Australia’s Test stars who play international white-ball cricket will receive a longer break leading into the opening Ashes Test in Perth as Cricket Australia announced the fixtures for the upcoming season.
Australia’s men will seek revenge for their Champions Trophy semi-final defeat when they square off against India in three ODIs in late October, before five T20 internationals against the reigning world champions, concluding at the Gabba on November 8.
Attention then shifts to the opening Ashes fixture against England in Perth (November 21-25), before the Gabba’s maiden day-night Test (December 4-8) and a newly branded ‘Christmas Test’ in Adelaide (December 17-21). The Ashes will conclude with traditional Tests in Melbourne and Sydney.
Last year Australia rested several of their best red-ball players – including ODI captain Pat Cummins – from a series decider against Pakistan in Perth, citing travel demands and workload management before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Australia subsequently suffered their first home ODI series defeat to Pakistan in 22 years, prompting former skipper Michael Clarke to claim the side “didn’t care about losing.”
None of Australia’s Test regulars featured in the three T20Is that followed against Pakistan – the last took place on November 18 – as Australia went on to lose the first Test against India, which started on November 22.
Anticipation for the 2025 Ashes is already building.Credit: AP
This season, however, a 12-day gap has been built in between the final T20I against India and the Ashes opener against Ben Stokes’ England side, leaving Australia’s Test squad with more time to recharge and prepare for the longest format of the game. It alleviates the issue of Australia having to rest players for international duty.
However, selectors may still opt to rest some of Australia’s Test players from the latter T20s to ensure they remain fresh. Those who play the ODIs against India but not the T20s will have nearly four weeks to get their red-ball game in order before the first Ashes Test.
Australia have four Tests remaining before the Ashes. First is a World Test Championship against South Africa in June followed by a three-Test series against the West Indies in the Caribbean. Discussions are under way about the third Test in Kingston, Jamaica, being a day-night match.
Meanwhile, it is expected there will be four rounds of Sheffield Shield scheduled before the Ashes to give Australia’s top red-ball players ample preparation. The fourth round is likely to take place between the final T20 against India and first Test.
CA will confirm dates of domestic fixtures later in the year.
2025-26 international schedule
Men’s T20I Series v South Africa
- Sunday, August 10: Marrara Stadium, Darwin (N)
- Tuesday, August 12: Marrara Stadium, Darwin (N)
- Saturday, August 16: Cazalys Stadium, Cairns (N)
Men’s ODI Series v South Africa
- Tuesday, August 19: Cazalys Stadium, Cairns (D/N)
- Friday, August 22: Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay (D/N)
- Sunday, August 24: Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay (D/N)
Men’s ODI Series v India
- Sunday, October 19: Perth Stadium, Perth (D/N)
- Thursday, October 23: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (D/N)
- Saturday, October 25: SCG, Sydney (D/N)
Men’s T20I Series v India
- Wednesday, October 29: Manuka Oval, Canberra (N)
- Friday, October 31: MCG, Melbourne (N)
- Sunday, November 2: Bellerive Oval, Hobart (N)
- Thursday, November 6: Gold Coast Stadium, Gold Coast (N)
- Saturday, November 8: The Gabba, Brisbane (N)
Men’s Ashes
- November 21–25: Perth Stadium
- December 4–8: The Gabba
- December 17–21: Adelaide Oval
- December 26–30: Boxing Day Test MCG
- January 4–8: Pink Test, SCG
Women’s T20I series v India
- Sunday, February 15: SCG, Sydney (N)
- Thursday, February 19: Manuka Oval, Canberra (N)
- Saturday, February 21: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (N)
Women’s ODI Series v India
- Tuesday, February 24: Allan Border Field, Brisbane (D/N)
- Friday, February 27: Bellerive Oval, Hobart (D/N)
- Sunday, March 1: CitiPower Centre, Melbourne (D/N)
Women’s Test v India
- March 6–9: WACA Ground, Perth (D/N)
Australia were criticised for their preparation before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy but responded to a heavy defeat in Perth with three wins in the next four Tests.
England, meanwhile, have not claimed an Ashes series victory in Australia since 2010-11. They host India in a five-Test series from late June to early August.
CA is confident the newly announced schedule will attract large crowds across the nation, marking the first time in 17 years that international cricket will be played in every state and territory capital city in the same season.
Before India arrive in October, Australia’s men will take on South Africa in six limited-overs matches – three T20s and three ODIs – evenly split across Darwin, Cairns and Mackay from August 10-24.
Nathan Lyon playing for New South Wales.Credit: AAP
Sydney will host a Saturday afternoon ODI on October 25, while the MCG will stage a Friday night T20 on October 31.
It is the first time Australia have played a five-match T20 series against India at home. The only other time Australia have played five consecutive T20s against one country on home turf was against Sri Lanka in 2022.
Meanwhile, Australia’s women will host a multi-format series against India comprising three T20Is, three ODIs and a Test at the WACA Ground in Perth from March 6-9.
New CA boss Todd Greenberg said in a statement: “We are excited to announce the schedule for what will be another incredible international season including the grand history and intense rivalry of the Ashes, the fantastic box office appeal of the India men’s and women’s teams and a return to some iconic tourist locations in northern Australia for the white-ball series against South Africa.”
