How to watch the 2021 Ashes series Anywhere

ExpressVPN Demo

ExpressVPN is a titan of the industry with over 10 years' experience setting the bar for its competition. It comes with super-fast servers and an enormous global network, spanning over 94 countries, to help you stream The Ashes anytime, anywhere.

Stream without limits

Alongside its regular server list, Express offers obfuscated (cloaked) servers – so you don't have to worry if your country applies strict censorship laws. You can stream the Ashes in nearly every country of the world with the utmost privacy.

Express' apps are simple and easy to use on Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac, and thanks to its one-click connect function, it's a great choice for beginners. Despite this, you still get plenty of customization – letting you choose from a variety of protocols, features and functions, so you can watch every minute of this iconic series.

Speeds to match

Express always ranks highly in our speed tests, and its super-fast servers mean you'll never see buffering mid-bowl. Couple that with a military-grade implementation of the OpenVPN encryption protocol, and you get one of the best VPN services money can buy.

You can even use the VPN to bypass bandwidth throttling letting you get the most out of your internet, and saving you from being slowed down by your internet provider. I love using Express to stream movies on Netflix, and I've never seen a buffering wheel when I've been connected.

Premium features

Express offers a range of cutting-edge privacy features, so you can watch the Ashes without having to sacrifice your privacy:

• Kill-switch – automatically cuts your internet if your VPN connection unexpectedly drops; protecting you from inadvertent data leaks


• DNS leak protection – ensures that all your internet traffic goes through a strongly encrypted tunnel, avoiding any Domain Name System leakages


• Split-tunneling – separates selected apps from the VPN, letting you stream The Ashes while still accessing local services when you want


• Lightway protocol – based on the WireGuard encryption protocol, Lightway offers a faster, more secure VPN experience (and it's been audited by Cure53)

Express is definitely one of the most expensive VPNs on the market, but it's a top-of-the-line VPN that constantly defines the gold standard for the industry. It even offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee, so you don't have to commit until you've put the VPN through its paces and compared it to its competition.

Nord Demo

NordVPN is a popular choice for streaming, as it regularly invests in the updating and improving its network. Not only Nord is based in Panama (a country with excellent privacy laws), but it comes with some of the best privacy features on the market, so you can unblock The Ashes with ease.

Cutting-edge solutions

The NordVPN app is one of my favorite ones – thanks to its elegant design and intuitive features lay-out. Not only that, but Nord's privacy features follow the latest industry standards. The most useful of them for streaming the Ashes from outside of the UK and Australia include:

• Obfuscation (VPN cloaking) – bypasses the strictest of censorships with Nord's obfuscated (stealth) servers around the world and cloaks your VPN to look like regular internet traffic


• Kill-switch – prevent your sensitive data from leaking, even if your VPN connection drops in the middle of streaming


• DNS leak protection – avoid Domain Name System leakages with Nord's strongly encrypted tunnel


• Double VPN – changes your IP address twice before any of your traffic reaches the streaming platforms above


• Onion over VPN – connects the VPN to the Tor network to further enhance the anonymity of your browsing

Thousands of optimized servers

With over 440 Nord servers in the UK and almost 200 in Australia, you won't miss any matches this year. On top of that, thousands of servers strategically placed in all parts of the world ensure that you don't lose Nord coverage wherever you travel. Users love NordVPN for its friendly user interface – it comes with an interactive world map that shows you the servers that are closest to you at each moment.

Nord employs super-fast servers, and it shows in the quality of service it delivers. Whether you want to connect to a regular, obfuscated (stealth), or a specialized P2P server for torrenting, it's all really your choice, but you won't get disappointed with any of them.

Great streaming speeds

Nord regularly enters our list of the top five fastest servers in the world. I regularly use it for streaming and torrenting, and notice no speed fluctuations or buffering. I was happy with how it tackled the ISP throttling that I used to experience in the past.

NordVPN has great apps for all your devices, regardless of whether you use Mac, Windows, iOS, or Android. It allows you up to 6 simultaneous connections and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee – so you can compare it head-to-head with Express without risking your cash.

PIA Demo

Private Internet Access (PIA) is constantly expanding its network, adding tens of thousands of servers in the past year alone. A favorite of Reddit's privacy community, it's great at unblocking most streaming platforms, and it's perfect for streaming the Ashes this year.

Excellent streaming capabilities

PIA has a wide selection of servers in over 78 countries, and its network is constantly growing, and can consistently unblock Channel 7, BT Sport, SonyTV, ESPN, and many other sports channels from anywhere in the blink of an eye.

The VPN even comes with an inbuilt ad and malware blocker, giving you greater protection when you're watching the ashes on public networks. PIA is consistently fast, so aside from streaming your favorite sports events, you can use it for online gaming and torrenting.

Privacy above all

Privacy purists can rest assured that, despite PIA's headquarters being in the US – home of the NSA and CIA – it's already proven its zero-log claims in court, on at least two different occasions (not many services can say the same). So, you can rest assured that PIA won't hand over your online data to the authorities, even if issued with a warrant – because it doesn't keep any to begin with.

On top of this, PIA offers some of the latest and greatest privacy features, such as a kill-switch and obfuscated (stealth) servers – letting you bypass censorship by hiding your VPN traffic as regular internet traffic. So, you can watch the Ashes without looking over your shoulder and browse other websites without risking your sensitive data ending up in the wrong hands.

Unblock everything at the minimal cost

Not only does it offer exceptional value for money, but it comes with 10 simultaneous connections as well – perfect for large families and tech enthusiasts. PIA offers a 30-day money-back guarantee as well, so you can compare it with Nord and Express without having to commit.

PrivateVPN Demo

PrivateVPN is another cheap but reliable VPN for streaming the Ashes. It unblocks all kinds of websites and platforms with total privacy. Private is one of the most beginner-friendly VPNs on the market – easy to use, with handy built-in guides.

Stream the Ashes with ease

PrivateVPN has servers in over 63 countries around the globe, out of which 4 are in Australia, and 2 are in the UK. Couple that with SmartDNS technology integrated into every PrivateVPN server, and you can unblock The Ashes with ease. PrivateVPN is one of the few leading providers that offers SmartDNS technology, and one of the only providers to offer it on every server.

PrivateVPN works on all major operating systems and has great apps that offer simple on-click connect functionality. This makes it perfect for beginners, as you can connect in seconds, and start streaming The ashes without the hassle of setting up your VPN.

A premium VPN without the premium cost

Private VPN has topped our top cheap VPN list for a long time. It's a low-cost, high-impact VPN that offers a range of features we'd normally expect from its more expensive competition. With the option to switch to advanced view, you can take total control over your VPN's encryption, and ensure the VPN works exactly how you want it to.

PrivateVPN even comes with a high number of stealth servers, so you can unblock any sports streaming channel without worrying about extreme censorship and government firewalls. Best of all, these game-changing features come at no extra cost – as part of your regular subscription (less than $2 a month).

Privacy-first and no hidden terms

PrivateVPN is based in Sweden – privacy-wise one of the most advanced countries in Europe – so you don't need to worry that Swedish authorities will abuse your digital privacy rights. Also, thanks to PrivateVPN's strict zero-logs policy, none of your internet usage is recorded, meaning that, even if PrivateVPN was served a warrant, they'd have nothing to hand over, anyway.

PrivateVPN allows up to 10 simultaneous connections, so it's perfect for tech-savvy families or large groups of friends. This is nearly double the likes of Nord and Express, and means you can protect all of your devices without the need for a second subscription. Finally, thanks to Private's 30-day money-back guarantee, you can take your time to test it out and see how it compares to its more expensive competition.

Surfshark Demo

Surfshark is relatively new on the market, but it already sets some superior standards – it's great for unblocking different streaming websites, it has quick servers, and it comes with great customization on the offer.

A wealth of privacy features

Surfshark is based in the Netherlands (one of the most privacy-oriented European countries), so you can sleep peacefully knowing that your privacy rights are protected with this VPN. Surfshark continues to invest invests in the latest privacy solutions like:

• 100% diskless RAM servers – that erase all your online data as soon as switched off


• WireGuard protocol – one of the latest and greatest VPN protocols, it offers a faster, more secure VPN experience


• Camouflage mode – thanks to obfuscated (cloaked) servers, you can hide your internet activities from governments, ISPs, and other snoopers


• DNS leak protection – encrypts all your DNS queries and protects them from leakages


• Multi-hop VPN – change your IP address twice before reaching a website or a streaming platform and make it impossible for anyone to follow your traces


• IPTV protection – so you can watch the Ashes on a smart TV screen without your privacy intrusions and limitations

More than just a VPN

If you're tired of annoying ads and malware can activate the latest CleanWeb feature turns this VPN into a full security suite. It's great for people who want to keep their devices as private and secure as possible, and you can share that protection with everyone you know!

You can even take advantage of dark web monitoring that alerts you if any of your personal details get leaked online. Surfshark is great for users who want a VPN that'll do a lot more than just unblock The Ashes for them – it's an all-round privacy product that doesn't compromise, and doesn't break the bank.

You'll never miss a wicket

Surfshark has over 3,200 servers in over 65 countries worldwide, so no matter which country you find yourself in, there will be enough servers to support all your regular online activities. Surfshark servers are fast too, so you can stream the Ashes with no interruptions.

Surfshark puts no limits on your simultaneous connections. So, with this VPN, you don't have to worry about how many devices you left on – you can stay connected all the time. If you're still unsure which VPN to choose, Surfshark also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can compare its features with the rest of the providers, risk-free.