What happens if Ashes 2025/26 ends in a draw? Who will keep the urn?

Devansh Poddar

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What happens if Ashes 2025/26 ends in a draw? Who will keep the urn? image

The Ashes Test series between Australia and England remains one of cricket's oldest and most fiercely contested rivalries. The series goes far beyond just cricket and is an emotion for the players and fans of the two countries. 

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Unlike ICC tournaments, in Ashes cricket, there is no shared title if the series ends in a draw. The rules around who keeps the prized possession are simple and unchanged for over a century. 

AllSportsPeople looks at what happens if the 2025/26 Ashes series in a draw:

Who will keep the urn if Ashes 2025/26 ends in a draw?

If the Ashes Test series 2025-26 between Australia and England ends in a draw, Australia will retain the Ashes.

Now the question is - Why will Australia retain the Ashes?

As per the rules, the current holders of the urn retain possession in case the series ends in a draw. In Ashes, the trophy only changes hands if a side wins a series outright. 

Australia are the current holder of the urn, having last won the Ashes 4-0 (5-match series) in 2021-22. The 2023 series ended in a draw, with both sides winning two games each, and the urn was retained by the Aussies. 

Ashes 2025/26 schedule

The Ashes Test series 2025-26 between Australia and England will commence on Friday, November 21. The first Test will be played at the Optus Stadium in Perth. 

Let's take a look at the full schedule for the five-match series,

FixtureDateVenue
AUS vs ENG 1st TestNov 21-25Perth Stadium
AUS vs ENG 2nd Test (D/N)Dec 4-8The Gabba, Brisbane
AUS vs ENG 3rd TestDec 17-21Adelaide Oval
AUS vs ENG 4th TestDec 26-30Melbourne Cricket Ground
AUS vs ENG 5th TestJan 4-8Sydney Cricket Ground

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