The Ashes news: Full list of fixtures, dates and times as England meet old foes Australia

The Ashes urn is back in the spotlight as England attempt to reclaim the famous trophy from eternal rivals Australia in the coming months.

Once again, the cricketing contest promises to carry the weight of history, vengeance, and national pride.

From late November in Perth to early January in Sydney, fans can expect high-drama Test cricket at its finest.

Everything you need to know about the Ashes

The Ashes series is more than just another Test tour: it’s rooted in legend, dating back to 1882 when Australia won for the first time on English soil.

A local newspaper obituary playfully declared “the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia” – and thus a tradition was born.

The five-match 2025/26 edition will take place Down Under and forms part of the 2025/27 ICC World Test Championship cycle.

For England, the challenge is steep.

They haven’t won a series in Australia since 2010-11 and will face a home side determined to defend their hold on the urn.

Australia, meanwhile, have switched up the order of venues – for the first time in decades, the series begins in Perth rather than Brisbane – to add a fresh twist to an old rivalry.

Regardless, the five venues – Perth Stadium, The Gabba, Adelaide Oval, MCG, and SCG – each bring their own character, conditions, and crowd atmosphere.

And with the schedule tightly packed around the Christmas and New Year period, players must hit the ground running as any early slip could prove fatal.

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What are the fixtures for the 2025-26 Ashes?

First Test: November 21-25 (02:30 GMT) – Optus Stadium, Perth

Second Test: December 4-8 (04:30 GMT) – The Gabba, Brisbane

Third Test: December 17-21 (00:00 GMT) – Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

Fourth Test: December 26-30 (23:30 GMT) – Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

Fifth Test: January 4-8 (23:30 GMT) – Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

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