England and Australia to begin Ashes series in June

By Aditya Rao — 23 July 2026 — 4 min read

Men’s Ashes Series Details

The England men’s team is scheduled to commence their Ashes campaign against Australia at Trent Bridge on 18 June. This will mark the beginning of their effort to reclaim the Ashes from Australia. The second Men’s Test is set for Lord’s, starting on 30 June, followed by the third at Edgbaston on 8 July.

The Utilita Bowl in Southampton is slated to become the tenth venue in the UK to host a Men’s Ashes Test, with the fourth match beginning on 21 July. The series will then conclude at the Kia Oval, with play scheduled from 29 July to 2 August.

Prior to the Ashes, England men will play a one-off Test against Bangladesh at Lord’s, starting on 28 May. Australia will have a warm-up game against England Lions at Old Trafford from 7-10 June. This warm-up fixture is part of a new reciprocal agreement between the countries to arrange a high-quality opposition at an international venue. However, this match will be reviewed if Australia reaches the ICC World Test Championship Final.

The World Test Championship Final is scheduled to take place at The Oval from 9 June. This will be the second time The Oval hosts this final, having previously done so in 2023. The England and Wales Cricket Board announced that The Oval will host the 2027 final, which marks the end of the fourth edition of the World Test Championship.

Women’s Ashes and Other Fixtures

The multi-format Women’s Ashes series will run concurrently with the men’s series, from 24 June to 20 July. The women’s series will open with a four-day game at Headingley, starting on 24 June. This will be the first time a Women’s Ashes Test is held in Leeds since 2001. England women will be aiming for their first Ashes Test victory since 2014.

The women’s series also includes three T20s, beginning on 3 July at Trent Bridge, followed by matches at The Oval and Old Trafford. Additionally, three One-Day Internationals are scheduled to start on 13 July, with games at Southampton, Lord’s, and Edgbaston. In the multi-format series, a victory in the Test is worth four points, while each win in a white-ball game contributes two points.

Beyond the Ashes, England men’s summer in 2027 will commence with a five-match ODI series against Pakistan in May. This series includes matches at Southampton, Old Trafford, Headingley, Durham, and Cardiff. The men’s team will also conclude their summer with three T20s and five ODIs against New Zealand in September, as part of their preparations for the 50-over World Cup in October.

The England women’s team will host Bangladesh in September for a three-match T20 series and a three-match ODI series. These matches will take place at various venues including Northampton, Taunton, Worcester, Hove, Canterbury, and Chelmsford. The England and Wales Cricket Board also announced that an England men’s mixed disability team will face Australia next summer, with specific dates and venues to be confirmed.

International Cricket Calendar

The 2027 international schedule highlights a busy period for both England and Australia. Australia’s schedule includes hosting Bangladesh for two Tests in August, touring South Africa for three Tests in October, and hosting New Zealand for four Tests at the turn of the year. They are also set to compete in five Tests in India in January and February, and stage a one-off Test against England in March to mark 150 years of Test cricket.

The decision regarding venues for the Men’s Ashes Tests saw Emirates Old Trafford and Headingley not selected to host matches. This decision had drawn criticism when it was initially announced in 2023. Old Trafford, which was due to host a Test in 2027 as per previous venue allocations, will instead host an ODI against Pakistan.

The ICC World Test Championship Final has become a significant event in the global cricket calendar, bringing together the top two Test teams after two years of competition. The 2023 final at The Oval saw Australia defeat India. The 2021 final, held in biosecure conditions in Southampton, saw New Zealand emerge victorious against India.

The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed that The Oval will host the ICC World Test Championship Final for the second time in 2027, from 9 June.

Source: bbc.com