The legendary Ashes rivalry reignites this week as England embark on their quest to reclaim the famous urn on Australian soil for the first time in 15 years. The series begins on Friday in Perth, with Ben Stokes's side hoping to overturn a history of one-sided contests Down Under and capitalise on an initially depleted Australian bowling attack.
Ashes Test Schedule and UK Viewing Times
For dedicated England fans, following the action will require some late nights or very early mornings. The first ball is bowled in the early hours of the UK morning. Here is the full fixture list with all the crucial UK start 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
Second Test – The Gabba, Brisbane (Day/Night)
Start date: December 4
UK start time: 4.30am
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
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 Follow The Ashes from the UK
TNT Sports holds the exclusive UK television rights for the series. To watch every delivery live, you will need a subscription to their channel or streaming service, Discovery+.
For those preferring ball-by-ball commentary, BBC's Test Match Special will provide its renowned radio coverage throughout the tour. Notably, Sky Sports, which broadcasts England's home matches, reportedly showed little interest in the overseas series, with its winter focus instead on Premier League football and the World Darts Championship.
Squads and Venues for the Series
England enter the contest with a squad led by captain Ben Stokes and featuring batsmen like Joe Root and Harry Brook. Their bowling hopes rest on the likes of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood.
The Australia squad, captained by Steve Smith in the first Test due to an injury to Pat Cummins, is also missing key paceman Josh Hazelwood for the Perth opener. This presents a significant opportunity for England to make a strong start against a weakened attack.
The battle will play out across five iconic Australian grounds:
- Optus Stadium, Perth (Capacity: 61,000)
- The Gabba, Brisbane (Capacity: 37,000)
- Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (Capacity: 53,500)
- MCG, Melbourne (Capacity: 100,000)
- SCG, Sydney (Capacity: 48,000)
The stage is set for a monumental contest. After the 2-2 draw in England in 2023, the home side are favourites, but England travel with genuine hope of being more competitive than in the recent 5-0, 4-0 and 4-0 whitewashes they have suffered in Australia.
