England and Australia will contest the first-ever Mixed Disability Ashes in 2027, with Australia's Men's Mixed Disability team travelling to England for a T20I series that marks a landmark moment in the global expansion of disability cricket. The series will form part of England's 2027 Ashes summer, ensuring that men's, women's, and mixed disability teams from both nations compete in Ashes contests within the same season.

A Historic Addition to the Ashes Calendar

The Mixed Disability Ashes will sit alongside the existing Men's, Women's, and Blind Ashes series, broadening one of cricket's oldest and most celebrated rivalries to encompass elite cricketers with disabilities. Specific venues and a detailed schedule are yet to be confirmed. The announcement signals a deliberate effort to bring disability cricket into the mainstream international framework rather than treating it as a peripheral programme.

What the Officials Said

Ian Martin, Head of Disability Cricket at the England and Wales Cricket Board, described the development as a significant progression for the format. 'It really signals the next step of Mixed Disability Cricket to be able to introduce an Ashes, it's a hugely meaningful progression for the game,' Martin said. 'All cricket fans understand the importance of an Ashes series. England v Australia is for so many the peak of the game and I'm delighted that our Men's Mixed Disability squad will get a chance to compete in such a series.'

Martin also noted England's recent momentum in the format: 'We've had a fantastic series against India, with another one due this summer, and we're keen to continue growing this format. I'm delighted we'll be able to welcome Australia to the UK next summer and I can't wait for our first Mixed Disability Ashes series.'

James Allsopp, Chief of Cricket at Cricket Australia, echoed that sentiment, framing the series as a milestone in the sport's inclusivity journey. 'The Mixed Disability Ashes series will allow cricketers with a disability in Australia to add a new chapter to one of sport's greatest rivalries,' Allsopp said. 'We're excited to align with other nation's cricket boards in fielding Mixed Disability teams, and have followed England's and India's series with interest the past two years.'

Australia's Road to the Ashes

For Cricket Australia, the path to the 2027 Mixed Disability Ashes runs through the National Cricket Inclusion Championships in Ballarat, scheduled for January 2026. Allsopp confirmed that the championships will serve as a key part of the national selection process, including Australia's first feature match in the mixed disability format. 'We can't wait to take part in the new Ashes series next year and have our elite cricketers with a disability take on our oldest rivals in England,' he added.

Growing Momentum in Mixed Disability Cricket

The announcement builds on rapidly expanding bilateral activity in the format. England have already hosted and faced India in mixed disability cricket and are scheduled to play another series against India in the summer of 2025. Australia's entry into the international calendar further validates the format's growth trajectory. Notably, this is the first time the Ashes brand — one of cricket's most commercially and emotionally significant properties — has been extended to mixed disability competition, a move that could accelerate investment and visibility for the format globally.

What Comes Next

With venues and fixtures still to be announced, the administrative groundwork for the 2027 series is ongoing. The inclusion of a mixed disability contest within a full Ashes summer sets a precedent that other bilateral series could follow, potentially reshaping how cricket boards structure their disability programmes going forward.