The 2023 Ashes gets underway on Friday with England facing the biggest test yet of their uber-aggressive approach under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes against old rivals Australia.
England’s Test side has been rejuvenated since McCullum’s arrival as head coach and Stokes was appointed captain, winning 11 of their 13 matches in the last 12 months. The invention of ‘Bazball’ means confidence is high in the England camp as they aim to regain the Ashes from Australia, who destroyed England 4-0 in the most recent series Down Under in 2021/22.
Yet, Australia arrive for the first Test at Edgbaston having beaten India in the World Test Championship final at the Oval last week and without a series defeat in England since 2015.
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Who will emerge victors in what promises to be a gripping renewal of cricket’s greatest rivalry? Here is all you need to know about the 2023 Ashes:
Ashes 2023 dates and venues
First Test - Edgbaston, Birmingham, 16-20 June (11:00 BST)
Second Test - Lord's, London, 28 June-2 July (11:00 BST)
Third Test - Headingley, Leeds, 6-10 July (11:00 BST)
Fourth Test - Old Trafford, Manchester, 19-23 July (11:00 BST)
Fifth Test - The Oval, London, 27-31 July (11:00 BST)
How to watch the Ashes on TV
All five Tests will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK. You can tune in via the Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Cricket channels while live streaming is available on the Sky Go app.
If you are not a Sky Sports customer, then you can sign up here to watch every ball of the Ashes. Alternatively, streaming options are available via Now TV.
What has been said?
England captain Ben Stokes (speaking to Sky Sports): “I am not going to sit here and say it isn't a huge honour to lead England out against Australia in an Ashes series.
“Australia have played some amazing cricket and that reflects on them being World Test champions. I know it's a big deal. I know how much [this series] means to fans and players.
“But the only thing I feel is different is the occasion. We are still going to be bowling a cricket ball, hitting a cricket ball and fielding a cricket ball. Find something that works, don't put yourself under more pressure or change because the occasion may be bigger.
“I think what we have done over the last year is show how we want to play and how we are able to get the best out of the team but also the best out of the individuals.
“You get asked a lot if we are going to continue to play this way against this opposition, against that opposition, but I think we have made it clear this is how England play against any opposition.
“It has worked more than it has not so I don't think there is any question around how we are going to go play our cricket, even though it is against Australia.
“Conditions can dictate how you do that. We will always try and adapt to the conditions but still have that positive mode of going out to have as much fun as possible and always put pressure back on the opposition, no matter who it is. Face the ball, not the man.”
Australia captain Pat Cummins (speaking to Sky Sports): “Our team is pretty chilled out there. We are quite a confident bunch but not overly loud or in your face. I think you have seen our personality reflected out on the field.
“I am sure there is going to be emotion at times but I would be surprised if that bubbled over like maybe it has in the past.
“We are big on playing what's in front of you. Some of our batters might take 200 balls to get a hundred which is absolutely fine. There are no big conversations around that except to go out and bat how you want to bat. That has worked over the last couple of years.
“You have an eye on the opposition and some planning but we have been amazing over the last 20 Test matches. You have seen a pretty similar style and we don't want to lose sight of that.
“Any of our decision-making with match-ups and field placements is about maximising our own strengths rather than being too focused on the opposition.”
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