Ashes 2025–26: Spectators set attendance records in AUS vs ENG 3rd Test at Adelaide

After easy wins in Perth and Brisbane, Australia took an unassailable 3–0 lead in the five-match series in just 11 days. This equals the shortest time in which the Ashes have been decided in the last 100 years.

Packed crowds and huge TV audiences saw the 'Baggy Greens' win the third Test in Adelaide by 82 runs on Sunday, December 21.

Since regaining the Ashes in the 2017–18 season, Australia have now retained the title in five straight series. This means Australia will have held the Ashes for more than nine years when the next series is played in England in 2027.

The total attendance of 223,638 was the highest ever for a Test match at the Adelaide Oval, breaking the previous record of 199,147 set in 2017–18. It was also the biggest Test match crowd in Australia outside of a match played at the MCG.

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Record Crowds and Huge Viewership

The Day 1 crowd of 56,298 was the highest ever for a single day of cricket in Adelaide. TV audiences across Kayo Sports, Foxtel, Seven, and 7plus Sport peaked on Day 5 as Australia moved closer to victory. An average of 2.11 million viewers watched the action during the final day.

The final session of Day 5 became the sixth session of the series to average more than two million viewers. It was also the eleventh session of Test cricket in 2025 to cross the two-million mark.

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Strong Digital and Global Reach

Cricket Australia’s digital platforms also saw very strong engagement. Around 1.34 million people in Australia visited cricket.com.au and the Cricket Australia Live app during the Adelaide Test. These users generated 11.6 million sessions, which was 25% higher than the third Test of last year’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Fans watched a large amount of video content, with views from Australian users rising by 151% compared to last year’s third Test against India. The global reach of the series was also clear, with 232 million video views across Cricket Australia’s social media channels during the Test.

Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg praised the achievement, saying that retaining the Ashes in just 11 days was a great accomplishment. He said it showed the strong preparation and performance of the players, coaches, and support staff. He also added that the atmosphere at the NRMA Insurance Adelaide Test was excellent, with record crowds and huge TV audiences making it a special moment for Australian cricket.