The Ashes – it’s the oldest contest in Test cricket and a chance for Australia to renew its 135-year battle with the old enemy, England.

England are the current holders, having taken back the Ashes with a 3-2 series victory on home soil in 2015.

But Australia has been defeated on home soil just once in the past 30 years – and for that reason alone they have history on their side from the moment England touch down.

England will look to their successful 2010-11 campaign, where they prevailed 3-1 on the back of enormous performances with the bat from Alastair Cook (766 runs) and Johnathan Trott (445 runs).

Cook is back again for another shot at a series victory in Australia – but arrives without the burden of the team captaincy, which sits with young star Joe Root.

The five-Test series will get a bit of a shake-up this time around, with day-night Test cricket to infiltrate the Ashes for the first time.

There will be one day-night contest as pink ball cricket returns to the Adelaide Oval for the third test.