Ashes 2025/26: Can England end the drought Down Under?

The Ashes fever is on even before a ball has been bowled. Stuart Broad claimed on his BBC podcast: "The worst Australian team since 2010 when England last won, and it's the best English team since then. Not an opinion, it's a fact." Meanwhile, Steven Smith has downplayed the prospect of Bazball being effective in Australia.

England are chasing their first Ashes victory Down Under since 2010/11. They lost 13 Tests out of 15 across their last three tours, saved only by rain in Sydney in 2021/22.

Consistency in selections and fitness woes

History suggests that teams with settled combinations and consistent selections tend to triumph. Australia fielded the same XI across all five Tests in their 2013/14 5-0 clean-sweep. Currently, Australia's bowling unit faces challenges with Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood unavailable at the series start. Brendan Doggett is likely to debut in Perth, becoming Australia's first specialist quick Test debutant since Scott Boland four years ago. In contrast, England have had nine seam-bowling debutants in the same period.

England will monitor Jofra Archer and Mark Wood closely, with Archer having missed the last two Ashes after his strong 2019 debut. Ben Stokes' fitness remains crucial after he delivered inspiring spells against India but was ruled out before the decider.

Historically poor starters in Australia, England have lost the Ashes openers in each of the last four editions. However, under Stokes and Brendon McCullum, they've won nine of 11 series openers, including five overseas victories.

Opening partnership numbers

England's opening partnerships have struggled in recent Australian Ashes, averaging 21.58 across the last three tours with a highest stand of 85. In contrast, Australia's openers averaged 40.34 with three century stands.

Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett already rank among England's all-time top-five opening pairs with 2,511 runs at 46.50 in 55 innings. Since Duckett's comeback against Pakistan, this is the highest aggregate for any Test opening pair.

Usman Khawaja's form has dipped significantly since 2024:

Khawaja in Tests since 2024

Excluding his 232 in Galle, Khawaja averages just 23.85 across his other 30 innings.

The ultimate Test of Bazball

England's batting improved significantly in 2023 compared to 2021/22, with their ultra-aggressive approach clearly visible:

Batting numbers in the last two Ashes series (No. 1-7)

England boast an attacking shot percentage of 44.2% in the Bazball era, compared to 31.6% for other teams.

Scott Boland could be key for Australia in Cummins and Hazlewood's absence:

ENG batters vs Boland in the Ashes

The Smith vs Root showdown

Steve Smith needs 220 runs and one century to surpass Jack Hobbs for second-most Ashes runs and centuries. Joe Root has been imperious since 2022 but hasn't scored a century in Australia.

Batting record in the Ashes

Since 2022, Root has scored 5,720 runs at 56.63 with 22 centuries, while Smith has 3,240 at 46.95.

Mark Wood has dismissed Smith four times, all from wide of the crease:

Smith vs key England bowlers

Key bowler-batter contests

Australia's right-arm quicks have troubled Root in the Ashes:

Root vs Australian quicks

Ben Stokes has countered Nathan Lyon effectively with attacking strokes, scoring 313 runs at a strike-rate of 163.02 with just four dismissals.