The Cricketer runs down all you need to know ahead of the five-Test series
The resumption of cricket's oldest international rivalry as Australia face England in the 72nd Ashes series.
First Test: December 8-12 - The Gabba, Brisbane (10am local time, 12am UK time)
Second Test: December 16-20 - Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (2:30pm local time, 4am UK time)
Third Test: December 25-30 - Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (10:30am local time, 11:30pm UK time)
Fourth Test: January 4-9 - Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (10:30am local time, 11:30pm UK time)
Fifth Test: January 14-18 - Optus Stadium, Perth (10.30am local time, 2.30am UK time)
Alongside a significant lack of preparation, neither team have what can be described as their first-choice squad available.
Australia have been hit by the loss of Tim Paine, who has taken an indefinite break from cricket after stepping down as captain following the emergence of a setting scandal involving an employee at Cricket Tasmania.
Pat Cummins was appointed as skipper for the series while Alex Carey, who is uncapped at Test level, is set to take the gloves after winning a late call-up.
The final batting spot in the XI is between Usman Khawaja and Travis.
England remain without Jofra Archer after he was ruled out for the remainder of 2021 due to a long-running elbow problem.
Alex Carey is set to make his Test debut at The Gabba
But Ben Stokes is available after taking a break from the game. Not named among the original squad, the Durham allrounder was added to the group in October.
The only other major omission is Dom Sibley, who after being dropped from the XI and losing his central contract has chosen to remain at home to work on his game this winter. The Warwickshire opener was included in the Lions squad but later withdrew.
Though Stokes' availability provides balance to Joe Root, it by no means guarantees Jack Leach's place in the side as the specialist spinner. Inclement weather in Brisbane ahead of the first Test could again lead to the left-armer having a watching brief.
Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Steve Smith, David Warner
England: Joe Root (c), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
Australia are 11/10 with most bookmakers to win the series and retain the urn. England are 18/5 to regain the Ashes, while a series draw is available at 13/8
Steve Smith is the favourite to be the leading run-scorer, at 5/2, ahead of Joe Root (7/2), Marnus Labuschagne (7/2), David Warner (5/1) and Ben Stokes (9/1)
Fans will be allowed to attend Tests across the series. That includes the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, which should be filled to its 100,000 capacity.
Sadly, however, The Barmy Army will not be in attendance and the number of England fans at matches is likely to be limited.
It remains to be seen if Perth hosts the fifth Test, with Covid-19 restrictions in Western Australia remaining strict. Western Australia Cricket Association chief executive Christina Matthews has stated the match has a 50/50 chance of going ahead in the city, with a day/night Test at the MCG being touted as a possible alternative.
Ben Stokes was a late call-up to England's squad
In the UK, BT Sport have exclusive rights to the Ashes this winter. BT Sport 1 (Sky 413, BT 408, Virgin 527, TalkTalk 408, Plusnet TV 408) will show every ball of the series, with regular highlights packages across the day.
The BBC are currently in discussions over the digital rights, which may include a highlights show.
BBC Radio Five Live Sports Extra will have live ball-by-ball commentary via Test Match Special and is accessible through the BBC Sport website, the BBC Sounds App and most smart speakers.
In Australia, Channel 7 and Fox Sports will show the Tests. ABC Radio will provide radio coverage. The action can be streamed online via Kayo Sports.
The Song Pictures Sports Network will be showing the series in India. It will be televised in four different languages for the first time via Song Six (English), Sony Ten 3 (Hindi), Sony Ten 4 (Tamil and Telugu). Online users can access the matches via SonyLIV.
SPNI will also broadcast live coverage of the Ashes to its other subcontinent regions in Bhutan, Nepal, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka.
Elsewhere, Sky Sport is the place to go for fans in New Zealand while Willow TV have the rights in Canada and the US.
Ten Sports will carry the footage in Pakistan, Flow Sports and ESPN+ will show the action in the Caribbean and in South Africa the SuperSport network will show the games
Our coverage of the Ashes is brought to you in association with Cricket 22
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