Major change to the Ashes schedule announced that hasn’t been seen in nearly 40 years

ENGLAND will not begin their Ashes 2025-26 challenge in Brisbane – breaking a 40-year tradition.

Ben Stokes‘ men head Down Under next year to battle it out for the famous Urn.

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England travel Down Under next year to try to win back the Urn[/caption]

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The Gabba will not be the opening venue of the 2025-26 Ashes in a change to the schedule[/caption]

England have not won an away series against Australia since a famous triumph in 2010-11.

And they have not had their hands on cricket’s most prized trophy in nine years.

Brisbane’s fearsome Gabba has played host to every Ashes opener in Australia since 1982.

But in a change to the schedule, the Gabba has now been moved to second on the billing.

The newly-built Perth Stadium will instead get the tournament going as it hosts its first Ashes match.

Australia welcomes England for the First Test in Perth on November 21, 2025.

Perth Stadium opened its doors in 2018 and replaced the iconic WACA, the Aussies’ former ‘Home of Cricket’.

Dates for the series have been released early to help fans sort out travel arrangements.

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Cricket Australia executive general manager Joel Morrison said: “We are pleased to announce the dates for the five Men’s Tests to enable fans across the world to lock in their travel plans.

“The history and excitement of the Ashes make it one of the world’s most iconic sporting events.

“We are delighted this fierce and electrifying rivalry will extend over two summers in 2025 – commencing with CommBank Women’s Ashes this summer, which includes the historic MCG day-night Test and culminates in the Men’s Ashes next summer.”

Australia won their last Ashes home series 4-0 in 2021-22.

They retained the Urn last year with a 2-2 draw in England.

England have a notoriously poor record at the Gabba, having won there just twice since 1945.

Only seven England players have scored centuries at the iconic ground, which is renowned for its rock-hard pitch and big boundaries.

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England last celebrated an away Ashes win against Australia in 2011[/caption]

Following on from the Tests in Perth and Brisbane, the Christmas Test will be held at the Adelaide Oval from December 17.

From there, the series moves to Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test, starting on December 26.

Sydney will close out the five-game series with the New Year’s Test from January 4.