The Ashes 2025-26 is set to get underway on November 21 with the opening Test at Perth's Optus Stadium. Over two months, Australia and England will go head-to-head in five matches in one of the oldest and most-followed rivalries in Test cricket. In a series that promises high drama, tough cricket, and big performances, both teams come into this with different forms. Australia Start Strong, Missing Some Key Players Australia will enter the first Test under the leadership of Steve Smith as Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the opening match. Australia will also miss fast bowlers Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott in Perth. This gives Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland a big role in the pace attack. Australia are currently leading the standings in the ICC World Test Championship, 2025-27, with a 100 percent win percentage after their 3-0 series whitewash over the West Indies. Australia will be banking on their strong home record as they have beaten England in that country for over a decade. The last time England won an Ashes series in Australia was way back in 2010-11, with Australia convincingly beating them in every home Ashes series since then. Also Read | Watch: Babar Azam Hits Stumps After Dismissal, ICC Slaps 10% Fine England look to Bazball for the Comeback England come into the Ashes armed with their aggressive “Bazball” under the leadership of Ben Stokes. They begin sixth in the ICC WTC table with a win percentage of 43.33, having drawn their Test series in India 2–2 earlier this year. While England have shown improvement over the last few years, winning tours in Australia are their biggest challenge. Playing fast-paced cricket on Australian pitches is tough, and how Bazball performs against Australia's strong pace attack will be one of the most-watched aspects of the series. Head-to-Head in Tests Australia and England have been playing each other since 1877, building one of the strongest rivalries in cricket. The first Test of the Ashes 2025–26 will be their 362nd meeting. AUS vs ENG in Tests Result Matches Australia Wins 152 England Wins 112 Draws 97 Top Run Scorer in AUS vs ENG Tests Most Runs for AUS vs ENG Player Runs Don Bradman 5028 Allan Border 3548 Steve Smith 3417 Steve Waugh 3200 Clem Hill 2660 Most Runs for ENG vs AUS Player Runs Jack Hobbs 3636 David Gower 3269 Geoff Boycott 2945 Wally Hammond 2852 Herbert Sutcliffe 2741 Also Read | Manipur Batter Out for Hitting Ball Twice, Only 5th in Ranji Trophy History Top Wicket-Takers in AUS vs ENG Tests Most Wickets for AUS vs ENG Player Wickets Shane Warne 195 Dennis Lillee 167 Glenn McGrath 157 Hugh Trumble 141 Monty Noble 115 Most Wickets for ENG vs AUS Player Wickets Stuart Broad 153 Ian Botham 148 Bob Willis 128 James Anderson 117 Wilfred Rhodes 109 What to Expect in the 2025-26 Ashes With Australia strong at home and England confident in their attacking approach, this Ashes series promises exciting cricket. The conditions in Perth will suit the fast bowlers, but later matches may bring some spin into play. The fans will hope for close games, big scores, and memorable spells from both sides. The Ashes remain one of the biggest contests in world cricket, and the 2025-26 edition should be no different.