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Cricket Australia said on Wednesday that the five-match Ashes 2025-26 Test series between Australia and England in 2025-26 will begin in Perth, Western Australia.
This marks the first time in over 40 years that Brisbane`s Gabba will not host the series opener in Australia. Instead, the venue will feature its inaugural day-night Ashes Test from December 4-8.
The first Ashes 2025-26 Test is scheduled for November 21-25, 2025 with the second a day-night Test at the Gabba, while Adelaide Oval will host the third Test from December 17-21.
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The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) will host its traditional Boxing Day Test beginning December 26, with the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) also maintaining its usual time slot for the January 4-8 fifth and final Test.
The last occasion the Ashes series in Australia commenced outside the Gabba was in 1982, when the teams played to a draw at the WACA in Perth. Australia last experienced a defeat in an Ashes series opener at the Gabba in 1986 and has remained undefeated in all subsequent encounters at the venue.
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Australia currently holds the Ashes, having retained them with a draw in the 2023 series in England.
“There has already been enormous interest from fans around the world and all over Australia wanting to see Australia`s and England`s men`s teams engage in the next instalment of the Game`s oldest rivalry,” Cricket Australia executive Joel Morrison said.
Australia boasts an impressive Ashes record on home soil, having won 13 and drawn two of their last 15 Tests since England`s victory in Sydney in 2011.
In the most recent home series of 2021-22, Australia triumphed 4-0 and successfully retained the urn last year with a 2-2 draw in England.
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