Ashes Tests locked in 13 months in advance, with Perth set for opening match for first time in 43 years

Perth will host the first Ashes Test of the 2025/26 season, marking the first time the venue has hosted a men's Ashes clash.

The Perth "West Test" will kick off the five-Test series on November 21, followed by a day-night Test in Brisbane at the Gabba from December 4-8.

Ashes Tests 2025/26 First Test, Perth Stadium, November 21-25, 2025

Second Test, The Gabba (D/N), December 4-8, 2025

Third Test, Adelaide Oval, December 17-21, 2025

Fourth Test, MCG, December 26-30, 2025

Fifth Test, SCG, January 4-8, 2026

Adelaide Oval will host a "Christmas Test" on December 17, before the now-traditional Boxing Day Test at the MCG and New Year's Test in Sydney.

Perth Stadium was supposed to have hosted the fifth Test of the COVID-impacted 2020/21 series.

However, due to Western Australia's closed border, Hobart's Bellerive Oval stepped in at the last minute to host its first-ever men's Ashes Test and save the series.

Cricket Australia said it has released the fixtures more than 12 months before a ball is due to be bowled to assist in fans' travel.

"There is already enormous excitement surrounding the 2025/26 Ashes series," CA general manager Joel Morrison said.

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"We are pleased to announce the dates for the five men's Tests to enable fans across the world to lock in their travel plans.

"The history and excitement of the Ashes make it one of world's most iconic sporting events and we are delighted this fierce and electrifying rivalry will extend over two summers in 2025 – commencing with the Women's Ashes this summer."

It will have been 43 years since an Australian home Ashes campaign opened anywhere other than Brisbane.

The last time it did so was in 1982, again in Perth at the historic WACA ground, a match that ended in a draw.

That game was also memorable for Terry Alderman dislocating his shoulder when attempting to tackle a spectator who had walked onto the field.

The Gabba will host its fourth day-night Test, with Australia holding a 2-1 record at the venue in pink ball Tests. (Getty Images: Cricket Australia/Ryan Pierse)

Alderman gave chase to one of many individuals who invaded the playing area and fell awkwardly, resulting in him missing over a year of cricket.

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England has not played a men's Test match in Perth since December 2017, when Australia were victorious by an innings and 41 runs off the back of Steve Smith's nine-and-a-half hour 239.

Australia won its last eight Tests against England at the WACA, with England's last victory coming 12 Tests ago in 1978.

The Gabba will host its fourth day-night Test in the second match of the series, following matches against Pakistan in 2016, Sri Lanka in 2019 and West Indies in 2024.

Australia won its first 11 day-night Tests, before a Shamar Joseph-inspired West Indies pulled off a massive shock at the Gabba last January.

Australia has lost two of its last four Tests at the Gabba, against the West Indies (2024) and India (2021).

Its previous Test defeat at the venue came in 1988 against the West Indies, a run of 31 Tests without defeat.

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