How to watch The Ashes online – catch every ball of the Australia vs England rivalry, 3rd Test preview

The 2025/26 Ashes will showcase Test cricket at its most ferocious. Dating back 148 years, Australia vs England remains the sport’s oldest and most intense rivalry. Australia retained the urn in 2023 after a 2–2 series draw, thanks to their dominant 4–0 win the last time the Ashes were held Down Under, and took a 2-0 lead after after another eight-wicket win, this time in Brisbane.

England's task is at once perfectly simple and borderline impossible. To stand any chance of taking the famous urn back to the U.K., Ben Stokes' side must win the remaining three Tests but the only side in Ashes history to come from 2-0 down and win a five-match series was the great Don Bradman's Australia in 1930/31. No pressure, then.

The tourists chances are reduced even further by captain Pat Cummins' return to the Australia XI to join fellow pace demon Mitchell Starc. The skipper and attack leader is back from injury and has by all accounts been lighting it up in the nets as he seeks to take Joe Root's wicket for the 12th time in Tests. Nathan Lyon also returns for the hosts in anticipation of spin-friendly conditions at the Adelaide Oval, with bowlers Brendon Doggett and Michael Neser missing out. Fit-again Usman Khawaja hasn't been recalled, meaning in-form Travis Head and Jacob Weatherald will again open the batting.

England skipper Stokes has challenged his side to show "a bit of dog" after their successive eight-wicket defeats to start the series. In batting, the tourists have too often given their wicket away – Harry Brook a particular culprit – while the bowlers were too short in length for long periods at Brisbane to allow Starc to flay 77 from No.8. Ollie Pope retains his place at three, with Josh Tongue adding fresh legs and some bounce in replacing Gus Atkinson in the bowling attack.

There will, though, be a shadow to proceedings after the appalling recent shootings in Sydney. Flags will fly at half-mast and the players will wear black armbands as cricket pays its respects to those affected by the tragedy.

The five-Test series is increasingly looking like another Aussie whitewash in 2007. All eyes will be on Adelaide as the hosts look to take an unassailable 3-0 lead and keep those Ashes Down Under for another two years.

You can catch all of The Ashes 2025/26 between Australia and England unfold live from anywhere in the world using a VPN.

Can you watch The Ashes 2025/26 for free?

Australians are in luck as Channel 7 and 7Plus will be broadcasting every Test of The Ashes for free.

All you need is an account with a valid Australian postcode (e.g. 2002) and you'll be good to go.

Outside Oz for any of the test matches? NordVPN will help you unlock your free Australia vs England streams from anywhere in the world.

The Ashes 2025/26 next match – 3rd Test

3rd Test
📍 Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
📅 17–21 December 2025
⏰ 6:30 p.m. ET (16 Dec.) / 3:30 p.m. PT (16 Dec.) / 11:30 a.m. GMT (16 Dec.) / 10:30 a.m. AEDT
🆓 Stream free on 7Plus (AU)

How to watch The Ashes 2025/26 from anywhere

Outside your country right now and being blocked from watching your usual cricket streams, like Australia vs England in The Ashes 2025/26, by geo-blockers?

No need to worry, you can still watch all the action this fall thanks to a VPN (Virtual Private Network). A VPN allows your device to appear back in your home country regardless of where you currently are in the world. It's ideal for viewers away on business or vacation for The Ashes 2025/26. Our favorite is NordVPN.

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Using a VPN is incredibly simple and easy.

1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance if you're an Australian resident in the U.K. and want to watch 7Plus you'd select 'Australia' from the listed countries.

3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to your usual streaming site or app and watch The Ashes 2025/26 drama unfold live as if you were back at home.

How to watch The Ashes 2025/26 in U.K.

TNT Sports is the place to go for all The Ashes 2025/26 action.

Subscriptions for TNT Sports start at £18/month through Virgin Media or £25/month on Sky TV.

Alternatively, cricket fans can get a TNT Sports subscription via Discovery+ from £30.99/month.

Away from the U.K. right now? NordVPN will unblock your stream of the game.

How to watch The Ashes 2025/26 in Australia

There are two ways to watch The Ashes 2025/26 in Australia, including a FREE option.

As we've mentioned above, free-to-air broadcaster Channel 7 and its streaming service 7Plus will be showing Australia vs England without charge. All you need is an account with a valid Australian postcode (e.g. 2000).

You can also watch all the action online via Foxtel or Kayo Sports. A monthly subscription to Kayo Standard starts at $25 after a 7-day FREE trial, or you can pay an extra $15 for Kayo Premium and watch Ashes 2025/26 live streams in 4K.

Outside of Oz for the cricket right now? Use a trusted VPN to unblock your regular stream and enjoy the cricket.

How to watch The Ashes 2025/26 in India

Fans in India can watch all The Ashes 2025/26 action between Australia and England, on Star Sports on TV and JioHotstar digitally.

Subscriptions to JioHotstar cost around Rs. 299/month (around $3.50 USD), with the option to alternatively purchase an annual package for for Rs. 899 ($10.50 USD).

For fans outside of India — use a reliable VPN to unblock your JioHotstar account and watch all the action just as if you're at home.

How to watch The Ashes 2025/26 in the U.S.

For fans in the U.S., streaming service Willow TV will be showcasing The Ashes 2025/26 across their linear and digital platforms. Willow TV is available from a number of cable providers including Dish, Spectrum, Xfinity, Verizon Fios and more, or as its own standalone service.

Fans can also opt to access Willow TV via Sling TV for Australia vs England:

Sling TV is one of the most affordable OTT services out there, and it has an unbeatable deal for cricket fans. The Desi Binge Plus and Dakshin Flex plans get you a Willow TV subscription from just $10/month, with no need to sign up to the Blue or Orange bundles first. No long contracts either. Willow TV is where you'll find the majority of all the cricket live streams in the U.S. which means a Sling TV subscription has everything more or less covered on its own.

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How to watch The Ashes 2025/26 in Pakistan

The Ashes 2025/26 will be shown on streaming service Tapmad in Pakistan.

For full access to Australia vs England, you just need their monthly package, which costs Rs499 ($1.77).

Traveling away from Pakistan right now? Access your free stream by using NordVPN.

How to watch The Ashes 2025/26 in South Africa

The Ashes 2025/26 will televised on subscription service SuperSport in South Africa.

You'll need to get a DStv access package to watch the game live on SuperSport with prices starting at R99 ($5.66) per month.

Traveling away from South Africa right now? Access your free stream by using NordVPN.

How to watch The Ashes 2025/26 live streams in New Zealand

The Ashes 2025/26 is on Sky Sport Now in New Zealand. This costs $29.99/day, $54.99/month or $549.99/year.

Sky Sport in New Zealand is also the home of Formula 1, Premier League soccer, and countless other sports from around the world.

Remember. You can still tap into your Australia vs England stream by using one of the best VPN services, such as NordVPN.

How to watch The Ashes 2025/26 in the Republic of Ireland

Just like in the U.K., TNT Sports is the home of The Ashes 2025/26 in the Republic of Ireland.

Virgin Media customers can add TNT Sports to their package for €30 a month, which also comes with Sky Sports and Premier Sports access.

NOW also has various streaming options that include access to TNT Sports. Plans, many of which are currently reduced, start from €14.99 a month

Unfortunately, the Discovery Plus streaming-only packages that include TNT Sports in the U.K., are not available in the Republic of Ireland.

Remember. If you're abroad right now, you'll need one of the best VPN services, such as NordVPN, to watch your regular Ashes 2025/26 streams.

1st Test Preview

Australia relish beating England in any sport, but cricket adds an extra charge. Pulling on the Baggy Green and thumping the visiting Poms is a familiar thrill, with only one home Ashes series lost since the mid-1980s. Their pace unit is built to cause real damage, though both captain Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood missed the opening Test in Perth, clearing the way for Brendan Doggett to make his debut. Scott Boland’s bowling average remains an absurd 16, although England got after him at times in 2023. Marnus Labuschagne returns at No. 3 after rediscovering form domestically following his omission against India, while Steve Smith, captaining in Cummins’ absence, is the prize wicket for England.

For England, conquering Australia on their own turf has long been the great white whale. Joe Root has been sublime since handing the captaincy to Stokes three years ago, yet one milestone still eludes him: a Test century in Australia. He is the wicket the hosts covet above all, the calm centre around which Bazball’s crash, bang, wallop begins. That tone will be set early by Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, with Stokes offering a formidable counterpunch down the order. The pace threat is real as well. Jofra Archer is fit, and Mark Wood made the 1st Test but missed the 2nd through injury, giving England the firepower to exploit local bounce. The batters, though, looked serious undercooked.

The Ashes 2025/26 Q&A

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