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No matter the sport, no matter the rivalry, few things compare to the Ashes — and the latest chapter of cricket’s epic series begins in Perth, Australia, this week.
Simply uttering the word “Ashes” to anyone in England or Australia is likely to evoke a reaction, and the coming five Test matches Down Under are as highly anticipated as any throughout this rivalry’s 143-year history.
Cricket’s growing global popularity means a gem of international sport is about to hit a new audience. So let The Athletic break down what it’s all about, the players to look out for, and why an absorbing duel continues to resonate.
What are the Ashes?
The Ashes is a cricket series held every two years between England and Australia, with the two countries taking it in turns to host.
Each series consists of five Test matches, and each of those matches is played over a maximum of five days. The winner of the series wins the Ashes and if it’s a draw, the previous winner retains them.
And yes, we are literally talking about some ashes here — with a gentle sprinkling of cricket folklore.
So, why “ashes”?
The two nations have actually been competing in cricket since 1877, but the “ashes” rivalry was sparked by Australia’s first Test victory in England in 1882 — a loss so devastating that one English newspaper published a satirical obituary for English cricket, stating the remains would be cremated and taken to Australia as its spoils from victory.
The newspaper obituary marking the death of English cricket from 1882. (Hulton Archive / Getty Images)
The return series in Australia later that year became a mission for England to regain those ashes, which it did by winning 2-1.
Another 50 years passed before a small, terracotta urn found its way to London’s Marylebone Cricket Club at Lord’s, and it has become synonymous with the series — although a Waterford Crystal trophy based on the urn (which is much bigger) is now presented to the series winner.
How long have Australia and England competed for them?
That first series in the Australian winter of 1882-83 officially represented the beginning of the Ashes record. With cricket being a summer sport, the Ashes usually take place from June to August in England, or from November to January in Australia.
The coming series will be the 74th, with Australia winning 34 and England 32. Seven have been drawn, with six of those seeing Australia retain the Ashes.
Overall Ashes series results
TeamSeries winsDraws
Australia
34
7
England
32
7
Who are the favorites?
The overall series record might be reasonably tight, but break it down and Australia has a clear edge.
The Aussies have won 20 of 36 home series and 90 Ashes Tests in Australia, compared to England’s 56 Test wins Down Under, where 26 matches have ended in a draw (yes, you can play for five days and still not get a winner).
England holds the advantage at home 54-52, although draws are the winner with 67.
Ashes series results for the away team
Touring teamSeriesSeries winsSeries drawsSeries lossesWin %
Australia in England
37
14
5
18
37.80%
England in Australia
36
14
2
20
38.90%
So, Ashes history suggests Australia is the favorite for the current series and modern results back that up.
It’s 15 tests and almost 15 years since England won even a Test match on Australian soil. The 2010-11 victory in Sydney was also the finale to the previous time England won a series Down Under.
However, the upcoming series looks far from being a foregone conclusion.
Australia’s bowling attack has been hit by injuries to key bowlers Josh Hazlewood and captain Pat Cummins, who will both miss the first Test at least.
With England taking “Bazball” — an aggressive form of cricket devised by head coach Brendon “Baz” McCullum and captain Ben Stokes — to Australia for the first time, it senses the opportunity to end its run of winless Test cricket on the continent.
England captain Ben Stokes (left) and coach Brendon McCullum talk tactics. (Philip Brown / Getty Images)
What is the schedule?
The series starts at Perth Stadium (also known as Optus Stadium) in a city where pitches are notoriously fast and bouncy. A fast bowler’s paradise, it can also reward counter-attacking batters.
The teams then fly from Western Australia to Queensland for a day-night Test at the Gabba in Brisbane. Just as fast and hostile as Perth, the second Test will be played later and with a pink ball rather than the usual red, so it is easier to see under floodlights. Australia has much more experience with the day-night format.
Next is Adelaide Oval and the likelihood of a more even pitch between bat and ball, before the traditional Boxing Day start at the iconic, 100,000-seater Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
The series completes with the New Year’s Test at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), where the spin bowlers should have more of a chance to shine.
First Test: Perth Stadium, Perth — Friday to Tuesday
Second Test: The Gabba, Brisbane — December 4-8
Third Test: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide — December 17-21
Fourth Test: MCG, Melbourne — December 26-30
Fifth Test: SCG, Sydney — January 4-8
A reminder that while Test matches are scheduled to run for five days, they can be shorter if a result arrives quicker — something Bazball has tended to deliver.
Melbourne’s MCG will host the Boxing Day Test. (Scott Barbour / Getty Images)
Who should we look out for?
There are so many narratives surrounding so many of the two Ashes squads, but these are our key figures:
England
Joe Root: The second-highest-scoring batsman in Test cricket history (13,543 runs), there are few things left to achieve for the former England captain — but scoring a Test century in Australia is one of them. It will be all eyes on Root whenever he comes to the crease.
Ben Stokes: The talismanic presence of England’s captain is hard to downplay. Stokes is a threatening bowler. He can cut loose with the bat. He buzzes around the field. On top of that, he captains England just as McCullum would wish. He is critical to England’s Ashes hopes and a magnetic presence on the field.
Jofra Archer: A quick bowler with “X factor” (so say his team-mates), Archer has battled various injury issues since bursting onto the scene in 2019. He has played in two Tests in 2025 after a four-year absence. If his body holds up, this series could remind everyone how devastating he can be.
Harry Brook: Freshly installed as England’s vice-captain, Brook is a flamboyant batter and an exciting talent. Whatever he gets up to, it’s likely to define the result.
England’s Joe Root has never scored a Test century in Australia. (Gareth Copley / Getty Images)
Australia
Steve Smith: While there is a question mark over Root in Australia, Smith will feel much more free. Sat 13th in those same all-time rankings (10,477), he looks back to his best for what is expected to be his final home Ashes series. Smith also returns to captaincy for the first Test, replacing the injured Cummins.
Pat Cummins: Speaking of whom, Cummins’ Ashes return has been spoken about since his recovery from a back issue was delayed to beyond the first Test in Perth. He is a huge miss for Australia but equally, the return of a fierce quick bowler will prove a key moment in the series whenever it does come.
Cameron Green: Before Australia’s fresh injury worries — losing Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott from their bowling attack — it was Green’s fitness that was of primary concern. A beautiful batsman and a dynamic bowler at full flow, the all-rounder is a high-class talent and a crucial part of Australia’s balance across its team.
Marnus Labuschagne: Once regarded as the best active batsman in the world, Labuschagne has since fought problematic form and, in his words, “getting a little bit too much in my own head with my technical stuff”, which he acknowledged at a press conference last week ahead of the Ashes. He is in a better place now, and is always worth a watch.
Where can I watch it?
Willow TV holds exclusive rights to broadcast the Ashes series in the United States. Like Kayo in Australia, it will host live coverage and the chance to catch up on the action. You can sign up directly with Willow or access it through a streaming service such as Fubo.
The Ashes will be shown live in the United Kingdom on TNT Sports, with daily highlights broadcast by the BBC across its various platforms.
In Australia, it is Channel Seven and Fox Cricket, which is accessible through either Fox or streaming service Kayo.
Australia’s brilliant batter Steve Smith adjusts his “Baggy Green.” (Paul Kane / Getty Images)
How about some further reading?
The Athletic is covering the entire Ashes series with expert analysis and insight provided by our new columnist, the former England captain Nasser Hussain, as well as Paul Newman and correspondents on the ground in Australia.
Paul has already illuminated some key topics, including the story of England’s previous Ashes success in Australia in 2010-11, told by those who were there.
There is also a look at the war of words and tensions over cricket morality that bubble away between England and Australia through every Ashes series.
That second piece, written by Darren Richman, quotes American sportswriter Grantland Rice and his 1908 poem Alumnus Football: “For when the One Great Scorer comes to mark against your name, he writes — not that you won or lost — but how you played the game.”
As Richman continues: “Only one thing is certain about the series in advance — and it helps turn the Ashes into sport’s zenith for fans of England and Australia … there will be bad blood.”
Bring it on!