2025–26 Ashes series
The 2025–26 Ashes series, branded as NRMA Insurance Men's Ashes Series for sponsorship reasons, was a series of Test cricket matches played between Australia and England for The Ashes, between 21 November 2025 and 8 January 2026. The five-match series formed part of the 2025–2027 ICC World Test Championship.
Australia were the holders of the Ashes, having won in 2021–22 and drawn in 2023. After taking a 3–0 lead in the series, Australia retained the Ashes. England won the 4th Test in Melbourne by 4 wickets, ending an 18-match losing streak in Australia in Ashes Tests and prevented a whitewash. In the fifth test, Australia won by 5 wickets and thus ended the series with 4 – 1.
Squads
Australia named a 15-man squad for the first Test, with regular captain Pat Cummins unavailable due to injury. On 12 November, Sean Abbott was ruled out of the first Test with a moderate-grade hamstring injury, and was replaced by Brendan Doggett. On 15 November, Josh Hazlewood was ruled out of the first Test with a hamstring injury, and was replaced by Michael Neser. On 24 November, Hazlewood was ruled out of the second Test, before being ruled out of the rest of the series on 9 December. Pat Cummins was also added back to the squad and returned to captain the team in the third test. On 23 December, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon were ruled out of the remainder of the Test series due to back issues and a hamstring injury, respectively. The pair were replaced by Jhye Richardson and Todd Murphy.On 9 December, Mark Wood was ruled out of remainder of the Test series with a knee injury, and was replaced by Matthew Fisher. On 24 December, Jofra Archer was ruled out of the remainder of the Test series with a side strain. On 29 December, Gus Atkinson was ruled out of the fifth Test with a hamstring injury.
Venues
The five venues are Perth Stadium, The Gabba, Adelaide Oval, Melbourne Cricket Ground and Sydney Cricket Ground. The venues and dates for the series were announced by Cricket Australia on 16 October 2024.Perth Stadium hosted the first Test of the series. This was the first time Perth Stadium hosted an Ashes Test and marked the return of Ashes cricket to Perth, after the city was not included in the schedule for the 2021–22 series.
It was the first Ashes series in Australia not to commence at the Gabba in Brisbane, since the 1982–83 series. Brisbane instead hosted the second Test of the series, which was a day/night match.