The Ashes: Armchair guide to this winter’s series

One of the mostly hotly anticipated Ashes series in recent times is close at hand, with England looking to reclaim the urn for the first time since 2015.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at when, where and how you can keep up with the action from the comfort of your own home.

What is the schedule?

England start off with a three-day warm-up against the England Lions in the Perth suburb of Lilac Hill. That game takes place from November 13-15, before the real thing gets under way soon after at the Optus Stadium. It will be the ground’s first Ashes Test ahead of the historic WACA. Over the next two months the battle moves from city to city, taking in the classic Boxing Day fixture in Melbourne and a New Year Test in Sydney.

1st Test: Nov 21-25, Optus Stadium (Perth)
2nd Test: Dec 4-8, The Gabba (Brisbane)
3rd Test: Dec 17-21, Adelaide Oval (Adelaide)
4th Test: Dec 26-30, MCG (Melbourne)
5th Test: Jan 4-8, SCG (Sydney).

What are the hours of play?

Tours Down Under mostly unfold through the night, meaning following the series start to finish is strictly for the hardcore. Fans will also need to keep on top of time differences across Australia. In Perth play begins at 2.30am GMT and is scheduled to end at 9.30am. The second Test is a day/night affair which translates to a more hospitable 4.30am-11.30am, while the move to Adelaide sees play begin at midnight and continue until 7am. The last two games both start and end half-an-hour earlier.

How can I watch from home?

TNT Sports have secured live television rights and will send a combination of former Ashes winners Sir Alastair Cook, Graeme Swann and Steven Finn to each match. Presenter Becky Ives will also be at the ground but commentators Alastair Eykyn, Rob Hatch and Ebony Rainford-Brent will be calling the action off screen in England as part of a hybrid broadcast. Daily highlights and a nightly review show, The Edge, will also be shown.

How can I listen along on radio?

The BBC’s Test Match Special will be providing live ball-by-ball commentary on Radio 5 Live and Radio 5 Sports Extra. Jonathan Agnew will lead the team, with expert analysis from England’s 2005 Ashes-winning captain Michael Vaughan, Phil Tufnell, Alex Hartley and Australian great Glenn McGrath.

Team news

England squad: Ben Stokes (captain), Harry Brook (vice-captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Josh Tongue, Mark Wood.

Australia squad (for first Test): Steve Smith (captain), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.