Summer cricket hits fast-forward this November. England arrive for a five-match T20 International series, with two of the five matches played right here in Queensland. Twenty overs a side, big hitting, and a rivalry that never needs an introduction. Every ball counts when Australia and England meet in cricket’s shortest format.

Every match is a night game starting at 6:15pm Queensland time. That makes the series a natural fit for a midweek dinner or a weekend session with your mates, and there’s no better place in Ipswich to catch every six than the Prince of Wales Hotel.

Here’s everything you need to know: the full schedule, the venues, the players to watch, the storylines and how to make a night of it at the Prince.

Australia vs England T20I Series Overview 🏏

The 2026 Australia vs England T20I Series is the second half of England’s white-ball tour. It follows a three-match ODI series in Perth (13 November), Adelaide (15 November) and Hobart (18 November). Three days after the final ODI, the action switches to the shortest format for five matches in under a fortnight.

Australia are among the most dangerous T20 sides in world cricket. Their batting order is built to attack from ball one, and their bowling attack combines pace, variety and one of the game’s best leg-spinners. At home, under lights and in front of big crowds, they’re always tough to beat.

England are the team that changed the way white-ball cricket is played. Fearless batting, power through the middle overs and match-winners all the way down the order make them a threat on any ground in the world. England will be keen to make their mark on Australian soil.

The series runs from the MCG in Melbourne to Manuka Oval in Canberra. Along the way it stops at the Gold Coast and the Gabba, so Queenslanders get two home games in one week.

It’s also the warm-up act for a historic year of Ashes cricket. The two nations meet again at the MCG in March 2027 for the 150th anniversary Test, a celebration of the very first Test match played between the two countries in 1877.

Event Details 📅

Event	Australia vs England – T20I Series
Dates	Saturday 21 November – Wednesday 2 December 2026
First Ball	6:15 PM AEST (all matches)
Format	Twenty20 International (night matches)
Series	5-match T20I series
Venues	MCG, Gold Coast Stadium (Carrara), The Gabba, SCG, Manuka Oval
Tickets	Available through Cricket Australia (subject to availability)

T20I Series Schedule 📅

Match	Date	Venue	First Ball (AEST)
1st T20I	Saturday, 21 November	MCG, Melbourne	6:15 PM
2nd T20I	Tuesday, 24 November	Gold Coast Stadium, Carrara	6:15 PM
3rd T20I	Friday, 27 November	The Gabba, Brisbane	6:15 PM
4th T20I	Sunday, 29 November	SCG, Sydney	6:15 PM
5th T20I	Wednesday, 2 December	Manuka Oval, Canberra	6:15 PM

Local start time is 7:15pm AEDT for matches in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra. Because Queensland doesn’t observe daylight saving, every match starts at the same time for us: 6:15pm.

Match-by-Match Guide 🗺️

1st T20I – MCG, Melbourne (Saturday 21 November)

The series opens at Australia’s biggest cricket ground on a Saturday night. Big crowds, a huge playing surface and the first chance for both sides to set the tone. Opening matches often reveal how each team plans to approach the series, so watch which batters each side sends in at the top and how they use their bowlers in the powerplay.

2nd T20I – Gold Coast Stadium, Carrara (Tuesday 24 November)

International cricket comes to the Gold Coast for the first of Queensland’s two matches. With a Tuesday night start of 6:15pm, it’s the perfect excuse for a midweek dinner and drinks while the Aussies take on the old enemy just down the M1.

3rd T20I – The Gabba, Brisbane (Friday 27 November)

A Friday night at the Gabba. Gates open at 4:45pm, but if you’re not making the trip to Woolloongabba, the Prince is the next best thing. This could be the pivotal match of the series. Win here and either side heads south with a 2–1 lead and the momentum.

4th T20I – SCG, Sydney (Sunday 29 November)

The historic SCG hosts a Sunday night clash that could decide the series. If one team arrives 3–0 up, it’s a chance to seal the trophy. If the series is level, the pressure will be enormous. Either way, it’s the ideal way to finish the weekend.

5th T20I – Manuka Oval, Canberra (Wednesday 2 December)

The series wraps up in the nation’s capital. Manuka’s smaller boundaries tend to reward big hitters, so expect plenty of sixes. If the series is still alive, it’s a winner-takes-all finale on a Wednesday night.

Players to Watch ⭐

Mitchell Marsh (Australia)

Australia’s T20 captain leads from the front with the bat. Marsh has the power to clear any boundary in the country, and his aggressive approach at the top of the order sets the tone for the whole team.

Travis Head (Australia)

Few batters can take a game away from the opposition as quickly as Head. Get him going in the powerplay and England’s bowlers could be chasing leather for the rest of the night.

Josh Inglis (Australia)

The wicketkeeper-batter has a special connection to this contest. Inglis was born in Leeds and moved to Australia with his family as a teenager. He’s a fast-scoring, inventive batter capable of match-winning knocks, and there’d be no sweeter way to make a statement than against the country of his birth.

Tim David (Australia)

Australia’s finisher. David is built for the death overs, and his ability to clear the rope in the final few overs can turn a good total into a match-winning one.

Adam Zampa (Australia)

The leg-spinner remains one of the most reliable bowlers in white-ball cricket. Zampa’s skill at taking wickets and slowing the run rate through the middle overs is often the difference in tight contests.

Harry Brook (England)

England’s white-ball captain is one of the most exciting batters in world cricket. Brook scores quickly against pace and spin alike, and he’ll be central to England’s hopes.

Jos Buttler (England)

A genuine T20 great. Buttler’s 360-degree hitting and experience in big moments make him one of the most feared batters in the format.

Phil Salt (England)

Salt is one of the most destructive openers in the game. When he gets going, the powerplay can disappear in a flurry of boundaries, and Australia’s new-ball bowlers will need to be at their sharpest.

Jofra Archer (England)

When fit and firing, Archer is as quick and hostile as anyone in the game. His spells with the new ball and at the death could decide matches.

Adil Rashid (England)

England’s veteran leg-spinner has been a white-ball weapon for years. His variations and control through the middle overs make for a fascinating contest against Australia’s power hitters.

Key Storylines 👀

The Oldest Rivalry in Cricket

Whatever the format, Australia vs England is always more than just a game. Pride, bragging rights and well over a century of history follow these two sides onto the field, and a T20 series is no exception.

Unfinished Business from 2022

The last time England toured Australia for a T20I series, in October 2022, they won it 2–0 and went on to lift the T20 World Cup at the MCG a few weeks later. Australia will be keen to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself on home soil.

Queensland Gets a Double-Header

The Gold Coast and Brisbane host back-to-back matches in the same week. The 2nd T20I at Carrara on a Tuesday night and the 3rd T20I at the Gabba on a Friday night bring the series right to our doorstep.

Big Hitters, Small Margins

With powerful batting line-ups on both sides, expect high scores, plenty of sixes and finishes that go right down to the final over.

Building Towards a Historic Year

These matches set the scene for the 150th anniversary Test at the MCG in March 2027. Bragging rights earned in November will carry plenty of weight heading into that landmark occasion.

Five Matches, Five Chances

A five-match series means there’s no hiding. A slow start can be recovered, but whoever builds momentum early will carry a big advantage into the final matches in Sydney and Canberra.

What to Expect

T20 cricket is the sport at its most explosive.

Fans can expect aggressive powerplay batting, clever changes of pace from the bowlers, spectacular fielding and dramatic finishes that keep everyone on the edge of their seats. A single over can swing a match completely.

Australia will look to their top order to get off to a flying start, with Zampa controlling the middle overs. England will back their fearless batting approach and look for their quicks to strike early, with Rashid ready to apply the squeeze.

The first six overs of each innings could be decisive. With fielding restrictions in place, both teams have the batters to post huge powerplay totals, and the side that wins that battle often wins the match.

With every match done and dusted in around three and a half hours, it’s the perfect format for a night out.

Plan Your Cricket Night at the Prince 🗓️

Because every match starts at 6:15pm, planning your night couldn’t be easier:

Weeknight matches (Tuesday 24 November, Friday 27 November, Wednesday 2 December): Head straight from work, grab a table and order dinner before the first ball. The match should wrap up around 9:30–10pm, so you’ll be home at a reasonable hour.

Weekend matches (Saturday 21 November, Sunday 29 November): Make an afternoon and evening of it. Catch up with mates over a few drinks, settle in for dinner and enjoy the full match with a lively crowd.

Big groups: Planning to bring the whole crew, the work team or the cricket club? Get in touch with the Prince ahead of time, especially for the Queensland matches and any potential series decider.

Watch Australia vs England LIVE at Prince of Wales Hotel Ipswich 🍻

There’s nothing quite like watching Australia take on England with a cold drink in hand and a pub full of fellow fans.

From the first ball of the powerplay to the last-over finish, every wicket, six and moment of brilliance is better shared. Whether you’re a die-hard cricket fan or just love the buzz of a big sporting night, the Prince is the place to be.

Bring your mates, grab a table, enjoy a hearty pub meal and, of course, a pint.

Why Watch at the Prince?

📺 Big screens showing every match live

🍺 Ice-cold beers, wines and your favourite drinks

🍔 Quality pub meals for dinner while you watch

🏏 A lively atmosphere for every cricket fan

👥 The perfect venue to enjoy the match with mates

Whether you’re celebrating a last-ball Aussie win or groaning at an England six, Prince of Wales Hotel Ipswich is the place to experience every moment of this summer’s T20 showdown.