What's the best way to watch the Ashes? Here's our top five ways

WHETHER you're stuck at work, having a party or want to catch the Ashes on the bus, we've rounded up the best ways to watch all the action.

Get digital TV on your mobile devices, no internet required. Source: supplied

THE ASHES is back and we're gearing up to watch the series in style. If you haven't been able to bag some tickets, can't get away from your desk, or you're stuck on a miserable commute worry not, cricket fans. Here are our top five ways you can watch every over.

A spanking new screen for your living room is a great way to watch the Ashes. Source: supplied

Splash the cash on a new TV: With Christmas on the horizon, use the inevitable deals and discounts as an excuse to treat yourself to a new screen. A good TV will reward you, especially when watching sport, as the amount of motion and colour will be exposed by old technology. To avoid the biggest problem of motion blur found in sport, look for a screen with a decent refresh rate. The class-leading Samsung UE55F8000 is a 55in, LED screen that's great for showing off those bright greens and keeping up with Jimmy Anderson's arm. There's even a built-in camera for Skype should you wish to do any international sledging. It will set you back around $3,600 but the picture will knock you for six.

Samsung UE55F8000, $3,600

www.samsung.com.au

A projector with its super big screen size will have friends flocking. Source: supplied

Impress with a projector: It's the ultimate viewing experience. It's not cheap, but what better way to get fully immersed and to host all your mates. You could go all-out and splurge the cash on Sony's better-than-HD 4K beast, but The Ashes isn't being broadcast in such hig resolution, so there's not much point apart from making the neighbours jealous. We'd opt for Epson's EH-TW6100. At $2,500 it sits at the higher end of a TV price, but here you get a screen size up to 300-inches. It offers a Full HD 1080p picture, as well as 3D capability and a bright projection so it can be viewable in bright rooms. Also, you won't need to install a sound system as it comes with two built-in speakers.

Epson EH-TW6100, $2,500

www.epson.com.au

The Slingbox will amazingly let you watch and control your Freeview or Foxtel remotely. Source: supplied

At work on your PC: When the series was held in the UK, YouTube had the brilliant idea of offering a live feed for those stuck at their desks. Sadly, this won't be available for us. There are cheeky live streams likely to be found in internet-land, but for those who want to go a bit more legit should invest in a Slingbox. Plug this into your home setup and your freeview, cable or PVR can be streamed to your laptop or mobile device as long as you are online. It works magically well (as long as you're on a decent internet connection) so you can catch the live action behind the boss's back.

Slingbox Pro, $184

www.slingboxmedia.com.au

Get digital TV on your mobile devices, no internet required, with iDTV. Source: supplied

On the bus with your mobile or tablet: For live as-it-happens content beamed directly to Android and iDevices download Cricket Australia Live: the official app. It's free to download but you will have to purchase either a day pass ($4.99) or 12-month season pass ($19.99). The app delivers live and exclusive streaming action to smartphones, tablets and PCs and provides the latest news, video, scores, fixtures, stats, radio calls and exclusive behind the scenes content. Otherwise, another method is by using IDTV. For iOS and Android users this solution is a tiny digital TV tuner in the form of dongle that plugs into the connector port and comes with built-in aerial and pulls in freeview channels. The best thing about it is it doesn't require the internet so it won't use your precious data. The android version will work with most handsets with a microUSB port and running 4.0.3 or higher. As for iOS, sadly its version will need the 30-pin connector port to run. So, unless you use an adaptor, those using any iDevice with a lightning port are out of luck.

iDTV, $99.95 for Android and iOS

www.mrmobile.net.au

The real action and chance to sledge the Barmy Army is down the pub. Source: ThinkStock

Down the pub:

While watching a major sporting event on your fancy new screen is all good and well, let's face it, the best place you could possibly be is down the pub roaring on your country with your mates and a schooner. Here the screens and sound system is already supplied. Plus, where else will you get cold beer on tap and the chance to banter with the Barmy Army?

The Ashes TV series starts on 21 November and will be shown on Channel 9. See the full schedule below:

Thursday 21 - 25 November: 9:00am AEST, GABBA, QLD

Thursday 5 -9 December: 9:30am AEST, Adelaide Oval, SA

Friday 13 - 17 December: 9:30am AEST, WACA Ground, WA

Thursday 26 - 30 December: 9:30am AEST, MCG, VIC

Friday 3 - 7 January 2014: 9:30am AEST, SCG, NSW