The ultimate test: Ashes 2025/26 preview

The greatest rivalry in Test cricket is back, and once again, the battlefield is the scorched earth of Australia.

After a compelling 2-2 draw in the 2023 summer, England, under the charismatic leadership of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, now face their most defining challenge: proving that 'Bazball' can conquer the unforgiving conditions Down Under.

For too long, the touring side has wilted under the Aussie sun and the pressure of the hostile crowds.

But this England side, brimming with renewed pace and unshakable belief, heads to Perth knowing that history is theirs to rewrite.

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The schedule: dates and venues

This is a five-Test spectacle spanning the Australian summer, taking in the iconic grounds and culminating in the traditional New Year's fiesta. Crucially, the series begins away from the traditional Gabba cauldron, giving the tourists a psychological boost.

Team news: Australia

The holders of the urn have been rocked by significant news in the lead-up, providing England with a glimmer of early hope.

Their charismatic captain, Pat Cummins, has been ruled out of the crucial First Test in Perth due to a recurring lumbar bone stress injury.

This is a monumental blow for the Aussies, not just for his bowling acumen but for his on-field leadership and presence.

Stepping into the breach will be Steve Smith, who will reassume the captaincy. Smith’s form, evidenced by a recent Shield hundred, is ominous, but the pressure of leadership is a different beast entirely.

The selection of a replacement quick for Cummins is the immediate talking point.

While Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are certainties, the ever-reliable Scott Boland is the clear front-runner for the third seamers' slot, having terrorised England during the 2021-22 series.

Nathan Lyon, meanwhile, has made it clear he will not be overlooked for a four-pronged seam attack, and his experience remains irreplaceable.

Team news: England

Stokes's selection panel has been firm, naming a 16-man squad focused on pace, flexibility, and a continuation of their aggressive philosophy.

The biggest positive is the fitness news surrounding Jofra Archer.

If Archer can remain healthy and deliver the searing pace that dismantled Australia in 2019, England's attack instantly moves from promising to world-class.

His availability for a significant portion of the series is absolutely crucial to any English success.

In other key developments, Harry Brook has been officially confirmed as the new vice-captain, replacing Ollie Pope.

This signals the selectors' trust in the destructive Yorkshireman and his central role in the team’s future.

Mark Wood's return is also huge.

The sheer speed of a potential Archer-Wood pairing, supported by the likes of Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue, presents an intimidating prospect that Australia’s top order has not faced in their home conditions for many years.

Predicted lineups for Perth

Australia XI (First Test)

With Pat Cummins out, Steve Smith leading, and a nod to form and home conditions, this is the most likely starting XI to take the field in Perth.

Scott Boland gets the nod for his immaculate line and length.

1. Usman Khawaja

2. Marnus Labuschagne

3. Cameron Green

4. Steve Smith (c)

5. Travis Head

6. Beau Webster

7. Alex Carey (wk)

8. Mitchell Starc

9. Josh Hazlewood

10. Scott Boland

11. Nathan Lyon

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England XI (First Test)

The main uncertainty for England remains the balance of their bowling attack.

Assuming full fitness for Archer and Wood, it's a fearsome quartet.

1. Zak Crawley

2. Ben Duckett

3. Ollie Pope

4. Joe Root

5. Harry Brook (vc)

6. Ben Stokes (c)

7. Jamie Smith (wk)

8. Will Jacks

9. Gus Atkinson

10. Jofra Archer

11. Mark Wood

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Talking points and conditions

The 'Bazball' warning

Steve Smith has already fired the first salvo, warning England that their cavalier style simply "won't work here."

He points to the recent trend of Australian wickets being far more challenging for top-order batters, averaging just 30.22 in the last four home summers.

Can Stokes's side maintain their high strike rate against Starc and Hazlewood on quick, bouncy decks? This philosophical clash will define the series.

Joe Root’s Australian century drought

Joe Root is one of the greatest England batters of all time, yet he is still hunting for his maiden Test century in Australia.

Former rival Ricky Ponting suggested Root’s hurdle is now purely mental.

If Root breaks that barrier early, it gives the entire English batting line-up the confidence they need.

The Archer vs. Smith showdown

The duel between Jofra Archer and Steve Smith in 2019 was legendary.

The thought of this rivalry being reignited on the hard Australian tracks is mouth-watering.

If Archer can unsettle Smith, who holds an average of 112.28 when captaining an Ashes match at home, it could decisively swing the series.

Stuart Broad’s Parting Shot

Now in the commentary box, Stuart Broad, never one to shy away from stirring the pot, recently declared this Australian team the "worst since 2010" and this England team the "best since 2010."

It’s an inflammatory claim that puts instant pressure on both squads and adds yet another layer of drama.

Prediction

The loss of Pat Cummins for the opener, coupled with the switch from the Gabba to Perth, offers England their best chance in over a decade to claim an early foothold.

However, history cannot be ignored.

Touring Australia is the toughest assignment in cricket, and the bounce and relentless quality of the Australian pace attack, even without Cummins initially, will exploit England’s still inconsistent middle-order.

While Stokes’ side will be far more competitive and exciting than previous tours, their reliance on pace may be offset by the lack of a world-class, wicket-taking spinner outside of the swing-friendly conditions of England.

The Boxing Day and Sydney Tests often revert to spin-friendly surfaces, and that is where Nathan Lyon will truly earn his money.

It will be a hard-fought series that ultimately sees the holders just shade it, but not without some serious heart-stopping moments for the home fans.

Australia win the series 3-2.

Cricket news and related links

• England batting woes continue as New Zealand seal ODI series win
• The Ashes contenders: Three young guns poised for an England call-up
• Mark Wood provides positive update on Ashes rehab
• The Ashes debate: The race to be England’s second spinner heats up
• Ashes build-up vs ODI specialists: How England's squad rotation works for New Zealand one day tour