Cricket Australia release schedule for 2025-26 Ashes; Perth to host series opener for the first time in 43 years 

Cricket Australia (CA) have unveiled the schedule for the 2025-26 Ashes series at home, set to begin from November 21 onwards. While the iconic Gabba has played host to the opening contest of the five-match series in recent times, the honor has gone to Perth's Optus Stadium for the next edition.

The Gabba in Brisbane has been assigned the second Test instead, which will be a pink-ball affair. The Adelaide Oval will host the third Test while the traditional Boxing Day Test and the New Year's Test remain safely in the grasps of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), respectively.

Perth had missed out on hosting a contest during the previous Ashes series Down Under. The Optus Stadium was slated to host the final Test of the series but the match was shifted to the Bellerive Oval in Hobart because of Western Australia's quarantine regulations.

The Optus Stadium will also play host to the Border-Gavaskar series opener this year, from November 22 onwards.

"The 2025-26 Ashes dates align with our recently released seven-year international schedule and we are grateful for the support state and territory governments are providing to enhance and grow our major events," CA's executive general manager of events and operations, Joel Morrison, said in Perth (via Cricket Australia official website).

Ashes 2025-26 schedule

1st Test - Perth Stadium, November 21-25, 2025

2nd Test - The Gabba (D/N), December 4-8, 2025

3rd Test - Adelaide Oval, December 17-21, 2025

4th Test - MCG, December 26-30, 2025

5th Test - SCG, January 4-8, 2026

England have not won a Test in Australia since 2010

England have had a horrid time Down Under since their iconic 3-1 triumph in 2010. Since then, they have toured Australia thrice, and across those 15 Tests, they have lost 13 and drawn two.

The Ben Stokes-led side were involved in an entertaining Ashes series last year at home, which ended in a 2-2 draw. As a result, Australia retained the urn, prolonging their streak, which stemmed from the 2013-14 series at home.