The world’s biggest bilateral cricket rivalry is set to begin next week as two giants of the sport, Australia and England, face off in a five-match Test series known as “The Ashes.” The series gets its name from an incident dating back nearly 150 years, when Australia defeated England on English soil for the first time. A mock obituary was published in a British newspaper declaring that “English cricket has died” and that its ashes had been taken to Australia. This symbolic moment gave birth to one of the most intense sporting contests in history.
Played every two years and alternately hosted by each nation, the Ashes remains the pinnacle of Test cricket. Across nearly two months, the contest serves up everything the sport is loved for: high-voltage battles, raw drama, sharp sledging, iconic knocks, fiery spells, stunning comebacks, and many more moments that define cricketing history.
This edition returns to Australian soil, where Ben Stokes and his men will take the field with a clear mission to win the Ashes series away from home, something England has not achieved in the last 15 years. Let’s take a closer look at the venues for the 2025–26 Ashes and analyse which team is better placed to prevail this time.
Match 1- Optus Stadium, Perth (Nov 21-25)
This will be the first time that Optus Stadium in Perth hosts an Ashes Test. Opened in 2018, the venue has staged several international fixtures, and an Ashes Test was originally planned there in 2021 before being shifted to Hobart due to COVID-19 restrictions. However, Optus making its Ashes debut does not mean Perth is new to the rivalry. For decades, the city’s iconic WACA Ground served as a regular Ashes venue and produced some of the most memorable contests in the series’ history.
The WACA, long regarded as Australia’s fortress, is famous for its express pace and steep bounce, conditions that fast bowlers dream of. Both England and Australia have brought formidable pace attacks to this ground over the years, making battles here especially intense. One of the most unforgettable Ashes moments occurred during the 2013–14 series, when Ryan Harris dismissed Alastair Cook with the very first ball of the third Test, a wicket that became an instant classic and symbolised the dominance Australia enjoyed at the WACA.
- Capacity: 61,266
- Matches Played: 14
- Australia Won: 10
- England Won: 1
- Draw: 3
- Best Batting: Steve Smith – 239 runs
- Best Bowling Figure: Craig McDermott – 8/97
Match 2 – The Gabba, Brisbane (4–8 Dec)
The Gabba in Brisbane is one of Australia’s most intimidating Test venues, and it has historically served as the starting point for many home Ashes series. With its hard surface, consistent bounce, and strong support for aggressive fast bowling, the ground has long been regarded as an Australian fortress. England has historically found it difficult to conquer, with only a few victories here since WWII.
England has not won a Test at the Gabba in nearly 50 years, a drought often referred to as the “Gabba Curse.” Over the decades they have produced several spirited fights in Brisbane, yet the final push has always eluded them. This time, the challenge becomes even tougher as the match will be played in the day-night format, a setting where Australia holds a flawless record. Having never lost a pink-ball test, Australia will walk into Brisbane with added confidence, making England’s task at one of cricket’s most unforgiving venues even more daunting.
- Capacity: 37000
- Matches Played: 22
- Australia Won: 12
- England Won: 4
- Draw: 6
- Best Batting: Alastair Cook – 235* runs
- Best Bowling Figure: Shane Warne – 8/71
Match 3 – The Oval, Adelaide (17-22 Dec)
The Adelaide Oval is one of the most picturesque and historically rich cricket venues in the world. Known for its iconic scoreboard, cathedral backdrop, and unique blend of tradition and modern architecture, it has hosted Ashes cricket for well over a century. Adelaide offers a surface that evolves gradually across five days, providing opportunities for batters early on and spinners later in the match. Its reputation as one of the fairest and most balanced test venues has produced several classic Ashes contests.
In recent years, the Adelaide Oval has become a regular host of day–night Test matches, but this time the pink-ball fixture has shifted to the Gabba, bringing Adelaide back to its traditional daytime Test format. For England, however, the venue has not been kind in the past decade and a half.
- Capacity: 53,500
- Matches Played: 32
- Australia Won: 17
- England Won: 9
- Draw: 6
- Best Batting: Sir Donald Bradman – 299* runs
- Best Bowling Figure: Ernie McCormick – 8/71
Match 4 – The Melbourne Cricket Ground – (26-30 Dec)
The famous Boxing Day Test is hosted at the world’s most iconic cricket stadium, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, traditionally the centrepiece of every Ashes series. Known for its vast outfield, shifting pitch behaviour, and electrifying crowds, the MCG has delivered countless dramatic Ashes moments. Australia holds a formidable record at this venue, making it one of the toughest grounds for visiting teams to conquer. England’s last Test victory at the MCG came in 2010, when they won by an innings and stunned the Australian crowd, marking one of their most dominant performances on Australian soil.
- Capacity: 100024
- Matches Played: 56
- Australia Won: 28
- England Won: 20
- Draw: 8
- Best Batting: Bob Cowper – 307 runs
- Best Bowling Figure: Arthur Mailey – 9/121
Match 5 – The Sydney Cricket Ground (4–8 Jan)
The Sydney Cricket Ground is one of Australia’s oldest and most atmospheric venues, celebrated for its charm, historic pavilions, and strong support for spin bowling. As the traditional host of the final Test of every Ashes series, the SCG often becomes the stage where rivalries reach their emotional peak. The pitch usually begins true for batting before slowing down and offering significant turn, bringing spinners into play. The ground has witnessed some of the Ashes’ most iconic matches, and while England has enjoyed memorable victories here in the past, they have been waiting for their next win since 2011.
- Capacity: 48000
- Matches Played: 56
- Australia Won: 27
- England Won: 22
- Draw: 7
- Best Batting: Reginald “Tip” Foster– 287 runs
- Best Bowling Figure: George Lohmann – 8/35