Sporting tussles don’t come much bigger than the Ashes: the sledging, the bragging rights, the media frenzy, the sunscreen warpaint and, oh, the cricket itself. Better still, it’s on English time this time around, so how do you watch the Ashes without Sky and its costly subscriptions?
Watch the Ashes: NOW TV
NOW TV is your friend. It allows you to watch Sky Sports on more or less any device for a daily, weekly or monthly fee. Even better, you can cancel at any time. So with the Ashes beginning on the 1st August and ending on the 16th September (see the full list of tests at the bottom of this page), here are the tiers you can choose from:
- Day Pass: £8.99 for 24 hours
- Week Pass: £14.99 for seven days
- Month Pass: £33.99 per month
As you can see, the monthly pass is by far the most cost-effective option and you’ll be able to watch the Premier League action during the cricket lulls. However, you can catch the crucial tests – or even days – using the other passes instead.
To see the full list of devices supported by NOW TV, follow this link.
Watch the Ashes: Channel 5
Between the “history” documentaries and endless reruns of ancient US crime dramas, Channel 5 will show an hour of Ashes highlights every day from 7pm. It’s a great way of staying up to date without spending anything – or, let’s face it, suffering through some of the less exciting days.
Bonus option: Test Match Special on the BBC
Okay, it may “just” be radio, but, for me, the Ashes isn’t the Ashes without the dulcet tones of the various commentators and experts on the BBC’s flagship cricket programme. If you’re really keen, you could even mute the Sky Sports coverage and listen to TMS at the same time – just note that the latter will probably be slightly ahead of the former.
The Ashes schedule
So, now that you’ve decided how you’re going to consume the cricket, here’s a full list of tests.
First Test
Thursday 1st August to Monday 5th August at Edgbaston.
Second Test
Wednesday 14th August to Sunday 18th August at Lord’s.
Third Test
Thursday 22nd August to Monday 26th August at Headingley.
Fourth Test
Wednesday 4th September to Sunday 8th September at Old Trafford.
Fifth Test
Thursday 12th September to Monday 16th September at The Oval.
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