Ashes: More than 14 million people tune in for Australia’s Ashes demolition of England on Seven

More than 14 million people tuned in for Australia’s Ashes demolition of England in a record-breaking start to the summer for Seven.

The heroics of Mitchell Starc, Travis Head and Alex Carey captivated local audiences as the hosts retained the urn with a 4-1 series win, while the fairytale of English great Joe Root scoring an elusive century Down Under was unmissable viewing.

With an average total TV audience of 1.19 million across the five matches, the 2025-26 edition of cricket’s fiercest rivalry is the highest-rated Test series ever on the network.

The Boxing Day Test also included the highest-ever rated session ever on Seven, with the third session of day one reaching 3.4 million nationally and securing a national audience of 1.84 million.

Viewers were captivated as 20 wickets fell on the opening day at the MCG, while the unmissable final over of the day featured local hero Scott Boland sending the crowd into raptures after surviving to stumps.

More than 7.64 million Australians watched on as England claimed their first win in Australia in more than a decade, despite the Test ending within two days, with an average total TV audience of 1.08 million.

And the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, headlined by Jane McGrath Day, reached more than 7.4 million Australians across the five days and raised almost $12 million for the McGrath Foundation.

“This Ashes series reaffirmed cricket’s place at the heart of Australian sport, with viewers staying with us in record numbers right through The Ashes campaign,” Seven Network Head of Cricket, Joel Starcevic, said:

“And it doesn’t stop there. The Big Bash rolls on through to the all-important Final on Sunday, 25 January, before the nation’s favourite sporting team – the Australian Women’s Cricket Team – takes centre stage in a blockbuster multi-format series against India from 15 February.

“As we close out another men’s Test summer, we thank our exceptional commentary and production teams, Cricket Australia, and the players and their families for helping deliver another outstanding series on Seven and 7plus Sport.”

Seven Network Director of Sport Chris Jones said it was “an unbelievable start to the Summer of Cricket”, which continues with the growing Big Bash League and women’s international fixtures.

“Even with Australia retaining The Ashes by the Adelaide Test, audiences continued to surge right through to the Boxing Day Test and the Pink Test, delivering record-breaking numbers across Seven and 7plus Sport.

“With new, younger audiences flocking to 7plus to stream the cricket, paired with a growing linear broadcast audience, it’s a powerful reflection of the nation’s passion for the sport and firmly solidifies cricket as Australia’s favourite summer sport.”