Cricket Australia said Wednesday that the five-Test Ashes series between Australia and England in 2025-26 will begin in Perth, Western Australia. It is the first time that Gabba will not host an Ashes series-opener in Australia in more than four decades.
That first Test is scheduled for November 21-25, 2025 with the second a day-night Test at the Gabba in Brisbane from December 4-8. Adelaide Oval will host the third Test from December 17-21.
The Melbourne Cricket Ground will continue to host its traditional Boxing Day Test beginning December 26, with the Sydney Cricket Ground also maintaining its usual time slot for the January 4-8 fifth and final Test.
The last time an Ashes in Australia started away from the Gabba was in 1982 when the historic foes drew at the WACA in Perth.
Australia lost the 1986 opener at the Gabba to Mike Gatting’s England but have not lost another Ashes Test at the iconic ground since.
Once Australia’s first choice to start a home summer of cricket, the Gabba’s stocks have fallen in recent years since Perth Stadium opened in 2017 and following Adelaide Oval’s redevelopment a decade ago.
The Gabba’s future is up in the air, with no Test scheduled in the 2026-27 home summer and a planned redevelopment for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics scrapped over cost concerns.
Australia have won the last eight Ashes Tests in Perth, though 2025 will be the first time the teams have played at the new stadium in Burswood.
Adelaide Oval, meanwhile, will host its first daytime Ashes Test since 2013 when fast bowler Mitchell Johnson took 7/40 in the first innings to help the hosts claim a 218-run win.
The Ashes dates align with Australian Cricket’s seven-year scheduling plan announced earlier in the year which will create greater certainty around fixturing and help grow matches and cricket-related events in partnership with governments and their events and tourism departments.
The focus this summer, though, will be on the five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy Series.
Australia have won 13 and drawn two out of the 15 Ashes Tests on home soil since England’s win in Sydney in 2011. Australia won the last home series 4-0 in 2021-22 and retained the urn last year with a 2-2 draw in England.
Ashes 2025-26 series dates:
Perth Test (West Test): Perth Stadium | Nov 21-25
Brisbane Test (Day/Night Test): Gabba | Dec 4-8
Adelaide Test (Christmas Test): Adelaide Oval | Dec 17-21
Melbourne Test (Boxing Day Test): Dec 26-30
Sydney Test (New Year’s Test): Jan 4-8
(with inputs from Reuters)