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Ashes 2021-22: fixtures, match dates and start times for Australia vs England series
The 72nd Ashes series between Australia and England was scheduled to begin, like most of its predecessors held Down Under, in the late southern spring but for the first time since 1978-79 the start date has been pushed back into December, this time because of disruptions to the global schedule caused by Covid-19 and Cricket Australia's understandable desire to leave it long enough to allow the maximum feasible number of spectators into each ground.
The hosts hold the Ashes, having won them back by winning the 2017-18 series 4-0 and retaining them with the 2-2 draw in England during the summer of 2019. England have won only four of 13 series in Australia in the past 50 years and have not won a Test in the country in their past 10 attempts, losing nine and drawing one since their victory at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January 2011.
Indeed, on three of the last four tours they failed to win a single Test match, the 3-1 triumph under Andrew Strauss being preceded by a 5-0 whitewash under Andrew Flintoff and succeeded by another 5-0 during Alastair Cook's captaincy and Joe Root's 4-0 defeat four years ago.
As per the tradition of the last 40 years for tours of Australia, there should be five Test matches held in the usual places, the five largest cities in the five largest states: Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney. The dates for the Test matches have finally been confirmed but much else is still to be ironed out, including the preparation matches, whether travelling supporters will be allowed into Australia (unlikely, as the Australian government says it will only be possible in a 'perfect world').
Because of Australia's severe lockdown measures, there are many remaining uncertainties surrounding whether a Test match is possible in Perth given the current restrictions in Western Australia. As it stands, the scheduled dates still pertain.
Ashes Tour 2021-22 Test matches
First Test December 8-12 – the Gabba, Brisbane
Second Test December 16-20 – Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (day/night)
Third Test December 26-30 – MCG, Melbourne
Fourth Test January 5-9 – SCG, Sydney
Fifth Test January 14-18 – Optus Stadium, Perth
What time do the matches start?
The first, third and fourth Tests at the Gabba, MCG and SCG begin at 11.30pm GMT. NB this means that in the UK they actually commence on the day before they do in Australia - ie at 11.30pm on Dec 7, Christmas Day and Jan 4.
Play at the second Test, a pink-ball day-nighter at the Adelaide Oval, starts at the brutal time of 3am for a UK audience though it does have the benefit of having a long evening session which is a perfect breakfast accompaniment for the lily-livered normal risers who don't watch through the night.
The fifth Test at the new Optus Stadium takes place in the Australian Western Standard Time zone which means a 2.30am start for those watching in the UK.
Which TV channel will it be on in the UK?
This has finally been decided. Cricket Australia sells its overseas broadcasting rights in four-year chunks and cannily schedules the auction, when broadcasters will be most eager, for the months preceding an Ashes series. Sky, having covered every series from 1990-91 to 2013-14, had been keen to win them back from BT Sport, which hosted coverage of the last tour four years ago.
Breaking up the usual duopoly, a third bidder had emerged for UK rights: Discovery, the US television giant, sees the Ashes as an opportunity to build on a new customer base it established during its coverage of the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, The Telegraph understands.
But BT Sport won the auction and will be showing the series using the Australian host broadcaster's regular commentary team of Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Mark Waugh, Allan Border, Mike Hussey, Brett Lee, Mel Jones, Andrew Symonds, Kerry O'Keeffe, the Telegraph’s own Michael Vaughan and the former England bowler and host of the BBC's TV coverage, Isa Guha.
Will the Barmy Army be there?
Highly unlikely. Australia has been closed to tourists for more than a year, a situation that is unlikely to change in the medium term. As Tom Morgan reports, Cricket Australia stopped short of completely ruling out travelling spectators. Nick Hockley, the governing body’s interim chief executive, said: “In a perfect world, we would welcome England fans back to these shores for a summer of singing and sportsmanship. Of course, we will be guided by the Australian Government on all things related to international travel.”
Cricket Australia confirmed it has considered "quarantine periods for all international series into its 2021-22 fixture in line with current guidelines".
Who is on the plane?
After months of negotiation, England named their squad on Oct 10.
What have we said about the 2021-22 Ashes tour?
Sir Geoffrey Boycott: It will be tough, Australia can be cruel
Joe Root's battle with Aussie pace attack could define Ashes series
Australia should be nervous about the Ashes — whatever they claim about England's chances
The Ashes should be delayed a year – England's cricketers have endured enough Covid chaos
