For over four decades, cricket fans have associated the start of every Ashes series in Australia with one location — The Gabba in Brisbane. The stadium is known for its lively pitch, strong home advantage for Australia, and unforgettable opening-day moments. However, the upcoming 2025–26 Ashes series will break this long-standing tradition. For the first time in 43 years, the first Test match will not take place in Brisbane. Instead, the opener will be played at Perth Stadium, marking a major shift in how Australia plans its home Test summer.
This change has raised many questions—Why Perth? Why not continue with Brisbane? What led to such a big switch? Here is a simple explanation of all the reasons behind this decision.
Cricket Australia has confirmed that the opening Test of the 2025–26 Ashes will be played at Perth Stadium, and the decision is linked to a 10-year agreement. Under this long-term contract, Perth is guaranteed the rights to host the first Test of Australia’s home summer for a full decade.
This agreement has already affected other major series. For example, during the 2024–25 season, Perth hosted the opening Test of the Border–Gavaskar Trophy against India. Because of this arrangement, the Ashes will now follow the same pattern.
This means the Ashes will begin in Western Australia before moving across the country to the eastern states. The first Test will take place in Perth, and Brisbane will host the second Test instead of the first.
Another major reason behind this change is broadcast timing. When matches start in Perth, the time difference offers a strong advantage for television coverage. A Perth day’s play ends later in the evening in the eastern states, allowing the final session to air during prime-time viewing hours. This means more people can watch the match live after work or school.
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For the western coast, especially cities like Perth and other nearby regions, the match timings are even more convenient. Broadcasters and Cricket Australia see this as an opportunity to attract a larger audience early in the summer, giving a strong boost to viewership numbers.
This is especially useful for the Ashes, one of cricket’s biggest and most popular series. Starting the tournament with a high viewership match can help set the tone for the rest of the series. With streaming platforms and television channels competing for larger numbers, the timing of matches becomes extremely important.
Even though Brisbane is no longer hosting the opening match, the city is not upset. In fact, reports say that the Brisbane City Council is satisfied with the new arrangement. Brisbane will host the second Ashes Test, starting on December 4, and the match is planned as a day-night Test.
Brisbane authorities believe this timing works in their favour for several reasons. December is when Australian schools begin their summer holidays, and the holiday season usually attracts bigger crowds at sporting events. Families are more likely to attend matches during this time, and tourism also gets a boost.
By hosting a Test during the early holiday period, Brisbane may actually see higher attendance compared to early November, when the Ashes usually begin. Local businesses—hotels, restaurants, and travel services—also benefit from increased footfall.
Another important point is that The Gabba remains a very important venue, even if it is not hosting the opener. The stadium has a long and proud history, including its role as Australia’s traditional “fortress.” For decades, beating Australia at The Gabba has been extremely difficult for visiting teams.
England, in particular, has struggled here. Out of their 22 Tests at The Gabba, they have won only four, with the most recent victory all the way back in the 1986–87 Ashes, when Ian Botham played a memorable innings. Since the 1982–83 season, The Gabba has hosted every Ashes opener, and England has managed just one win during that time.
Because of this, some fans believe that moving the opener away from Brisbane may make the series slightly more balanced. England has often entered the Ashes with early pressure after losing at The Gabba. Starting in Perth changes this dynamic.
However, this does not necessarily mean England will find Perth easy. Historically, they have not performed well in Western Australia either. At the old WACA ground, England won just one out of 14 Tests, losing ten. Their record at the newer Perth Stadium is still developing, but they remain cautious, as conditions there also favour strong fast bowling—an Australian strength.
The last time an Ashes series began in Perth, the match ended in a draw, but the conditions at Perth Stadium are modern, fast, and lively, which means anything can happen.
The shift from Brisbane to Perth for the first Test is a significant moment in Ashes history. Some fans will miss the traditional Gabba opener, while others are curious to see how a Perth opening Test changes the tone of the series.
The decision reflects changing priorities—commercial agreements, prime-time broadcasting benefits, and new crowd strategies. What remains unchanged, however, is the intensity, rivalry, and excitement that always surrounds the Ashes.
Whether the new schedule will favour Australia or give England a fresh chance remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the 2025–26 Ashes will begin with something completely different after 43 long years.
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