The build-up will be the deciding factor in the series.
The first Test between England and Australia will be held in Brisbane on Wednesday.
England are aiming to become the first team to win the urn in Australia since 2010-11, while Australia need only a draw to retain it.
The 72nd edition of cricket's oldest rivalry is here.
There is coverage.
Test Match Special will provide ball-by-ball commentary on every match via radio, online and the sounds app.
UK viewers can watch live TV coverage of BT Sport.
Where and when?
December.
The 1st Test is in Brisbane.
The 2nd Test will be held in Adelaide on 16-20.
The 3rd Test will be held in Melbourne on 26 and 30 December.
January.
The 4th Test will be held in Sydney.
The 5th Test is at a venue.
England have not won a Test in Australia since 1986 and Australia will expect a strong start.
In January, India became the first touring side to win at the ground since 1988 when they defeated Australia.
The final Test won't be hosted in Perth because of Covid-19 restrictions.
The third game of the series could be moved to Melbourne and the second Test in Adelaide could favour England.
The final game of the fourth and fifth Tests could be played in either Canberra or Hobart.
There are one Test, three Twenty20 internationals and three one-day internationals in the Women's Ashes.
What do you remember about the first day of the series?
Key players.
Ben is from England.
After a break since July to protect his mental wellbeing, all-rounder Ben Stokes was added to England's squad in October, which boosted their hopes.
The second-best batter in England is Ben Stokes, who is a superb fielder and leader of the side.
He made his debut in Australia in 2013 and hit two tons, including a majestic 135 not out in a stunning one-day win at Headingley, but missed the last series due to a charge of affray, which he was acquitted of.
Stokes has an aura - Australia know what he can do.
Joe Root is from England.
A run of six centuries in 12 matches has catapulted Joe Root to the top of the Test batting rankings.
He needs to score 334 more runs in the first three Tests to break Pakistan's record of 1,788 runs in a calendar year, but he is also looking for his first century in Australia.
England are likely to need Joe Root to keep up his good form in order to have a chance of winning the series.
It would be a career highlight if the Aussies won the urn.
Pat Cummins is from Australia.
Cummins became the first fast bowler to be appointed permanent Australia Test captain.
The world's number one ranked bowler, Cummins, will lead a fearsome pace attack that also includes Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.
Cummins had to wait six years for his second Test because of back injuries, but has been the most durable Australia fast bowler in recent years and is aiming to play all five matches.
Steve Smith is from Australia.
If England want to win, they must find a way to stop Smith.
Smith has made at least one century in each of the 27 Tests he has played, making him the third most prolific century maker in the history of the series.
He was stripped of the captaincy and banned for a year over the ball-tampering scandal, but is back in a leadership position as vice-captain.
The build-ups were disrupted.
The build-up to the series has been tumultuous for both sides.
The England national side have become involved in the Azeem Rafiq racism scandal at Yorkshire County Cricket Club, after Rafiq claimed that Gary Ballance used 'Kevin' to describe any person of colour.
The England and Wales Cricket Board is looking into the use of the term "ballance" after eight of England's Ashes squad, including Root, played with him.
A historical investigation into sexually explicit texts sent to a female colleague by former Australia captain Tim Paine resulted in him stepping down last month.
Both teams' warm-up games were almost completely ruined by the rain.
England played just 29 overs in their first game against the England Lions, while Australia's own three-day match was completely canceled.
There is a chance that more state borders will be closed because of the coronaviruses epidemic. South Australia, where the second Test will be played, stopped short of closing its borders last week, but is not ruled out doing so in the future.
Will the off-field scandal affect the series?
History.
Australia has won 33 of the 71 series, England has won 32 and six draws.
The last series in England in the year was a 2-2 draw and Australia retained the urn.
The first drawn series since 1972 was secured by England after they won the fifth Test at The Oval.
Australia became the first side since 2001 to retain the urn after a comprehensive win at home in 2017-18.
England ended a run of eight straight defeats in the Aussies with a famous victory in 2005 and then won four of the next six series, including a 3-1 triumph in 2010-11, but also suffered two whitewashes.
Australian expectations are high, but England have a chance.
