly-anticipated Ashes series in history.

England will be trying to reclaim the Ashes for the first time since 2018, when Australia won 4-0 at home.

The past two series in England have been draws.

Here’s all you need to know about the 2025-26 Ashes.

WHEN IS THE PERTH TEST ON?

First Test: November 21-25, Optus Stadium — Perth

WHEN IS THE BRISBANE TEST ON?

Second Test: December 4-8, The Gabba — Brisbane

WHEN IS THE ADELAIDE TEST ON?

Third Test: December 17-21, Adelaide Oval — Adelaide

WHEN IS THE MELBOURNE TEST ON?

Fourth Test: December 26-30, MCG — Melbourne

WHEN IS THE SYDNEY TEST ON?

Fifth Test: January 4-8, SCG — Sydney

HOW CAN I GET TICKETS?

Tickets are selling fast, but are still available for each Test.

For the Perth Test, tickets are available from Ticketmaster.

Cricket Australia says the first two days have been sold out.

For the remaining four Tests, tickets are available from Ticketek.

The current allocation for the first three days in Brisbane, Adelaide and Sydney have been exhausted.

More than 220,000 tickets for the series had already been snapped up by early June.

Tickets vary in price depending on stadium, stand and level.

WHERE CAN I WATCH THE TESTS?

The Ashes Tests will be shown on Fox Cricket and Channel 7 in Australia.

Code Sports will also have full coverage of every day’s play live.

WHAT TIME DOES PLAY START EACH DAY?

It depends on the time zone you’re watching from.

For example, the Perth Test starts at 10.30am local time, which is 1.30pm AEST and 2.30am Greenwich Mean Time for UK viewers.

The Brisbane Test is a day-night fixture and starts at 2.30pm local time, or 3.30pm AEDT. That’s a bit friendlier for England fans staying home, starting at 4.30am GMT.

The Adelaide Test starts at 10.30am local which is 11am AEDT and 12am GMT.

The Melbourne and Sydney Tests start at 10.30am local time, which is AEDT. That’s 11.30pm GMT.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE SERIES IS DRAWN?

Australia would retain the Ashes as the current holder of the urn.

The last Ashes ended in a 2-2 draw but Australia held onto the Ashes as it won series in 2017-18 and 2021-22.

The last time England held the Ashes was prior to the 2017-18 series, which Australia won 4-0.

WHO’S IN THE AUSTRALIAN SQUAD?

We don’t know — yet.

But the only real spots in the squad which are in conjecture are one of the opening roles and No. 3 in the batting line-up.

We’re tracking the battle to partner Usman Khawaja in Perth via our CODE Sports ‘Bat Off’ special.

WILL PAT CUMMINS PLAY?

That’s the million-dollar question.

One of our cricket gurus Ben Horne revealed Cummins had been sent for scans on his back in August and the Australian captain has since conceded he’s managing an issue.

He’s gone to serious lengths to ensure he’s fit for the first Test, even limiting the amount of time he spends holding his kids.

If he doesn’t play, it’s almost certain Scott Boland would feature in Perth.

WHO’S IN THE ENGLAND SQUAD?

Ben Stokes (captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wkt), Josh Tongue, Mark Wood.

WHAT WAS THE RESULT OF THE LAST ASHES SERIES?

The 2023 Ashes series, played in England, finished 2-2.

Australia retained the Ashes as the current holder.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME ENGLAND WON THE ASHES IN AUSTRALIA?

England’s last Ashes series win in Australia was in 2010-11.

England won the series 3-1.

Captain Alastair Cook led the way with 766 runs, averaging 127.

WHICH COUNTRY HAS WON THE MOST ASHES SERIES?

Australia has won 34 Ashes series to England’s 32.

WHICH CURRENT PLAYER HAS THE MOST ASHES RUNS?

Steve Smith has made 3417 runs in Ashes Tests.

The next best is Joe Root with 2428 runs.

WHICH CURRENT PLAYER HAS THE MOST ASHES WICKETS?

Mitchell Starc has taken 97 wickets in 22 Ashes Tests.

Pat Cummins sits second with 91 wickets from 19 Ashes Tests.

WHEN WAS THE FIRST ASHES SERIES PLAYED?

The first Ashes series was played in 1882-83 as a three Test series. Two matches were played in Melbourne and one in Sydney. England won the series 2-1.

WHAT ARE THE BETTING ODDS?

The series odds, according to TAB, are:

Australia $1.55

Draw $9

England $3.20

WHY DO AUSTRALIA AND ENGLAND PLAY FOR THE ASHES?

The term Ashes was first coined in August, 1882 after England lost to Australia for the first time in England. A day later, The Sporting Times newspaper featured a mock obituary to English cricket which said the body would be cremated and taken back to Australia. It was on Christmas Eve in 1882, at Rupertswood Estate in Melbourne’s northwest, that England captain Ivo Bligh was gifted a terracotta urn to symbolise the Ashes he had declared his side would return to England with.