With Australia taking the first Test and the familiar banter well underway, KFC has decided to lend the English a helping hand or at least a helping wipe.
As an official partner of Cricket Australia, the brand has rolled out Whinge Wipes: limited-edition refresher towels designed to “gently wipe face to remove salty English tears”.
Packaged in classic KFC red and white, the towels were created as a tongue-in-cheek nod to the Ashes rivalry, offering an extra dose of comic relief as the summer series builds momentum.
Fans attending the Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney Tests will be able to pick up the Whinge Wipes in person.
Adelaide supporters get an extra treat, with the KFC Food Truck serving free Go Buckets during the Test.
The brand has also opened its annual summer merch drop available online now, with all profits going to the KFC Youth Foundation.
Travis Head becomes Travis Bucket-Head
In another lighthearted twist, KFC has temporarily benched the Colonel in favour of a new star: Travis Bucket-Head.
After Travis Head’s standout performance in the opening Test, his face will replace the Colonel in select in-stadium visuals throughout the summer.
Fans at the Gabba can also get their hands on limited-edition KFC “Travis Bucket-Heads”, swapping the iconic founder for Australia’s unofficial “chief Pom-ruiner”.
Travis Bucket-Head
Brand banter meets cricket culture
KFC’s Ashes activations continue the brand’s long-running strategy of tapping into Australian sporting culture with humour, merchandise and match-day engagement, leaning into a rivalry that is equal parts competitive and comedic.
The Whinge Wipes enter the fray just in time for the second Test, providing fans with a literal and figurative way to mop up the drama that comes with every Ashes summer.