The Guardian Launches Ashes Weekly Podcast for 2025/26 Ashes | Hosts, Coverage & Full Multimedia Breakdown
The Ashes is more than a cricket series — it is one of sport’s oldest, fiercest, and most culturally defining rivalries. And as the cricketing world prepares for the highly anticipated 2025/26 Ashes series, The Guardian has unveiled a major new multimedia expansion: Ashes Weekly, a podcast designed to sit at the heart of the publication’s enriched cricket ecosystem.
Co-hosted by England’s Max Rushden and Australia’s Geoff Lemon — two of the most charismatic voices in modern sports audio — the new podcast promises sharp debate, expert commentary, and the kind of humor that has long defined cricketing banter between two nations divided by oceans but united by rivalry.
But Ashes Weekly is merely the tip of a much larger digital iceberg. As The Guardian expands from traditional reporting into a one-stop cricket hub combining newsletters, live blogs, interactive features, and daily on-the-ground content, fans are set to receive the most comprehensive Ashes coverage in two decades.
This in-depth feature explores the new podcast, the hosts behind it, what fans can expect from the 2025/26 series, and how The Guardian is positioning itself as the go-to global destination for cricket content this season.
The Guardian has long been synonymous with world-class cricket journalism. From its historic match reports to its award-winning columns, the publication is deeply intertwined with the sport’s cultural evolution. But as cricket audiences shift to podcasts, TikTok clips, video explainers, and interactive content, The Guardian is scaling its coverage to meet fans where they are.
For 2025/26, the newsroom is embracing a multimedia-first strategy, integrating:
Daily podcasts
Interactive data-driven features
Live blogging through every Test
In-depth newsletters
On-location commentary
Expert videos and analysis
This approach transforms The Guardian into more than a source of written match reports — it becomes a dynamic cricket ecosystem.
Introducing Ashes Weekly: The Podcast at the Heart of the Series
Launching ahead of the first Test on 21 November 2025, Ashes Weekly is positioned as the flagship audio product of The Guardian’s Ashes coverage.
What the Podcast Promises
Ashes Weekly will be:
Recorded on location in Australia
Released before and after every Test match
Packed with analysis, humor, insights, and cultural context
Co-hosted by two contrasting personalities for balance and banter
Delivered in audio and video formats
For the next eight weeks, fans can expect consistent, high-energy, story-driven coverage that mirrors the intensity of the on-field rivalry.
Meet the Hosts: Max Rushden & Geoff Lemon
Max Rushden (England)
Best known as the face of Football Weekly, Max brings:
An irreverent comedic style
Sharp sports analysis
A deep love for English sporting tradition
A flair for fan engagement
His excitement for the podcast was unmistakable, joking that he was glad to finally have a “professional excuse” to watch every Ashes session.
Geoff Lemon (Australia)
Co-host of The Final Word, Geoff is:
A respected cricket writer
A commentator with years of on-ground experience
One of the sharpest Australian voices in cricket media
Lemon described the series as the “most anticipated Ashes in 20 years,” noting the joy of “clashing and collaborating” with English colleagues.
Why This Duo Works
Their chemistry is built on contrast: Max represents English optimism and self-deprecation; Geoff embodies Australian directness and wit. Together, they form an entertaining, informed, and fan-friendly Ashes lens.
The Modern Ashes Landscape: Why 2025/26 Is So Anticipated
The 2025/26 Ashes arrives at a pivotal moment in cricket. Factors fueling the excitement include:
A new generation of talent making their Ashes debuts
Lingering tensions from the dramatic 2023 series
A revamped Australian side defending dominance at home
England’s aggressive “Bazball” era colliding with Australian discipline
Cricket experts have called this the first series in over a decade where both sides are evenly matched in form, fitness and momentum.
Inside The Guardian’s Expanded Multimedia Coverage
The Guardian plans to offer the most immersive coverage ever through:
Podcasts
Ashes Weekly (main show)
Bonus tactical breakdown episodes
Special interviews with former Ashes legends
Editorial Coverage
Daily match reports
Feature interviews
Tactical analysis
Opinion columns
Video Content
Pre-Test previews
Mid-series debates
On-ground fan interactions
Newsletter Integration
A special Test-focused edition of The Spin
Live Blogs
Ball-by-ball coverage
Expert commentary
Instant tactical insights
No mainstream publication has ever offered fans such a diverse, comprehensive cricket package.
The Spin: A Reinvented Cricket Newsletter
The Spin, The Guardian’s beloved cricket newsletter, is adding a special 8-week Ashes-themed edition. Subscribers will gain:
Match summaries
Player focuses
Behind-the-scenes insights
Interactive polls
Historical Ashes anecdotes
It’s designed to complement the daily coverage — a slower, reflective experience compared to the fast-paced live blog.
100 Greatest Ashes Players – The Interactive Feature
One of The Guardian’s most ambitious additions for 2025 is an interactive feature that ranks the top 100 Ashes players of all time, voted for by:
Former players
Leading journalists
Historians
International cricket experts
This feature will roll out progressively throughout the series, providing a nostalgic trip through cricket’s greatest rivalry.
Live Blogs: Real-Time Expertise From Legendary Cricket Writers
The Guardian’s live blogs are often regarded as the best in the world. This season will feature commentary from:
Rob Smyth
Tanya Aldred
Taha Hashim
Tim de Lisle
James Wallace
Expect sharp observations, humor, deep knowledge, and instant narrative framing as matches unfold.
How The Guardian Is Revolutionizing Sports Journalism in a Digital Era
Sports journalism has undergone massive change, with fans now consuming cricket through:
Reels & short-form videos
Podcasts
WhatsApp updates
YouTube explainers
AI-driven analysis
The Guardian adapts by blending traditional journalism with digital-first storytelling.
The strategy reflects a truth: cricket coverage today must be multimedia or risk irrelevance.
The Qantas Partnership: Sponsored But Transparent
Qantas is the exclusive sponsor across all Ashes coverage formats. The Guardian emphasizes that:
Sponsored content is clearly labelled
Editorial independence remains intact
Advertising does not influence reporting
This transparency aligns with The Guardian’s long-standing content funding guidelines.
The First Episodes: What Listeners Can Expect
The pilot episode is live now, with the full premiere dropping 20 November 2025.
Fans can expect:
Series previews
Match-up analysis
Interviews with Guardian cricket journalists
Predictions & tactical breakdowns
Light-hearted rivalry banter
Episodes will be available on:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube
theguardian.com/audio
Why Podcasts Are Now Central to Cricket Culture
Cricket fans increasingly turn to podcasts because they offer:
Long-form conversation
Personality-driven analysis
On-the-go accessibility
Behind-the-scenes perspective
Community-building
Ashes Weekly enters a booming market — but with two iconic hosts and The Guardian’s reputation, it stands positioned as a top contender.
A Brief History of The Ashes: Why the Rivalry Endures
Originating in 1882 after England’s shocking loss to Australia, The Ashes has:
Produced legendary battles
Cultivated cultural rivalry
Spanned political and sporting eras
Created larger-than-life cricket icons
Its endurance stems from tradition, national pride, and the beauty of Test cricket’s long-form tension. The 2025/26 series aims to add another dramatic chapter.
Predictions, Players to Watch & Series Storylines
Key Questions Heading Into the Series
Can England’s Bazball style succeed on Australian pitches?
Will Australia maintain dominance at home?
Which debutants will define this year’s series?
Will weather, injuries, or late-series fatigue play a role?
Players to Watch
England:
Harry Brook
Ollie Pope
Mark Wood
Joe Root
Australia:
Pat Cummins
Marnus Labuschagne
Travis Head
Nathan Lyon
The Guardian’s experts will break these down in detail throughout the series.
Final Thoughts: A New Era for Ashes Storytelling
The Guardian’s launch of Ashes Weekly — supported by newsletters, blogs, multimedia features, and on-ground reporting — ushers in a new era of cricket storytelling. It marks a commitment to modern sports journalism while honoring the heritage of cricket’s oldest rivalry.
For fans, the next eight weeks promise unmatched depth, analysis, humor, and digital interactivity.
The stage is set. The microphones are live. The rivalry is ready to ignite.
