The Ashes 2025/26: Test dates, UK start times, how to watch, TV channel and venues

England Ashes Squad Training Session & Media Opportunity
Ben Stokes will captain England in Australia for the first time (Picture: Getty Images)

The Ashes gets underway on Friday as England look to win in Australia for the first time in 15 years and regain the famous urn.

The last Ashes series finished 2-2 in England in 2023, but it has been very one-sided in Australia in recent years.

The English won 3-1 in 2010/11 but since then the Aussies have won 5-0, 4-0 and 4-0, with the most recent whitewash in 2021/22.

However, there is hope that Ben Stokes can lead his team to a rare victory Down Under, or at the very least be a lot more competitive than recent trips.

Australia will be captained by Steve Smith in the first Test as Pat Cummins is injured, although the pace bowler is expected to return in the second contest.

The home side will also be without Josh Hazelwood in Perth, so England have a chance to start well against a depleted Aussie attack.

Get ready for some late nights or very early morning as England take on one of the toughest tests in cricket.

Test dates and UK times

First Test – Optus Stadium, Perth

Start date: November 21

UK start time: 2.30am

First session: 2.30-4.30am

Second session: 5.10-7.10am

Final session: 7.30-9.30am

England Ashes Squad Training Session & Media Opportunity
The England squad ahead of the first Test (Picture: Getty Images)

Second Test – The Gabba, Brisbane

Start date: December 4

UK start time: 4.30am (day/night match)

First session: 4.30-6.30am

Second session: 7.10-9.10am

Final session: 9.30-11.30am

Third Test – Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

Start date: December 17

UK start time: 12am

First session: 12-2am

Second session: 2.40-4.40am

Final session: 5-7am

England v England Lions
Jofra Archer is fit and available for England (Picture: Getty Images)

Fourth Test – MCG, Melbourne

Start date: December 25

UK start time: 11.30pm

First session: 11.30pm-1.30am

Second session: 2.10-4.10am

Final session: 4.30-6.30am

Fifth Test – SCG, Sydney

Start date: January 3

UK start time: 11.30pm

First session: 11.30pm-1.30am

Second session: 2.10-4.10am

Final session: 4.30-6.30am

How to watch The Ashes on TV in the UK

TNT Sports will be showing all the action in the UK, so you will need a subscription to watch on their channel or streaming service Discovery+.

The BBC’s Test Match Special will be covering the series on the radio.

While Sky continues to show home England games, there was reportedly little interest from the broadcaster in the overseas series as focus is on Premier League football and the World Darts Championship over the winter.

Ashes venues

Optus Stadium, Perth

Capacity: 61,000

AUSTRALIA-LANDMARK-STADIUM
The Optus Stadium in Perth (Picture: Getty Images)

The Gabba, Brisbane

Capacity: 37,000

Australia v India - T20 Series: Game 5
The Gabba in Brisbane (Picture: Getty Images)

Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

Capacity: 53,500

AFLW Grand Final - Adelaide v Melbourne
The Adelaide Oval (Picture: Getty Images)

MCG, Melboune

Capacity: 100,000

2023 AFL Grand Final - Collingwood v Brisbane
The Melbourne Cricket Ground (Picture: Getty Images)

SCG, Sydney

Capacity: 48,000

Sydney Celebrates 43rd Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade
The Sydney Cricket Ground (Picture: Getty Images)

England squad

Batters

Harry Brook

Jacob Bethall

Zak Crawley

Ben Duckett

Ollie Pope

Joe Root

England Ashes Squad Training Session & Media Opportunity
Much is expected of Joe Root for England this winter (Picture: Getty Images)

All-Rounders

Ben Stokes

Will Jacks

Wicketkeeper

Jamie Smith

Bowlers

Jofra Archer

Gus Atkinson

Shoaib Bashir

Brydon Carse

Matthew Potts

Josh Tongue

Mark Wood

Australia squad

Batters

Usman Khawaja

Jake Weatherald

Marnus Labuschagne

Steve Smith

Travis Head

Josh Inglis

Australian Men's Test Squad Portrait Session
Steve Smith captains Australia in the first Test (Picture: Getty Images)

All-Rounders

Cameron Green

Beau Webster

Wicketkeeper

Alex Carey

Bowlers

Pat Cummins (injured first Test)

Mitchell Starc

Josh Hazelwood (injured first Test)

Scott Boland

Nathan Lyon

Sean Abbott

Brendan Doggett

Michael Neser

Sheffield Shield - NSW v VIC: Day 2
Mitchell Starc will lead Australia’s pace attack (Picture: Getty Images)

Ashes odds

Series winner

4/7 Australia

17/2 Draw

2/1 England

First Test

4/6 Australia

6/4 England

12/1 Draw

Odds courtesy of Betfair

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