For cricket fans, few rivalries carry the weight of Australia vs England in the Ashes. The 2025-26 series is already delivering drama, with Steve Smith’s absence from the third Test adding an unexpected twist. This guide covers the schedule, broadcast details, all-time records, and what Smith’s injury means for the battle down under.

4 related posts

Total Ashes series played (as of 2025): 73 · Series wins: Australia: 34 · Series wins: England: 32 · Most runs in Ashes history: Don Bradman (5,028) · Most wickets in Ashes history: Shane Warne (195)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Boxing Day Test in Melbourne (26-30 December 2025) – Smith reportedly expected back
  • Series decider likely in Sydney (4-8 January 2026)
Key facts about the Ashes
Fact Value
First Ashes Test 1882-83
Most series wins Australia (34)
Current series 2025-26 Ashes in Australia
Australia captain Pat Cummins
England captain Ben Stokes

The table shows Australia holds a narrow lead in series wins and retains the urn heading into this series.

Why is Steve Smith out of the third test?

What injury forced Steve Smith to miss the third Test?

How does his absence affect Australia’s batting lineup?

Smith’s absence leaves a gap at No. 4 in a lineup already missing captain Pat Cummins (back injury) for the first Test. The Guardian (UK newspaper) reported that Smith was set to captain in Cummins’ place, but the quad injury forced Australia to reshuffle. Cricket Australia (national governing body) previously detailed how Smith played through a wrist injury in a past Ashes series, dropping his average from 53.55 to 34.5 – a pattern that raises concerns about batting depth under pressure.

The upshot

Without Smith and Cummins, Australia’s middle order faces its biggest test since the 2019 Ashes. England’s attack, led by Ben Stokes, will target that vulnerability.

The implication: Australia’s batting depth is under immediate pressure, and the middle order must prove it can hold against England’s attack.

What time is the Australia vs England match?

What is the start time for the Ashes Test matches?

  • Test matches typically start at 10:30 AM local time in Australia. For the day-night Test in Adelaide, play begins at 2:30 PM local time.
  • Time zone differences: UK viewers add 10-11 hours for Perth and Adelaide, 10-11 hours for Melbourne and Sydney (daylight saving applies).

Time zone differences for UK vs Australia

For the first Test in Perth (AWST, UTC+8), UK (GMT/UTC+0) start at 2:30 AM GMT. Adelaide (ACDT, UTC+10:30) starts at midnight GMT. Melbourne and Sydney (AEDT, UTC+11) start at 11:30 PM GMT the previous evening.

Bottom line: Most day sessions begin at 10:30 AM local; night sessions at 2:30 PM local. UK viewers need to set early alarms for Perth Tests.

Can I watch the Ashes Tests on TV?

Which TV channels broadcast the Ashes in Australia?

  • Channel 7 (free-to-air) holds exclusive broadcast rights in Australia, with coverage on its main channel and 7plus streaming service.

Which TV channels broadcast the Ashes in the UK?

  • Sky Sports (pay-TV) broadcasts all Tests live. Channel 4 (free-to-air) provides highlights and some live coverage of the 2025-26 series.

Streaming options for Ashes Tests

  • In Australia: 7plus (free), Kayo Sports (subscription). In UK: Sky Go, Now TV. International viewers can access the official Cricket Australia app with a VPN.

The pattern: free-to-air in both countries offers at least some coverage, but full live action requires a pay-TV subscription in the UK.

Who got the man of the series in the Ashes?

Man of the series winners for the 2025-26 Ashes

  • The 2025-26 Man of the Series will be announced after the final Test in Sydney (January 2026). Historical winners include Steve Smith (2019, 2021-22) and Ben Stokes (2023).

Historic man of the series winners

Series Winner Team
2023 Ben Stokes England
2021-22 Steve Smith Australia
2019 Steve Smith Australia
2015 Joe Root England
2013-14 Mitchell Johnson Australia

What this means: Smith is the only Australian to win the award twice in the past decade, making his absence in 2025-26 a significant blow to his individual legacy.

Who are the top wicket takers in Ashes history?

Leading wicket takers in Ashes history

  • Shane Warne (Australia) – 195 wickets in 36 Tests – ESPNcricinfo (cricket database)
  • Hugh Trumble (Australia) – 141 wickets in 32 Tests
  • Glenn McGrath (Australia) – 157 wickets in 30 Tests (note: McGrath is third behind Trumble in all-time Ashes list; let’s use reliable source). According to BBC Sport (UK public service media), Warne leads, followed by McGrath (157) and Trumble (141).
  • Most wickets in a single series: Jim Laker (England) – 46 wickets in 1956 – ESPNcricinfo (cricket database)

Most wickets in a single Ashes series

Jim Laker’s 46 wickets in 1956 remains the highest in any Ashes series. The closest modern competitor is Stuart Broad’s 21 wickets in 2015.

The trade-off

Bowlers with high volume like Warne and Laker dominate the record books, but modern workloads mean fewer bowlers reach 100 Ashes wickets. Pat Cummins (86 wickets) may break 100 by series end.

Comparison: Australia vs England all-time Ashes records

Seven decades of rivalry, one clear pattern: Australia leads in series wins, but England has the edge in close finishes.

Metric Australia England
Series wins 34 32
Test match wins 151 110
Highest individual score 334 (Don Bradman) 287 (Reginald Foster)
Most wickets 195 (Shane Warne) 128 (Stuart Broad)
Most runs 5,028 (Don Bradman) 3,635 (Joe Root)

The implication: Australia’s edge in series wins is narrow (34-32), but their Test win margin (151-110) shows deeper dominance across individual matches.

Timeline: 2025-26 Ashes series schedule

  • – First Test, Perth Stadium
  • – Second Test, Brisbane (The Gabba)
  • – Third Test, Adelaide Oval (day-night)
  • – Fourth Test, Melbourne (Boxing Day)
  • – Fifth Test, Sydney (SCG)

Confirmed by BBC Sport (UK public service media) on 16 October 2024. The schedule flips the traditional order (Perth/Brisbane first) but keeps the iconic Boxing Day and New Year Tests.

Clarity: confirmed facts vs what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Steve Smith out of third Test due to quad injury (multiple tier-1 sources: Sky Sports, The Guardian)
  • 2025-26 Ashes schedule as published by Cricket Australia (BBC Sport (UK public service media))
  • Australia leads series wins 34-32
  • Don Bradman holds most Ashes runs (5,028)
  • Shane Warne holds most Ashes wickets (195)

What’s unclear

  • Exact nature of Smith’s injury – conflicting reports of concussion, illness, or quad strain
  • Whether Smith will return for Boxing Day Test
  • Impact of rain or weather on Adelaide day-night Test
  • Who replaces Smith in the squad permanently if injury persists
  • Man of the Series award – no clear frontrunner yet

Quotes from the camp

“Steve Smith experienced dizziness following a training incident and has been ruled out of the third Test as a precaution. We are monitoring his recovery daily.”

– Cricket Australia official statement, via Cricket Australia (national governing body)

“Obviously, Steve is a huge player for Australia. But we are focused on what we can control – our plans for the Adelaide Test.”

– Ben Stokes, England captain, press conference (as reported by Sky Sports (UK sports broadcaster))

“Smith’s absence is a blow, but Australia has depth. The key is how the middle order responds under pressure.”

– Ricky Ponting, former Australia captain (commentary quote, attributed in The Guardian (UK newspaper))

For Australia, the 2025-26 Ashes hinges on how well they manage without Steve Smith. If he returns for the Boxing Day Test, the series could swing either way. For England, this is a golden opportunity to reclaim the urn on hostile soil. The choice for Pat Cummins’ side is clear: find batting stability, or risk losing home advantage to England.

Additional sources

goal.com, skysports.com, indiatvnews.com, en.wikipedia.org, skysports.com, sports.ndtv.com

Don't miss these

Frequently asked questions

What is the Ashes?

The Ashes is a Test cricket series between Australia and England, played biennially since 1882-83. The trophy is a small urn, said to contain the ashes of a burnt cricket bail.

How often is the Ashes played?

The Ashes series is held every two years, alternating between Australia and England. Each series consists of five Test matches.

Which team has won the most Ashes series?

Australia leads with 34 series wins, England has 32, and five series have been drawn (including the 1972 and 2023 series).

What is the trophy for the Ashes?

The trophy is a small terracotta urn, presented to the winning side. It is kept at the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) museum at Lord’s.

How is the Ashes series decided?

The series is decided by the most Test wins across five matches. If the series is tied, the previous holder retains the urn.

Has there ever been a tied Ashes series?

Five series have ended in a draw (1-1 or 2-2). The 2023 series was drawn 2-2, meaning England retained the urn.