Ashes 2021-22 schedule: Australia vs England to begin on December 8, Women’s Ashes also announced

The Australian cricket team will host the latest installment of the Ashes from December 8, with the first Test scheduled to begin in Brisbane. Additionally, the women’s team will play a multi-format series against England from January 27.

The start of the Ashes has been pushed back considerably with a mandatory 14-day quarantine in place for players arriving in Australia. The series begins at the Gabba, where Australia have lost just once since 1988.

Melbourne and Sydney host the Boxing Day and New Year Tests respectively while the final match of the series will be played in Perth at the new Optus Stadium instead of the WACA. This will be the first instance since 1994-95 that an Ashes series in Australia won’t end with a match at the SCG, which is hosting the fourth Test instead.

Before the Ashes, the Australians will square off against Afghanistan for the first time in Tests from November 27. This will be the only Test match-oriented preparation before they take on England.

Ashes 2021-22: Full schedule, fixtures and India match times

All times are in India Standard Time (IST) 

Joe Root has led England in the last two Ashes series which ended in a 2-2 draw at home in 2019 and a 4-0 loss on the 2017-18 tour. The upcoming tour will be unlike any other Ashes series as teams have to overcome the challenges associated with a packed schedule and the prevailing biosecurity bubble in place due to Covid-19 pandemic. 

Nick Hockley, Cricket Australia's interim CEO, said, "In a perfect world, we would welcome England fans back to these shores for a summer of singing and sportsmanship. Of course, we will be guided by the Australian government on all things related to international travel."

He added, "We are absolutely thrilled to announce our men's and women's international fixtures for the 2021-22 summer of cricket. The lessons learned from successfully delivering a safe summer in '20-21 gives us confidence on what we're able to achieve, and we're all hoping for a summer of full crowds and an Ashes atmosphere we're all accustomed to.”

Women’s Ashes 2022 schedule, fixtures and India match times

All times are in India Standard Time (IST) 

Along with the men’s cricket team, the Australian women’s cricket team will battle it out with England in a multi-format women’s Ashes series. Three T20Is and three ODIs will follow a one-off Test. Heather Knight will be tasked with leading England to win their first Women's Ashes since 2015. 

After the Ashes, both teams will head to New Zealand to play the 50-over Women's World Cup.

"An Ashes series in Australia is a global highlight of the cricketing calendar and is always a focused series for England teams," Tom Harrison, the ECB's chief executive officer was quoted as saying.

"It's a hugely exciting prospect that both men's and women's squads will be heading to Australia. It promises to be a highly competitive and close contest with teams in both series evenly matched. I have little doubt that the rivalry and drama will once again capture the interest of sports lovers across the globe.”

Featured image : AFP / Glyn Kirk