JOE ROOT is preparing for his biggest challenge yet as England captain – The Ashes in Australia.
The batsman played in the side that was thumped 5-0 Down Under in 2013, but subsequently regained the famous urn with a 3-2 win on home soil two years ago.
Root‘s men will travel Down Under in the peak of the Aussie summer for what’s set to be another hotly-contested series.
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Here’s everything you need to know about this winter’s Ashes series…
When are the 2017-18 Ashes?
England will head to Australia early this winter, with their first warm-up match starting on November 4.
Following three practice games, Root and Co will take part in two Test matches – in Brisbane and Adelaide – before one final warm-up game.
England's Ashes warm-up fixtures
Nov 4-5 vs Western Australia XI (Perth)
Nov 8-11 vs Cricket Australia XI d/n (Adelaide)
Nov 15-18 vs Cricket Australia XI (Townsville)
Dec 9-10 vs Cricket Australia XI (Perth)
A further three Tests will follow, to be played in Perth, Melbourne – the Boxing Day Test – and Sydney.
England will then play Australia in five one-day internationals in January.
Where can I watch the 2017-18 Ashes?
For so long, Sky Sports have dominated the face of English Test cricket.
However, for the 2017-18 series, BT Sport revealed they had secured the rights to the whole tour.
England's Ashes Test schedule
Nov 23-27 First Test (Brisbane)
Dec 2-6 Second Test (Adelaide)
Dec 14-18 Third Test (Perth)
Dec 26-30 Fourth Test (Melbourne)
Jan 4-8 Fifth Test (Sydney)
On the night England celebrating beating the Aussies 3-2 in the summer of 2015, BT Sport announced the coup.
BT will show every Test, with all ODIs also to be shown as part of the 210 days of Australian cricket being broadcast by the channel – costing them £16million.
Who won the last Ashes series?
England came out victorious in a thrilling series when they last played Australia in 2015.
The team, then led by Alastair Cook, regained the famous urn with a 3-2 series win.
England's Ashes ODI schedule
Jan 11 vs CA XI (Sydney)
Jan 14 First ODI (Melbourne)
Jan 19 Second ODI (Brisbane)
Jan 21 Third ODI (Sydney)
Jan 26 Fourth ODI (Adelaide)
Jan 28 Fifth ODI (Perth)
England won the First Test by 169 runs, before being thrashed by 405 in the Second Test.
However, Cook and Co won the Third Test by eight wickets and the Fourth Test by an innings and 78 runs to secure the series, before the Aussies won the Fifth Test by an innings and 46 runs.
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