There’s nothing quite like the Ashes and attention has turned to the next series in 2025/26. It seems like just yesterday that fans up and down the country were cursing the typical English weather for ending England’s hopes of a famous Ashes win over Australia in 2023.
But last year’s historic encounter is a distant memory and we’re already thinking about the next series, which is set to get underway in just over a year. While we’ll have our fingers crossed that there’ll be no rain to spoil the fun as we head to sunnier climes down under, our miserable record in Australia might take over in dampening the mood.
When is the Ashes?
While the exact dates are unconfirmed, next year’s Ashes are expected to get underway in November of next year, with the final Test taking place in January 2026. While it may be winter for us, it’s Australia’s turn to host so it’ll be taking place during their summer months.
This may be good for the weather, meaning hopefully we see the maximum amount of play. However, for those of us watching the action back in England, it will sadly mean plenty of late nights glued to the TV.
Where will the Ashes be played?
We know it’s in Australia but as it’s still early days, we’re yet to have official confirmation of what venues will host the five matches. However, we can be pretty confident that they’ll take place in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, as is tradition.
The last time England headed to Oz for the Ashes, Perth were unable to host their Test match due to complications surrounding the pandemic. This led to Hobart in Tasmania stepping up as an Ashes venue for the first time ever.
Hospitality at the Ashes
If you don’t fancy cold late nights watching at home and you’re thinking of heading out to Australia to watch the Ashes in style, you’ve come to the right place.
Details of hospitality for the Ashes are still yet to be confirmed but you can register your interest with the link below to be the first to hear about more details.
Enquire today to register your interest for the 2025/26 Ashes series.
Can England end their miserable record down under?
While it’s natural to feel optimistic ahead of an Ashes series, England fans will be wary of being too confident when the campaign gets underway in Australia next year.
We haven’t enjoyed Ashes success down under since a 3-1 series win in 2010/11, which remains England’s only triumph on Australian soil since 1987. Led by captain Andrew Strauss, the visitors broke the mould with a rousing victory that stunned the hosts.
England turned up in Oz with a squad packed full of superstars, including James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Kevin Pietersen and Graeme Swann. But while they all contributed to the famous victory, it was Alastair Cook who stole the show.
Their record runs scorer topped the charts for the series, knocking an incredible 766 across the five matches, almost 200 more than his closest rival. Cook kicked things off with an unbeaten 235 in the opening Test, before a strong 189 in the final match secured him player of the series.
Remarkably, that iconic England win more than 12 years ago was the last time a visiting side has won an Ashes series and that miserable away form was summed up perfectly in our last venture to Australia.
England lost the first three matches to emphatically end their chances of winning the famous urn, before losing the final Test after the fourth ended in a draw. While it was a campaign to forget, it ultimately paved the way for a new era of Test cricket for England.
Following the series, coach Chris Silverwood was sacked, while captain Joe Root soon followed as he stepped down a few months later. These events led to Brendon McCullum taking charge and Ben Stokes coming in as skipper. The pair adopted a brand-new style known as ‘Bazball’ that we’ve all grown to love and the all-action, aggressive approach may just spawn another famous victory in Australia next winter.
What happened last time?
England haven’t won the Ashes since a gripping 3-2 success back in 2015 but they came so close to finally reclaiming the title last summer. Australia arrived in search of their second successive victory and it looked like a foregone conclusion as they raced into a 2-0 lead with wins at Edgbaston and Lord’s.
The series wasn’t without controversy as Jonny Bairstow was infamously called out after leaving his crease and being stumped by Alex Carey. Despite England’s protestations, the decision remained final and the incident seemed to spur the hosts on.
Stokes’ side came out swinging and won the following match in Headingley. Yet despite looking good to draw the series at Old Trafford, the fourth Test was disrupted by rain and was eventually abandoned, ending in a draw.
That meant that the best England could hope for was a draw in the series, which wouldn’t be enough to reclaim the Ashes due to Australia being the holders. Despite that, England were on top form in the final Test at The Oval and won by 49 runs.
Midway through the Test, Broad announced his intention to retire following the match and in a fitting departure, the final two days belonged to him. The England legend was on fire in his farewell, smashing the final ever delivery he faced for six before his ball saw Carey caught behind to win England the match and tie the series.
