Cricket's oldest rivalry returns to English soil in 2027 — and with Australia arriving as the dominant holders after a ruthless 4-1 series win in 2025-26, England will have everything to prove on home turf. Five Tests, five iconic venues, and one of sport's most extraordinary atmospheres. Here's everything you need to know about the 2027 Ashes in England — and how a SIMOVO eSIM keeps you connected throughout.
The Ashes — sport's oldest rivalry
The Ashes has been contested between England and Australia since at least 1882, when Australia defeated England at The Oval — prompting the Sporting Times to declare the "death of English cricket" and announce that "the ashes will be taken to Australia." England fought back on the very next tour, and the rivalry has burned ever since.
The trophy itself is famously tiny — an urn thought to contain the ashes of a cricket ball from the late 19th century. No one knows for certain exactly what's inside it. What is certain is that both nations pour everything into winning it.
What happened at the 2025-26 Ashes in Australia
Australia won the 2025-26 series 4-1 — their fifth consecutive Ashes retention and the quickest series victory since 2002-03, secured in just 11 days of play. Mitchell Starc was the defining performer, taking 31 wickets in the series at an average of under 20. Australia won the first three Tests convincingly, with Starc's 7-58 at Perth on the opening day setting the tone immediately.
England claimed a consolation fourth-Test victory in Melbourne — their first win in an Ashes Test in Australia in almost 15 years — before Australia wrapped up the series 4-1 in Sydney. Usman Khawaja retired after the final Test. England's preparation for the tour came under significant criticism, and questions over the management setup followed the heavy defeat — though captain Ben Stokes is expected to remain in his role heading into the 2027 home series.
The 2027 Ashes in England — what we know
The 2027 Ashes will be played in England across five Tests during the traditional English summer window, expected to run June to August 2027. Five venues have been confirmed by the ECB:
- Edgbaston, Birmingham — traditional series opener, capacity ~25,000, one of the most atmospheric grounds in world cricket
- Lord's, London — the Home of Cricket and the most historic Test venue in the world, capacity ~31,000
- Trent Bridge, Nottingham — a traditional Ashes ground on the banks of the River Trent, the northernmost venue in the 2027 series, capacity ~17,500
- Ageas Bowl (Utilita Bowl), Southampton — hosting its first ever men's Ashes Test in 2027, a milestone for Hampshire Cricket, capacity ~25,000
- The Oval, London — historic south London venue and potential series decider, capacity ~25,500
Exact match dates and the order of host grounds have not yet been confirmed by the ECB — the announcement is expected in summer 2026. The 2023 Ashes in England ran from mid-June to late July.
[warning]Ashes tickets in England sell out extremely fast — the 2023 series sold out within hours of going on general sale. The ECB ticket release dates for 2027 have not yet been announced. Register now with the ECB's Ashes pre-registration list, and with each individual ground's membership and priority club schemes, to maximise your chances of securing tickets when they go on sale. Don't wait for the dates to be announced before registering.[/warning] [tip title="The Ageas Bowl in Southampton is worth combining with an extended south coast visit"]The Ageas Bowl sits in the Hampshire countryside near Southampton — a city with a rich maritime heritage, the New Forest National Park on its doorstep, and the Isle of Wight a short ferry ride across the Solent. London Waterloo to Southampton Central is just over an hour by direct train, making the Hampshire Test an easy addition to a London-based Ashes itinerary.[/tip]Who will win the 2027 Ashes?
England haven't won the Ashes outright since 2015. The 2023 series in England was drawn 2-2, and the 2025-26 series in Australia was a convincing Australian victory. Stokes' England have proven they can produce extraordinary cricket on home soil under the Bazball philosophy, but their record against Australia specifically has been poor across the last decade.
Australia arrive with momentum, a settled squad, and the psychological edge of five consecutive Ashes retentions. England's home advantage and the famously unpredictable English summer conditions will be their strongest assets. It promises to be genuinely competitive.
Why international visitors need a SIMOVO UK eSIM for the Ashes
For Australian fans and other international visitors making the trip to England for the 2027 series, a SIMOVO UK eSIM is the simplest and most cost-effective way to stay connected across all five venues. Navigate between grounds, check live scores, share the moments, and stay in touch with people back home — without roaming charges from your home carrier or a physical SIM to source on arrival.
[warning]Always disable data roaming on your home SIM before landing in the UK. Even if you're using your SIMOVO UK eSIM for data, your home SIM can connect to UK networks in the background — triggering unexpected roaming charges from your home carrier. Disable data roaming on your primary SIM before you fly and route all data through SIMOVO.[/warning] [tip title="If you're touring wider Europe alongside the Ashes, a single Europe eSIM covers 30+ destinations"]Many international fans combine an England Ashes tour with travel across Europe. A SIMOVO Europe eSIM covers more than 30 European destinations on a single plan — meaning one purchase covers you from the moment you land in England through to any wider European travel, with no need to switch plans as you cross borders.[/tip]SIMOVO UK eSIM plans
| Data | Duration | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1GB | 7 days | £3 | Short visit — maps, messages and light browsing |
| 3GB | 30 days | £5 | Light use — occasional maps and WhatsApp |
| 5GB | 30 days | £6 | Casual use — social media and navigation daily |
| 10GB | 30 days | £7 | Most travellers — social media, maps, video calls and browsing ★ Best Value/GB |
| 20GB | 30 days | £11 | Heavy users — streaming, hotspot and uploading content |
| 50GB | 30 days | £22 | Heavy users — streaming, hotspot and uploading content ★ Most Popular |
| 50GB | 180 days | £35 | Extended trips — 6 months of serious data coverage |
Touring wider Europe? The SIMOVO Europe eSIM covers 30+ destinations
If you're combining your 2027 Ashes trip with travel across Europe, a SIMOVO Europe eSIM gives you a single plan covering more than 30 European destinations — Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and many more — without switching plans as you move between countries.
| Data | Duration | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1GB | 7 days | £4 | Short European stop — maps, messages and light browsing |
| 3GB | 30 days | £6 | Light use across multiple countries |
| 5GB | 30 days | £8 | Casual use — social media and navigation daily |
| 10GB | 30 days | £14 | Most travellers — social media, maps, video calls and browsing |
| 20GB | 30 days | £21 | Full Ashes tour — streaming, hotspot and uploading content ★ Most Popular |
| 20GB | 90 days | £22 | Extended Europe tour — 3 months across 30+ destinations ★ Best Value/GB |
| 50GB | 180 days | £46 | Long-haul travel — 6 months of serious browsing, streaming and staying connected |
