England head to Melbourne for the fourth Ashes Test with only pride to play for. Ben Stokes’ men suffered defeat in Adelaide last time out to lose the series.

The driving motivation for England now will be to avoid extending their winless run in Australia to 19 matches and finally win a Test down under.

England have surrendered the chance to win the Ashes in only 11 days of cricket and now have Melbourne and Sydney to try and avoid a humiliating clean sweep.

The Sporting News looks at the key details ahead of this game, including how to watch the match and start times.

What time does the Fourth Ashes Test start between Australia and England?

The Fourth 2025-26 Ashes Test between Australia and England takes place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from Friday December 26 to Tuesday December 30. 

The first ball will be bowled at 10:30 a.m. local time.

Here’s how that time translates across Australia.

 

Date

First Ball

Australian Eastern Daylight Time

Fri, Dec. 26

10:30 a.m.

Australian Eastern Standard Time

Fri, Dec. 26

9:30 a.m.

Australian Central Daylight Time

Fri, Dec. 26

10:00 a.m.

Australian Western Standard Time

Fri, Dec. 26

7:30 a.m.

Australia vs. England Fourth Ashes Test live stream, TV channelFree-to-air channel: Channel 7Live stream: Kayo, Foxtel, 7plus

The 2025-26 Ashes series is available for live TV broadcast on Fox Cricket and Channel 7 in Australia. Streaming options are available on Foxtel, 7plus and Kayo Sports.

New users of Kayo can currently sign up for a FREE trial. This dedicated streaming service offers affordable, contract-free plans starting at just $25 per month. Plus, it’s a paradise for sports fans, streaming plenty of live action, including cricket, AFL, F1, and much more.

The Ashes 2025 schedule