When is the next Ashes series? Schedule, locations, venues and predicted England squad

After an incredible six weeks filled with sporting drama, the 2023 Ashes has come to a close. If it weren’t for the rain at Manchester, there’s every chance that England would be celebrating one of the greatest comebacks in sporting history, but alas, it ended 2-2.

The Oval Test was enthralling viewing, with Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali leading the charge on Day five. Then, the day after he announced his retirement, Stuart Broad finished his career in the most perfect way - with a match-winning wicket.

Cricket fans new and old are now immediately looking forward to the next time England and Australia will lock horns in the Test arena Down Under.

When is the next Ashes?

The next Ashes series will be held in Australia between November 2025 and January 2026. The exact dates of each Test match will be announced closer to the time.

Where will the Test matches be held?

Traditionally, The Gabba in Brisbane, Adelaide Oval, Perth Stadium, Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), and Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) are the grounds that host Ashes games, but the Blundstone Arena in Hobart hosted its first Ashes Test in 2021/22.

The famous Boxing Day test will be held at the MCG, as is tradition. 

What’s happened in the Ashes in Australia recently?

England’s record in Australia is not good to say the least. By the time the series starts in 2025, it will be 14 years since England have even won a game Down Under, and that series was the only time England have won a series in Australia since 1986.

It’s not looking pretty for England fans, but with Stokes and McCullum leading this brave new world of Bazball, the team will be thinking anything is possible and the next Ashes could be ripe for an upset. 

What are the Ashes 2025-26 Odds?

With the next contest some way off in the distance, bookmakers are yet to release the 2025-26 Series odds for the 74th edition of the Ashes.

However, given their immense record on home soil, Australia are likely to be installed as the favourites. On home soil, they've won the last three Ashes Series 4-1, 4-1, and 5-0.

Who could make the England Ashes squad in 2025-26?

England's batting line-up is still pretty young and given that all of them have performed well in an England shirt at various times they should all be still playing for England in two years' time.

Positions 8-11 are where things get a bit more complicated. Stuart Broad famously retired after the Oval Test match, James Anderson will have almost definitely retired by the next Ashes series, Mark Wood will be 35 and has a well-documented and long injury history, and Chris Woakes will be 36 and has a terrible record in Australia.

Jack Leach should still be playing and injury permitting will almost definitely play as the spinner. If they can keep Mark Wood fit enough, England will be desperate to take him to Australia, so we have included him in the side out of hope.

Despite missing the final two Tests, Ollie Robinson has become a vital member of this England side and will be the leader of the attack by the next Ashes series. Josh Tongue has impressed in his limited action for England and his decent pace and bounce should be useful in Australia. Matt Potts had an excellent summer last year but has seemingly fallen down the pecking order a bit and didn't play at all over the winter or in this Ashes series, but is still a player with loads of potential and talent.

Saqib Mahmood and Olly Stone are two players with tonnes of talent and capable of bowling at high pace but both have a horrific injury record. And speaking of bad injury records, that leaves us with Jofra Archer. Archer burst onto the scene a few years ago in both white and red ball cricket for England, immediately proving himself to be one of the world's premier quick bowlers. England will be desperate to have him fit and firing in the next Ashes series, but it seems unlikely we'll ever see him playing red-ball cricket again. 

Here's our predicted XI for the first game in 2025:

1) Zak Crawley
2) Ben Duckett
3) Ollie Pope
4) Joe Root
5) Harry Brook
6) Ben Stokes
7) Jonny Bairstow
8) Ollie Robinson
9) Mark Wood
10) Jack Leach
11) Josh Tongue