Cricket fans, the long wait is nearly over.
Later this week, the 2025-26 edition of The Ashes begins as Australia host England for five Test matches.
It is a series unlike any other in the sport, and cricket fans in the UK will be enduring some late nights/early mornings over the festive period.
So, with the First Test fast approaching, we have put together a quick little Ashes guide, with enough information to better analyse the latest cricket odds on NetBet.
One thing to bear in mind before we get into the details, permanent Aussie skipper Pat Cummins will miss the series opener in Perth, though it is believed he could return as early as the Second Test.
Now, let’s begin…
What are the dates and locations for the five Tests?
First Test (Nov 21-25): Optus Stadium, Perth
Second Test (Dec 4-8): The Gabba, Brisbane
Third Test (Dec 17-21): Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Fourth Test (Dec 25-30): MCG, Melbourne
Fifth Test (Jan 3-8): SCG, Sydney
Where can I watch The Ashes in the UK?
Every single ball of the 2025/26 Ashes will be broadcast live on TNT Sports. Start times will vary according to the location of the Test, with the Second Test in Brisbane a day-night match.
What are the latest Ashes odds?
*All odds are subject to change
Australia – 1.65
England – 2.85
Draw – 8.50
Who is in England and Australia’s squads (First Test only)?
England Ashes Squad: Ben Stokes (captain), Harry Brook (vice captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Mark Wood.
Australia Ashes Squad: Steve Smith (captain), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Josh Hazelwood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.
What happened in the last two Ashes series?
2021-22
The last Ashes series Down Under was another one to forget for England, with the team led by Root losing 4-0 in a COVID-impacted environment.
Starc bowling Rory Burns with the very first ball of the series at the Gabba was the start of a tough few months for the English, with the highlight for the Aussies being Boland’s 6/7 at the MCG in the Third Test.
Amazingly, England have not won a Test match in Australia since 2010-11, with Australia also winning 4-0 in 2017-18.
2023
The 2023 Ashes in England was a far closer affair, with Stokes’ men battling from 2-0 down to level the series at 2-2 thanks to victories at Headingley and The Oval.
Had the match at Old Trafford not fallen foul to the rain, the Three Lions could have pulled off a comeback for the ages.
The 2019 series also finished 2-2, though England did win 3-2 at home in 2015, partly due to Stuart Broad’s heroic 8/15 spell at Trent Bridge.
What are England and Australia’s recent Test records?
England’s last two away Test series saw them lose 2-1 in Pakistan and then beat New Zealand by the same scoreline.
The Three Lions beat Zimbabwe in a one-off Test over the summer, before an epic 2-2 draw with India – a series which was likened to the 2005 Ashes.
As for Australia, they have won five of their last six Test series, the most recent a 3-0 triumph in the West Indies.
The Aussies beat India 3-1 in their last home series, although did draw 1-1 with the West Indies on their own patch in January 2024, with Shamar Joseph memorably bowling his side to victory at the Gabba.
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