The schedule of the Ashes series 2025-26 has been announced. Cricket Australia announced the program on Wednesday. Accordingly, the first match of this 142-year-old series will be played in Perth between November 21 and 25. For the first time since 1982-83, the first match of this series is being played in Perth instead of Brisbane. This time the England team is on a tour of Australia.
Last season the series was tied 2-2. Then the Australian team toured England. The oldest series in the world, The Ashes, started in 1882. However, Australia-England have been playing Test series since 1877. The world's first Test match was also played between these countries. The match was played in Melbourne from 15 to 19 March 1877. Later this series was named 'Ashes'.
The Kangaroos won 34 series, while England won 32 Australia has the upper hand in the Ashes between Australia and England. So far 73 series have been played between the two countries. Out of which Australia won 34 series. Along with this, England has won 32 series. The remaining 7 series were drawn.
Don Bradman still top scorer of Ashes 3 of the top 5 batsmen in the Ashes series are from Australia. The first name among these batters is Don Bradman. Bradman scored 5048 runs in 37 matches between 1928 and 1948. On the other hand, England's top batsman is Jack Hobbs. Hobbs scored 3636 runs in 41 matches between 1908 and 1930.
Steve Smith tops the list of active players, scoring 3417 runs in 37 matches. Next is former England captain Joe Root. Root has scored 2428 runs in 34 matches.
Shane Warne took the most wickets 4 Australians are also included in the top 5 bowlers of the Ashes. Australia's veteran spinner Shane Warne is on top. He has taken 195 wickets in 36 matches between 1993 and 2007. Stuart Broad is the highest wicket taker for England. He has taken 153 wickets in 40 matches between 2009 and 2023.
England's Chris Woakes is at the top among the active players. He has taken 46 wickets in 15 matches. At the same time, spinner Nathan Lyon from Australia has taken 110 wickets in 30 matches.
The story behind the name 'The Ashes'… There is an interesting story behind this name. The name given to the series goes to a report in 'The Sporting Times' and a statement by the then English captain Ivo Bligh, which he made before leaving for Australia.
In fact, in August 1882, Australia defeated England at home. The Sporting Times, a London-based newspaper, then published an obituary on the demise of English cricket, with journalist Reinigald Shirley Brooks writing, 'England cricket is dead and the body is buried. The Australians have taken the rest of the ashes home.'
Four months later, in December 1882, before leaving for the tour of Australia, England captain Ivo Bligh said, 'We are going to take back the ashes that were taken to Australia in August.' From here on the Test series is called the Ashes. In December 1882, the England team went to Australia and brought back the Ashes.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
