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The clock above counts down to the first day of the 2027 Ashes First Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham on June 16, 2027, as England host Australia in the opening match of cricket's most prestigious bilateral series.
The Ashes is the historic Test cricket series contested between England and Australia, dating to 1882 and the satirical Sporting Times obituary that gave the urn its name. The 2027 series is hosted in England, with Edgbaston in Birmingham confirmed as the opening Test venue. The five-Test series traditionally moves between England's Test grounds — Edgbaston, Lord's, Headingley, Old Trafford, and The Oval — over a six-to-seven-week summer.
The 2027 series follows the away series in 2025-2026 in Australia. England enters fresh from the Bazball-era reset under captain Ben Stokes, with Australia continuing to chase first-time Ashes wins in England since 2001.
Sky Sports broadcasts in the UK with full coverage of every session. In Australia, Foxtel and Channel 7 share rights, with Foxtel covering every ball and Channel 7 covering selected sessions. International coverage includes Willow TV in the US, Star Sports in India, and SuperSport in Africa. The first ball is at 11:00 BST each day, which is 20:00 AEST, 15:30 IST, 19:00 JST, and 06:00 ET.
For more 2027 cricket countdowns, see the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2027 First Test countdown and the WTC Final 2027 countdown.
When does the 2027 Ashes First Test start? Wednesday, June 16, 2027 at Edgbaston. Where is it held? Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Birmingham. How many Tests in the series? Five Tests over the English summer. How can I watch? Sky Sports in the UK; Foxtel / Channel 7 in Australia; Willow TV, Star Sports, and others internationally.