Cricket traditionalists may be scoffing at the quick results, but fans are absolutely enthralled by the Ashes, according to TV ratings.
The final session of the second Ashes Test in Brisbane was the most watched for an individual Test Day across Foxtel Group platforms, including Kayo Sports, Foxtel, Foxtel Now and Foxtel Go. This session involved the Aussies chasing down a mere 65 runs to take a comprehensive two-nil lead in the series, including a fiery bust up between Steve Smith and Jofra Archer, which ended with Smith belting 23 runs in nine balls and telling the English quick that he “bowls fast when there’s nothing going on champion”.
The 2026 Ashes is on track to be the most-streamed series in Kayo Sports history, with the Perth and Brisbane Tests delivering the platform’s highest-ever average audiences for a Test match. The Brisbane Test alone recorded 329 million minutes streamed on Kayo Sports.
Over on Seven, the second showdown reached 8.06 million cricket fans across Seven and 7plus Sport over the four days.
A Michael Neser five-wicket haul and Joe Root’s maiden Test century on Aussie soil helped Seven score an average national total TV audience of 1.21 million, up 6 per cent on the First Test and up 36 per cent on last year’s Second Test between Australia and India. It was also Seven’s most watched Gabba Test ever, as well as the highest rating day-night Test.
“Brisbane delivered another unforgettable chapter of The Ashes, with Mitchell Starc producing a performance for the ages to once again claim Player of the Match honours,” Seven’s head of cricket Joel Starcevic said.
“Steve Smith and Jofra Archer reignited their spicy Ashes rivalry late on day four, which has us all pumped for the next Ashes instalment—the Adelaide Test.”
Seven’s first two Tests averaged 1.19 million viewers nationally in total TV, up 50 per cent year-on-year, Streaming of the cricket on 7plus Sport is up 212 per cent.
The First Test, at Optus Stadium in Perth, reached 6.2 million Australians and had an average total TV audience of 1.15 million, up 57 per cent on last year. Across the two days, an average of 186,000 people streamed each session on 7plus Sport, which was up 232 per cent on last year.
The irony in all this is that the two Tests lasted an accumulated six days. Meaning, both Foxtel and Seven have had four fewer days to broadcast to their record breaking audiences. England’s ‘Bazball’ style is entertaining plenty of Aussies, however not for long enough periods for Seven and Foxtel to properly cash in.
