The oldest rivalry in Australian sport reignites this Thursday August 1st at 7.30pm AEST, when The Ashes returns home exclusively to Nine.
All five Test matches between Australia and England will be live, exclusive and in HD during primetime on Nine and 9GEM (varies by state – check guides for details), and streamed live on 9Now.
In NSW and Queensland the first two nights of the first test on Thursday and Friday will be on 9Gem, while day three will be on Nine.
In Melbourne and other markets the first three nights of the test will be on the primary channel.
The Australian men’s side are in England as the current keepers of The Urn, having defeated England on home soil in 2017. They will be looking to replicate the success of the superstar women’s side who this week secured an emphatic victory over their English counterparts.
With the likes of Steve Smith, David Warner, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc in the side, Australia will be brimming with confidence and self-belief.
Tensions will be high, and they will be itching to gain a measure of revenge against a formidable English side who ended Australia’s World Cup dream only weeks ago. The home side will be hungry to continue their success with a squad which includes world class players in Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes and veteran Jimmy Anderson.
Todd Woodbridge
Hosting Nine’s coverage will be Australian sporting legend Todd Woodbridge, alongside former Australian men’s captain Mark Taylor, former Australian women’s captains Melanie Jones and Lisa Sthalekar, and Aussie wicket-keeping great, Ian Healy.
“Like most Australians, I grew up watching the cricket on our screens every year”, said Woodbridge. “Hosting something as iconic as The Ashes is a real privilege, and I can’t wait to work with some of the legends of Aussie cricket.”
Commentary will be provided by a collection of heavyweights of world cricket, such as Aussie and English stars Shane Warne, Ricky Ponting, Michael Atherton, David Lloyd, Isa Guha and more.
Mark Taylor, an Ashes-winning former captain of the Australian side, feels the series will be tight in 2019. “Both sides are filled with match winners, but I think the Aussies could have enough firepower to get them over the line this year and retain The Urn”, said Taylor. “It’s shaping up to be a brilliant series.”
Former Australian women’s captain Mel Jones – also no stranger to Ashes success – said, “Justin Langer’s first Ashes series as coach, Tim Paine’s as captain. Fresh, new faces for the oldest of competitions. This series will uncover new Australian heroes and reaffirm old ones as they take on the old foe on away soil.”
The five Test matches will continue over August and September, beginning at 7:30pm AEST this Thursday August 1st on Nine, 9Gem and 9Now.