All you need to know about The Ashes

The most eagerly anticipated Ashes series in recent years got off to a topsy-turvy start in Perth, but, as so often happens down under, it was Australia who came out on top at Optus Stadium, claiming a 1-0 series lead.

After a frantic opening day that saw 19 wickets fall, England looked in control at lunch on day two. However, a second-innings batting collapse allowed makeshift Australia opener Travis Head to produce a masterful 83-ball 123, guiding his team to an eight-wicket victory.

England will aim to level the series at the Gabba in the second Test, which starts on December 4, but history suggests the tourists will struggle at a ground where they last won in 1986.

When is the 2025-26 Ashes series?

The 74th Ashes series between Australia and England begins on Thursday, November 20 in Perth and is set to end at the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 8 next year.

Where is the 2025-26 Ashes series being played?

The 2025-26 Ashes are being held in Australia and the five Test matches take place in Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.

Optus Stadium, Perth

First Test – Nov 20-Nov 25
Result Australia won by eight wickets
England 172 (Brook 52, Starc 7-58), Australia 132 (Carey 26, Stokes 5-23), England 164 (Atkinson 37, Boland 4-33), Australia 205-2 (Head 123, Carse 2-44)

The Gabba, Brisbane

Second Test (day/night) – Dec 4-Dec 8
Start time 4.30am GMT
Capacity 37,000
H2H at the Gabba Aus 13 wins, Eng 4 wins, 5 draws
England's last win at the Gabba 1986

Adelaide Oval, Adeliade

Third Test – Dec 17-Dec 21
Start time Midnight GMT
Capacity 53,500
H2H at the Adelaide Oval Aus 19 wins, Eng 9 wins, 5 draws
England's last win at the Adelaide Oval 2010

The iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground will again host the traditional Boxing Day TestCredit: Getty Images

Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

Fourth Test – Dec 26-Dec 30
Start time 11.30pm GMT (Dec 25)
Capacity 100,000
H2H at the MCG Aus 29 wins, Eng 20 wins, 8 draws
England's last win at the MCG 2010

Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

Fifth Test – Jan 4-8 
Start time 11.30pm GMT (Jan 3)
Capacity 48,000
H2H at the SCG Aus 27 wins, Eng 22 wins, 8 draws
England's last win at the SCG 2011

Ashes head-to-head record

How can I watch the 2025-26 Ashes series?

Every ball of the 2025-26 Ashes will be shown live on TNT Sports in the UK and Ireland.

Former England players Sir Alastair Cook, Steven Finn and Graeme Swann will be in Australia alongside presenter Becky Ives, while Alastair Eykyn and Rob Hatch, TNT Sports' regular rugby union and cycling commentators, are set to call the action live from the UK.

Former England Women's cricketer Ebony Rainford-Brent, a long-standing member of the BBC's Test Match Special team, will join Eykyn and Hatch in the commentary booth.

2025-26 Ashes squads

Australia

Australia Test captain Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the first Test but hopes to play some part in the series. Former skipper Steve Smith will lead the side in Perth in his absence.

Cummins' fast bowling colleague Josh Hazlewood was also originally named in Australia's squad for the first Test but suffered a minor hamstring injury playing for New South Wales in a Sheffield Shield match.

First-Test squad: Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.

England

There were no surprises in the squad announced by England for this winter's series. Captain Stokes is fit to lead his side after missing the final Test of the summer with injury while Shoaib Bashir, who missed a large chunk of the India series with a finger injury, is one of two spin options alongside Surrey all-rounder Will Jacks.

Touring party: 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 (wk), Josh Tongue, Mark Wood.

Who are the favourites to win the Ashes?

Here are the latest odds for the five-Test series:

Odds correct at time of publishing

Why is it called the Ashes?

'The Ashes' was coined after England lost to Australia for the first time on home soil at The Oval in August 1882.

A journalist for British newspaper the Sporting Times wrote a mock obituary of English cricket following the defeat which said that "the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia". 

The notion captured the imagination of the sporting public and England captain Ivo Bligh vowed to return home with "the ashes" on their tour to Australia that winter. The moniker has stuck ever since.

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