Back in April, cricketers across Britain dusted off their bats and returned to the wicket as the County Championship was launched for another season. On 25 May, the calendar steps up a notch with the return of the Vitality Blast, the premier T20 tournament in England and Wales and an action-packed extravaganza for fans. However, for a select few people – England and Australia’s top cricketers specifically – every forward drive, every pull shot, has been geared towards preparing for one competition – The Ashes.
A rivalry stretching back over 145 years, The Ashes is still a cricketing event like no other. While intrigue and drama can be found in tournaments like the Cricket World Cup (2019 winners England know this better than anyone), no Test cricket contest can cite the history of, or appear to invoke such passion as, The Ashes.
Perhaps best of all, across centuries, The Ashes has remained constant. Since the late 1800s, the world we live in has changed beyond measure, but one thing remains the same – that every 2 years, England and Australia will face off in a test of bat, ball, courage, skill, and will.
The tradition continues in 2023. Not since 2015 have England won an Ashes series, and the fact that the famous Ashes urn has called Australia home for nearly a decade will be enough encouragement for Ben Stokes’ side to leave it all on the field in an attempt to take it back.
But it won’t be without a plan. Led by coach, and former New Zealand international, Brendon McCullum, England have won 10 of their last 12 Test matches, playing a unique and exciting, high-risk/high-reward style that has transformed Test cricket along the way. Arguably the most intriguing factor surrounding this year’s Ashes series is how the Australians will negate this approach. Or perhaps more directly, can they?
Cricket fans won't have to wait long to find out. Following a warm-up Test against Ireland at Lord’s in early June, the Ashes begins in earnest with the First Test taking place between 16–20 June at Edgbaston. The Second Test follows on 28 June – 2 July at Lord’s, the Third Test between 6–10 July at Headingley, the Fourth Test on 19–23 July at Old Trafford, before the series comes to a close with what could be a pivotal match at the Kia Oval on 27–31 July.
While many tickets were snatched up in ballots and at the very start of general sale, fans wanting to catch a day in the sun at one of these iconic games can still find a whole host of reseller tickets available, as well as select seats on Day 5 for some matches. To say that history will be made at the 2023 Ashes is not an exaggeration – Australia and England have been doing it for over 130 years!
For more information, or to purchase tickets for the 2023 Ashes series, click here.
