The dates for the 2025-26 men’s Ashes series have been announced by Cricket Australia with England set to begin their battle to regain the urn in Perth from 21-25 November.

It will be the first time the Optus Stadium, opened in December 2017, has hosted an Ashes Test with all 13 previous meetings between the sides in Perth held at the Waca.

The decision to start in Perth also means Australia will commence a home Ashes series away from the Gabba in Brisbane for the first time since 1982-83.

The Gabba, where Australia have won 13 of their 22 Ashes Tests and are unbeaten against England in the format since 1986, will instead host the second Test from 4 to 8 December.

That fixture will be a day-night match using a pink ball – the first time an Ashes Test has been held under floodlights at the ground.

England will then head to the Adelaide Oval for the third Test from 17 to 21 December.

That match will be followed by the traditional Boxing Day Test at the 100,024-capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground from 26 to 30 December.

The five-match series concludes at the Sydney Cricket Ground from 4 to 8 January.

Australia will host England in the multi-format women’s Ashes in January and February 2025 with the winner determined using a points system from three one-day internationals, three T20 internationals and a one-off Test match.