The much-anticipated Ashes battle has returned to Australian soil to the delight of cricket fans across the world.
Australia and England's best cricketers are duelling it out across five Tests through the summer Down Under.
Sporting News has all the details about the 2021/22 Ashes series.
What is The Ashes 2021/22 Test schedule?
| DATE | VENUE |
| December 8-12 | The Gabba, Brisbane |
| December 16-20 | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide |
| December 26-30 | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne |
| January 5-9, 2022 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney |
| January 14-18, 2022 | Bellerive Oval, Hobart |
The Ashes 2021/22 results - Australia win series 4-0
| 1st Test (Brisbane) | Australia 425 & 1/20 def. England 147 & 297 |
| 2nd Test (Adelaide) | Australia 9/473d & 9/230d def. England 236 & 192 |
| 3rd Test (Melbourne) | Australia 267 def. England 185 & 68 |
| 4th Test (Sydney) | Australia 8/416d & 6/256d draw with England 294 & 9/270 |
| 5th Test (Hobart) | Australia 303 & 155 def. England 188 & 124 |
Usman Khawaja earns Test recall after Travis Head tests positive for COVID
Usman Khawaja will also make his return to the Test team, replacing Travis Head in the middle order after he tested positive to COVID-19 last week.
Official #Ashes Update | Pat Cummins has confirmed one change to the Australian XI for the fourth Vodafone Ashes Test in Sydney.
— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) January 3, 2022
Batter Usman Khawaja will replace Travis Head 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/dR0EbWydTG
Khawaja hasn't been sighted in the Test side since he was dropped midway through the 2019 Ashes series but was the most obvious replacement option having narrowly lost out to Head for the No. 5 spot heading into the first Test in Brisbane.
Khawaja, who was 12th man in Melbourne, said last week he was "excited" by the opportunity to play for his country again but expects it to only be for one match.
Click here for the full story, including Australia and England XI for the fourth Test in Sydney.
Australia retain The Ashes after dominant MCG performance
Australia have retained The Ashes after a dominant performance at the MCG, highlighted by a magical spell from debutant Scott Boland.
After winning the first two games in convincing fashion, the hosts were brilliant with the ball and went up 3-0 in the series.
England on the other hand were absolutely diabolical, rolled for just 68 in the second innings, and will now be looking to avoid a dreaded 5-0 whitewash in Sydney and Hobart.
Click here for the full recap of the Boxing Day Test.
Fifth Ashes Test to be relocated from Perth, Hobart confirmed as new venue
Cricket Australia has confirmed the fifth Ashes Test will be relocated from Perth as a result of COVID-19-related restrictions, with Hobart confirmed as the new venue.
The match, which is set to begin on January 14, will now be held at Bellerive Oval, giving Tasmania their first Test match since 2016.
Melbourne, Canberra, and Sydney were also discussed as options.
Who is in Australia and England's Test squads
Australia's 18-man squad
Australia announced an extended 18-man squad on December 31 following Travis Head's positive COVID-19 test.
| Australia | 18-man squad |
|---|---|
| Pat Cummins (c) | Michael Neser |
| Cameron Green | Alex Carey |
| Marcus Harris | Jhye Richardson |
| Josh Hazlewood | Steve Smith |
| Nic Maddinson | Mitchell Starc |
| Usman Khawaja | Mitchell Swepson |
| Marnus Labuschagne | David Warner |
| Nathan Lyon | Scott Boland |
| Mitchell Swepson | Josh Inglish |
Head Coach: Justin Langer
England's 18-man squad
England announced their squad on October 10.
| England | 18-man squad |
|---|---|
| Joe Root (c) | James Anderson |
| Jonny Bairstow | Dom Bess |
| Stuart Broad | Rory Burns |
| Jos Buttler | Zak Crawley |
| Haseeb Hameed | Dan Lawrence |
| Jack Leach | Dawid Malan |
| Craig Overton | Ollie Pope |
| Ollie Robinson | Ben Stokes |
| Mark Wood | Chris Woakes |
Head coach: Chris Silverwood
Alex Carey confirmed as new Australian keeper
Alex Carey has been confirmed as Australia's new Test wicket-keeper, beating out the likes of Josh Inglis and Jimmy Peirson for the job.
The 30-year-old will replace former captain Tim Paine, who is taking a leave of absence from all forms of cricket in the wake of a sexting scandal.
Carey has already represented Australia on 83 occasions across ODI and T20I cricket, but will make his Test debut against England on December 8th.
“I am incredibly humbled by this opportunity," he said.
"It’s an exciting build-up for what is a huge Series ahead. My focus is on preparing and playing my part in helping Australia secure the Ashes.
“This is also for my dad who has been my coach, mentor and mate, my mum, my wife Eloise, kids Louis and Clementine, my brother and sister and all of those who have supported me.
"I will be doing my absolute best to make them and our country proud.”
Pat Cummins named new Australian captain
Pat Cummins has been named as Australia's 47th Test match captain.
The right-armed quick is the first fast bowler to captain Australia since Ray Lindwall in 1957.
This comes after former skipper Tim Paine announced that he would be taking an indefinite mental health break amid the fallout from the sexting scandal which saw him step down as captain .
Named the standalone vice-captain twelve months ago, Cummins was a strong favourite to assume the position of national Test captain.
"I am honoured to accept this role ahead of what will be a massive Ashes summer. I hope I can provide the same leadership Tim (Paine) has given the group in the past few years," Cummins said on Friday.
"With Steve and I as captains, a number of very senior players in this squad and some great young talent coming through we are a strong and tightly knit group.
"This is an unexpected privilege which I am very grateful for and am very much looking forward to."
Tim Paine stands down as Australian captain, taking indefinite leave from cricket
Tim Paine has stood down as Australian captain, after it was revealed he had been involved in a sexting scandal with a former Cricket Tasmania staff member.
The 36-year-old was set to lead Australia in their upcoming Ashes series against England, but has resigned from the role after the revelations on Friday afternoon.
#BREAKING: Tim Paine has announced he will step down as Captain of the Australian Test team.
— Brent Costelloe (@brentcostelloe) November 19, 2021
He read a statement but did not take any questions from the media.@WINNews_Tas pic.twitter.com/57fBcDKvZp
Paine has since announced he will take an 'indefinite leave' from all forms of cricket, and will miss at least the first Test of the series.
How to watch the Ashes series live in Australia
You can watch every ball of the Ashes series between Australia and England live on free-to-air via Channel 7.
Streaming will also be available via the 7Plus app, which can be found on Smart TV's, desktop, mobiles and tablets.
The 7plus app can also be Chromecast to TV's from devices such as mobiles and tablets.
Cricket lovers can watch the series on pay TV products such as Foxtel, Foxtel Now or Kayo Sports.
Will fans be allowed to attend the Ashes series?
All five Test venues for the Ashes series will be hoping to have full capacity crowds but it will be subject to the current COVID-19 situation.
As of now, state authorities are pushing to have full crowd capacity.
Recent sporting events such as the AFL Grand Final at Perth Stadium had full capacity compared to the NRL Grand Final at Suncorp which was at 75 per cent.
Ashes betting odds
Fifth Test
| Nation | Odds |
|---|---|
| Australia | $1.60 |
| England | $3.30 |
| Draw | $7.50 |
Odds courtesy of TAB.
What are the past Ashes series results?
| Series | Season | Winner | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia in England | 2019 | Draw | 2-2 |
| England in Australia | 2017/18 | Australia | 4-0 |
| Australia in England | 2015 | England | 3-2 |
| England in Australia | 2013/14 | Australia | 5-0 |
| Australia in England. | 2013 | England | 3-0 |
Why is it called the Ashes?
This is going to be the 72nd Ashes series - which first originated in 1882.
The name of the cricket series was chosen after Australia's first victory on English land in 1882. The British media publication at the time stated English cricket had died at the Oval and "the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia".
Australia and England alternate between hosting the series and being tourists.
Who has won the most Ashes series?
| Nation | Wins | Losses | Draws |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 33 | 32 | 6 |
| England | 32 | 33 | 6 |
Will the Barmy Army be allowed in Australia?
It is estimated that there are around 15,000 passionate Barmy Army fans on a waitlist to enter Australia for the series pending COVID-19 regulations.
Will the McGrath Foundation Pink Test be on?
The Pink Test will once again return as part of the fourth Test at the SCG in Sydney from January 5-9, 2022.
It is held in honour of Jane McGrath - the wife of former Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath - who died from breast cancer in 2005.
The event is designed to spread awareness of breast cancer and raise funds for the McGrath Foundation .
