Analysis The Ashes 2025/26

[Snuffaluphagus]

I'll believe England are any good in Aus when they actually win a test first...

Bazball has been categorically proven to be a complete flop on modern Australia pitches and with the new Kooka balls.

Our top order feels worse than it is because Marnus was in horrendous form, the Windies pitches were diabolical and Bumrah may well be the literal GOAT of fast bowling (not taking into account longevity).

I'll be stunned if England win more than 1 test.

 

[jusjoshin]

I'm excited to see Boland string a number of home tests together. He's still A grade.

Doggett, yeh B grade but he's in form. England will target him and that always creates opportunities.

Is Lyon A grade on the Perth Stadium pitch? I don't know.

On paper their batting line up is dangerous, but can they produce in Australian conditions? Perth should be a good test for them.

A bit in the Perth pitch for spinners these days. Corey Rocchiccioli had a blinder in the shield game against Qld.

 

[Nothing]

I'll believe England are any good in Aus when they actually win a test first...

Bazball has been categorically proven to be a complete flop on modern Australia pitches and with the new Kooka balls.

Our top order feels worse than it is because Marnus was in horrendous form, the Windies pitches were diabolical and Bumrah may well be the literal GOAT of fast bowling (not taking into account longevity).

I'll be stunned if England win more than 1 test.

This is where IMO it comes back to Archer and Wood. Those two are much more threatening in Australian conditions than England and Wales have had for a couple of generations. If they don't break down (a big if) then they will win at least one test off their bowling.

 

[anchor man]

This is where IMO it comes back to Archer and Wood. Those two are much more threatening in Australian conditions than England and Wales have had for a couple of generations. If they don't break down (a big if) then they will win at least one test off their bowling.

Are they though?
Both are very injury prone.
OK playing at Lilac hill in a friendly is no preparation.Wood has already had a hammy problem.
Archer is suss with injury.
A long hot and hard summer awaits they and the rest of the Pmmies quicks.
Hard pitches......hammie... ouch

 

[Nodgey]

A lot of people here much more optimistic than me about this series. Our top order has been ordinary for some time and now no Cummins/Hazelwood. Just a few days out and we still have NFI about the final 11 and the batting order. I hope we use the traditional opener in Weatherald, Marnus at 3, then Green down the order. Will the selectors choose Green and Webster to shore up the batting?

 

[E Shed]

A lot of people here much more optimistic than me about this series. Our top order has been ordinary for some time and now no Cummins/Hazelwood. Just a few days out and we still have NFI about the final 11 and the batting order. I hope we use the traditional opener in Weatherald, Marnus at 3, then Green down the order. Will the selectors choose Green and Webster to shore up the batting?

I would put my money on them being pig headed and opening with Marnus. Once they get an idea in their minds . . .

 

[stax on the mull]

A lot of people here much more optimistic than me about this series. Our top order has been ordinary for some time and now no Cummins/Hazelwood. Just a few days out and we still have NFI about the final 11 and the batting order. I hope we use the traditional opener in Weatherald, Marnus at 3, then Green down the order. Will the selectors choose Green and Webster to shore up the batting?

Yeah, I feel like it's going to go either way. I won't be surprised if we get smashed and end up picking a heap of players in the series, not ever finding the right combination for any of the games. Only hoping that there's going to be the reliable Australia where there's a couple in each game that just gets it done and carry the team, or it could be that it doesn't happen this series. Blokes like Head and Smith...it only takes one good ball.

I feel England are better placed for the 1st test with their batting line up being more established and they are quick scorers on a fast outfield that can take the game away from us quickly if we have a game where we are needing the bowlers to make up for a poor batting performance.

 

[Raz]

But I love the Ashes!

burn baby BURN !!


hehehehehehe

 

[Spirit Level]

Can a mod please uncapitalise thread title thx

 

[BStaff17]

Is there anything more enjoyable then beating the poms.

As much as i would love a close series here in Australia for once.

Would love to just thrash them again and shove there Bazball mythology.

McCullum just comes across as a snake for mine.

Starc knocking him over in the WC Final for a duck will always remain his legacy

 

[Kapow!!!]

Is there anything more enjoyable then beating the poms.

As much as i would love a close series here in Australia for once.

Would love to just thrash them again and shove there Bazball mythology.

McCullum just comes across as a snake for mine.

Starc knocking him over in the WC Final for a duck will always remain his legacy

All you need to know about McCullum is that he is on record as saying he wouldn't have done a thing different with that delivery, just bad luck.

 

[Docker82]

Pretty confident we'll still win the Ashes but tbh last Ashes I thought anything less than 5-0 would be slightly disappointing. It was why when people used winning the Ashes 4-0 as reason Langer was hard done by I didn't agree. That England side was truly awful and we should've only needed three and a half days to beat them.

Do rate England as quite a bit better this time around. But I also think Bazball will get exposed badly on pitches which aren't absolute roads. It likely comes off at least once though. Predicting 4-1 to Australia.

 

[RonnieRaven]

Want a 5-0 white wash but predicting
3-1 with a rain effected draw.
Smith man of the series with 600+ runs
What’s the weather in the west looking like for Day 1 ?

 

[Barnabus]

I don't understand the theory that Archer and Wood are the threat to us. They have played 2 matches between them this year. Neither look to be in particularly good form. Their bowling attack looks pretty poor to me.

 

[King Huskii]

Want a 5-0 white wash but predicting
3-1 with a rain effected draw.
Smith man of the series with 600+ runs
What’s the weather in the west looking like for Day 1 ?

Friday warm
The weekend moderate

 

[Docker82]

Want a 5-0 white wash but predicting
3-1 with a rain effected draw.
Smith man of the series with 600+ runs
What’s the weather in the west looking like for Day 1 ?

Think it's got to be pretty rain effected for a draw to happen.

Bazball doesn't just involve slogging. It involves Stokes making attacking declarations (well the poms call it that anyway). Think every pitch is going to be made to counter Bazball too - If you saw it in New Zealand (yes ODIs) recently the kiwi quicks tore through them on pitches that offered something for the bowlers.

Reckon there's a chance if we bowl first on Friday the poms are 6 or 7 down by lunch.

 

[Purple Suit]

Think it's got to be pretty rain effected for a draw to happen.

Bazball doesn't just involve slogging. It involves Stokes making attacking declarations (well the poms call it that anyway). Think every pitch is going to be made to counter Bazball too - If you saw it in New Zealand (yes ODIs) recently the kiwi quicks tore through them on pitches that offered something for the bowlers.

Reckon there's a chance if we bowl first on Friday the poms are 6 or 7 down by lunch.

We’re playing in Sydney, it’ll rain for three days during that Test.

 

[Docker82]

We’re playing in Sydney, it’ll rain for three days during that Test.

I know we love to hang shite on the Sydney test but I feel like most years they lose little enough play that they make in up in that half hour before play or at least get to a point where there is four and half days worth of cricket. Plenty of time to get a result.

 

[Purple Suit]

I know we love to hang shite on the Sydney test but I feel like most years they lose little enough play that they make in up in that half hour before play or at least get to a point where there is four and half days worth of cricket. Plenty of time to get a result.

In the last 10 years there’s been 5 Australian wins and 5 draws. It rains year round in Sydney, so much so they don’t need Retic like we do.

 

[Docker82]

In the last 10 years there’s been 5 Australian wins and 5 draws. It rains year round in Sydney, so much so they don’t need Retic like we do.

If they prepare the pitches we expect them to and England continue to play their BS Bazball style three and a half days of play will be enough.

If we're somehow 2-1 (definitely can't see a draw happening elsewhere) I could see them preparing a flatter pitch to ensure the Ashes stays where it belongs.

 

[BStaff17]

If they prepare the pitches we expect them to and England continue to play their BS Bazball style three and a half days of play will be enough.

If we're somehow 2-1 (definitely can't see a draw happening elsewhere) I could see them preparing a flatter pitch to ensure the Ashes stays where it belongs.

Or it could just rain again and England can claim a moral victory.

 

[greatgatsby]

We have to remember that any draw, or even narrow Australian victory (say fewer than 4 wickets or 100 runs) counts as an England win. So it will be tough to win comfortably.

 

[Alfonz]

We have to remember that any draw, or even narrow Australian victory (say fewer than 4 wickets or 100 runs) counts as an England win. So it will be tough to win comfortably.

Don't forget that if the English players feel it is too hot, then it will also not count as a win to Australia.

 

[Barnabus]

I think Carey should go for a stumping first ball England face. Feel like it would break them.

 

[TheMcManusNose]

This is where IMO it comes back to Archer and Wood. Those two are much more threatening in Australian conditions than England and Wales have had for a couple of generations. If they don't break down (a big if) then they will win at least one test off their bowling.

Yep completely agree with this. Batting equally fragile on both sides, us with a shaky top order and England boom or bust even on home style pitches.

Archer bothers me less as he seems to have never recaptured his brief peak. Wood is capable of doing a Bumrah on our pitches but is far more fragile, i'd be surprised if he plays more than 3 tests. He could win 1-2 himself though.