The 1st Test of The Ashes 2025-26 marks the beginning of one of cricket’s most celebrated rivalries, as Australia hosts England at the Perth Stadium from November 21 to 25, 2025. With high-profile teams and intense matchups, all eyes are equally on the officials and the voices behind the mic who adjudicate and narrate the drama on-field.
Umpires and Match Officials
The officiating team for the 1st Test brings together renowned professionals from the international pool of the ICC, ensuring neutrality and integrity in decision-making during the game.
| Role | Name | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| On-field Umpire | Adrian Holdstock | South Africa |
| On-field Umpire | Nitin Menon | India |
| TV Umpire (Third) | Sharfuddoula Saikat | Bangladesh |
| Fourth Umpire | Shawn Craig | Australia |
| Match Referee | Ranjan Madugalle | Sri Lanka |
These officials bring years of experience and expertise to one of the game’s most storied series, ensuring the spirit of cricket remains at the forefront.
Related: Ashes 2025 Commentary Panel: Full List of Fox Sports and Seven Sport Commentators
Commentators Panel
The Ashes 2025 features a stellar line-up of commentators split across major broadcasters, including Channel Seven, Fox Cricket, BBC, and more. This diverse group offers expert analysis, entertainment, and deep cricketing insight throughout the five days of action.
Channel Seven Australia
- Ricky Ponting
- Stuart Broad
- James Brayshaw
- Tim Lane
- Greg Blewett
- Alister Nicholson
- Matthew Hayden
- Justin Langer
- Aaron Finch
- Trent Copeland
- Alison Mitchell
- Brad Hodge
- Lisa Sthalekar
- Callum Ferguson
- David Lloyd
- Simon Katich
Fox Cricket Australia
- Adam Gilchrist
- Mark Waugh
- Brett Lee
- Michael Vaughan
- Isa Guha
- David Warner
- Mark Howard
- Brad Haddin
- Michael Hussey
- Kerry O’Keeffe
- Brendon Julian
- Mel Jones
BBC/Global Coverage
- Ian Ward
- Nasser Hussain
- Mike Atherton
- Andrew Strauss
- Kevin Pietersen
- Eoin Morgan
- Kumar Sangakkara
- Mark Butcher
- Dinesh Karthik
- Roz Kelly (Host)
- Louise Ransome (Presenter)
- Ian Healy
- Steve O’Keefe
- Ebony Rainford-Brent
Hindi Commentary
- Vivek Razdan
- Saba Karim
- Raman Bhanot
- Reetinder Singh Sodhi
The presence of former greats like Ricky Ponting and Stuart Broad brings insight directly from World Cup winners and Ashes legends, while the likes of Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan bridge the gap between eras and teams. Several commentators, such as Alison Mitchell and Isa Guha, offer international perspectives, while TV hosts and presenters ensure continuity and context throughout the broadcast.
FAQs
Q: Who are the on-field umpires for the 1st Test Ashes 2025?
Adrian Holdstock from South Africa and Nitin Menon of India are serving as the on-field umpires.
Q: Who is the match referee for the 1st Test Ashes 2025?
Ranjan Madugalle from Sri Lanka is officiating as the match referee.
Q: Which former players are commentating during the Ashes 1st Test?
Commentators include Ricky Ponting, Stuart Broad, Adam Gilchrist, Michael Vaughan, Isa Guha, David Warner, and many others.
Q: Who offers Hindi commentary for the Ashes 2025?
Vivek Razdan, Saba Karim, Raman Bhanot, and Reetinder Singh Sodhi are part of the Hindi commentary team.
Conclusion
The Australia vs England 1st Test in The Ashes 2025-26 promises an exciting contest on-field, expertly managed by an international panel of match officials and enriched with detailed, entertaining commentary from some of cricket’s legendary voices.