Get a full Ashes 1st Test 2025 preview. Australia hosts England in Perth with top players, key battles, and thrilling action on tapmad.

Australia vs England Ashes 1st Test 2025: Full Match Preview

Australia will field two debutants in the upcoming Ashes Test, with top-order batter Jake Weatherald and right-arm pacer <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/brendan-doggett-excited-to-feature-in-ashes-test/2335-5-0">Brendan Doggett</a> set to make their first appearances in the opening match against England at Perth Stadium on November 21. This marks the first time in almost six years that Australia has handed out two Test debuts in the same match.

<h2>Exciting Debuts as Australia Shuffles Top Order</h2>

The selections were confirmed by stand-in captain Steve Smith, who said he was excited about the new additions. As the team leader, when <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/pat-cummins-faces-backset-eyes-november-ashes-return/1316-2-0">Pat Cummins</a> is injured, Smith is of the opinion that the two players would make a difference in the highly competitive series.

The last time Australia had two debutants in one Ashes Test was at the start of 2019 at the Gabba, with Kurtis Patterson and Jhye Richardson making their debuts.

The presence of <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/jake-weatherald-excited-for-the-ashes-challenge/2173-5-0">Jake Weatherald</a> at the top of the order reshuffles the lineup, particularly following the retirement of David Warner. Australia has pursued stability in the long term; the 31-year-old will be the sixth opening partner of Usman Khawaja in less than two years.

This change also allows Marnus Labuschagne to return to his preferred No. 3 position. This move is supported by the fact that Labuschagne has been very successful in the domestic season, scoring five centuries in eight innings in Queensland after being dropped earlier.

<a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/green-boosts-ashes-hopes-with-key-performance/2258-5-0">Cameron Green</a> also retains his all-rounder status, edging out Beau Webster, and will take a position in the number 6 spot. He gives a good backing to the heart of the middle order of Smith and Travis&#39; heads.

Smith commended the temperament of Weatherald, saying that he had seen him at work in hard training conditions. &ldquo;The nets were quick, bouncy, a lot of seam,&rdquo; Smith said. &ldquo;He just kept wanting more. He&rsquo;s got courage, he&rsquo;s worked hard, and I think he&rsquo;ll complement Uzzie really well.&rdquo;

Doggett steps into the squad following an injury to Josh Hazlewood, who was ruled out with a hamstring issue. With Cummins also unavailable as he works his way back to full fitness, Australia will rely on Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, and Doggett to lead the pace attack.&nbsp;

Smith believes Doggett, who has been on the periphery of the squad for several years, has earned his chance. &ldquo;Injuries happen, particularly with quicks,&rdquo; Smith said. &ldquo;But it opens doors. Brendan has improved massively over the last few years; he&rsquo;s skilful, and I&rsquo;m excited to see him go about his business.&rdquo;

England, who drew the 2023 Ashes series 2-2 at home, will seek to end their losing streak in Australia, where they last won an Ashes series in 2010-11.&nbsp;

Australia&rsquo;s XI for the first Test:&nbsp;

Jake Weatherald, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (capt), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett.

Jake Weatherald and Brendan Doggett will make their Ashes Test debuts for Australia in the opening match against England at Perth Stadium on November 21.

Jake Weatherald, Brendan Doggett to Make Ashes Debuts in Perth

The first Ashes test is approaching fast, and Mitchell Starc is ready to lead the Australian pace attack in the absence of Pat Cummins. He is the most experienced bowler in the lineup, fully aware of the magnitude of the opportunity. In the upcoming Perth test, he carries the added responsibility of leading an attack that lacks experience in handling the intensity of the Ashes.

Keeping that in view, Mitchell Starc is confident that he is up for the challenge. He is also optimistic about the debutant <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/brendan-doggett-excited-to-feature-in-ashes-test/2335-5-0">Brendan Doggett</a>, who will take on the aggressive England batters for the first time in Australia. This will be a stern test for the Queensland bowler, who has reportedly been given the nod by the management to represent the Australian pace attack in the absence of Josh Hazlewood.

&quot;Obviously I&#39;ve got a little bit more experience there. Scotty&#39;s been around for a fair while now, so it&#39;s not like I&#39;m telling him what to do. We&#39;ve got Patty in the sheds with us anyway. So yeah, I may take on a little bit of an experienced role, if you like. But we&#39;ve all been around the traps for a while, so it&#39;s just staying together as a group.&quot; said Mitchell Starc while talking to the reporters.

Speaking about Brendan Doggett, Starc said that he has become a much more mature bowler now. The pacer further highlighted Doggett&rsquo;s contributions for South Australia, where he usually leads the team&rsquo;s pace attack. Keeping that in view, the Australian team management has full confidence in him and he is also ready for the upcoming challenge.

&quot;Brendan was a lot younger and rawer then. We knew what he was about, and since then he&#39;s made the change to South Australia. I think he&#39;s come in red-hot. He&#39;s had a good couple of weeks. We as a group know what he&#39;s capable of, and the skills that he presents.&rdquo; said Mitchell Starc.

&ldquo;And being a little bit older than back in 2018, he&#39;s probably a little bit more comfortable in his own skin and around the group. So really excited if he gets his opportunity this week to see what he can do on a Test arena. Having had him around the group for a while over the years, I think he&#39;s certainly in a great headspace.&quot; added Mitchell Starc.

<h2>Positive Signs for Cummins Ahead of Brisbane Test</h2>

Talking about Pat Cummins, Starc said that he is optimistic about the skipper&rsquo;s return for the Brisbane Test. He praised Cummins&rsquo; training intensity, saying that his approach in the nets is simply exceptional.

&quot;Probably understand why he doesn&#39;t train much, because when he does, he makes us all look silly. He was really, really sharp the other day. Sounds like he&#39;s pulling up pretty well. So very positive.&quot; said Mitchell Starc.

The unavailability of Cummins in the lower order batting is a massive concern for the Australian team. His absence means Starc has to bat at no.8 position, a spot he usually does not like in international cricket.

&quot;I&#39;ve been trying to get rid of No. 8 for a while, and now I have to go back there. You all think we fight about getting higher up the order. We all fight to get lower.&rdquo; said Mitchell Starc.

&ldquo;We know how important, how beneficial contributions there can be to first innings, second innings, setting up a total, whatever it may be. That&#39;ll play a part. I will keep working on it.&rdquo; concluded Mitchell Starc.

Keeping these statements in view, it could be said that Starc needs to fill the void of Cummins in both batting and bowling. It would be interesting to see how he&rsquo;ll take that challenge, as England is fully aware of the currently visible loopholes in the Australian team.

Mitchell Starc is gearing up to lead the Australian pace attack in the Perth test. He is also confident about Doggett who is all set to make debut in the upcoming test.

Australia’s Senior Pacer Starc Set for Greater Responsibility

The phrase Australia Ashes playing XI has been tossed around for weeks, yet nobody quite imagined the version Ricky Ponting finally put forward. The former captain has seen enough Ashes chaos to trust his instinct, and this time he wasn&rsquo;t shy about shaking things up.&nbsp;

He backed Jake Weatherald as an opener. Yes, a debutant in an <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/watch/australia-vs-england-1st-test-live/183551">Ashes opener</a>. Few saw this coming. Ponting sounded convinced, though, almost calm in the way he spoke, as if the noise outside didn&rsquo;t matter. Weatherald beside Usman Khawaja, then Marnus Labuschagne at three. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s earned it,&rdquo; Ponting said. Labuschagne has been peeling off runs everywhere he goes.

<h2>Injury Woes Shake Australia&rsquo;s Pace Attack</h2>

But the real story sits deeper. Injuries have ripped through Australia&rsquo;s pace stocks and shifted the entire mood around the Australia vs England Test build-up. Josh Hazlewood&rsquo;s hamstring strain hit first. Pat Cummins being ruled out made it worse. 
 
The selectors were scrambling, and the dressing room looked different. You could sense the worry. Not panic, but that uneasy silence teams know too well.

Injuries flipped everything: Brendan Doggett entered the conversation not as a fringe option but as the man Ponting sees ready to step in. &ldquo;Probably Doggett gets the nod,&rdquo; he said, barely pausing. He spoke like someone who&rsquo;d seen enough of Doggett&rsquo;s hard spells to believe they translate to Perth&rsquo;s bounce.

Mitchell Starc stays, of course. Scott Boland, too, steady as ever. Then the wildcard: Beau Webster. He wasn&rsquo;t part of the Ashes chatter a week ago. But eight wickets in his Shield match cracked open a door no one thought existed. His performance jolted the selectors. Suddenly,&nbsp;

Ponting didn&rsquo;t write him in as a guarantee, but he didn&rsquo;t rule him out either. That alone says plenty. &ldquo;He missed out with the bat,&rdquo; Ponting said, &ldquo;but eight wickets&hellip; that makes you think.&rdquo;&nbsp;

<h2>Balancing Batting Firepower and Bowling Depth</h2>

Meanwhile, Cameron Green waits in that interesting spot where talent isn&rsquo;t the question, workload is. With Cummins and Hazlewood sidelined, every over matters. Each spell becomes a puzzle. Green&rsquo;s 94 in the Shield match lit things up, and fans loved it. That shot he played over extra cover had the crowd on its feet. But Ponting admitted the dilemma: can they trust him to bowl long spells with an injury-hit attack?

Australia&rsquo;s batting core at least feels stable. Steve Smith captains. Travis Head at five adds punch. Alex Carey at seven keeps things tidy. But the real curiosity sits around the balance of the lower order. Will they risk a thinner bowling unit to keep the batting long? Or will they pull Webster in and let Green float? Ponting didn&rsquo;t pretend to know the final call. &ldquo;A lot of questions,&rdquo; he shrugged. You could see the uncertainty written on his face.

<h2>Countdown to Perth</h2>

As the countdown to Perth tightens, the Australia vs England Test opener now carries a strange mix of nerves and intrigue. It&rsquo;s not often an Ashes series begins with so many moving parts. That alone should make the first morning session electric. Gasps will echo around the stadium the moment the teams walk out.

For fans tracking updates, the full schedule and news will be live on tapmad. The Ashes opener on 21 November now feels far more dramatic than anyone expected two weeks ago. A reshuffled pace attack and a debutant opener. A possible late twist with Webster. It&rsquo;s raw, unpredictable, and oddly perfect for the Ashes.

And that&rsquo;s exactly why Perth might deliver one of those unforgettable first Tests cricket loves to spring on us.

Ricky Ponting unveils a bold Australia XI for the Ashes opener, featuring a debutant and a reshuffled pace unit. Few expected this mix. What pushed him there?

Ponting’s Surprise XI Sparks Debate Ahead of Opening Ashes Test

Brendan Doggett is all set to make his debut in the first test of the upcoming Ashes series. He is excited to feature in the Perth test that is expected to be dominated by pace bowlers. The experienced Queensland star was recently added to the squad as a replacement bowler for Pat Cummins, who is not taking part in the first test. This defines the fact that a big opportunity for Doggett is coming up in which he needs to make a strong mark.

The recent injury to <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/hazlewood-ruled-out-of-first-ashes-test-australias-injury-woes-deepen/2285-5-0">Josh Hazlewood</a> has increased Doggett&rsquo;s chances of playing in the first Ashes Test. Hazlewood suffered a hamstring injury while training in Sydney, giving Doggett an opportunity to prove his credentials at the international level.

When Brendan Doggett was playing a Shield match for South Australia recently, Travis Head came to him in the dressing room to give an update about the injury of Josh Hazlewood. It immediately made Doggett realize that the team management might include him in the Playing XI in place of Hazlewood.

&quot;When Heady told me, of course your brain&#39;s going a million miles an hour, and you&#39;re sort of thinking what might happen.&quot; said Brendan Doggett while talking to the reporters.

The Queensland bowlers understand that filling the shoes of Pat Cummins or Josh Hazlewood is no easy task. Over the years, these two have been the mainstays of the Australian bowling lineup across formats, so replacing them in the all-important Ashes will come with high expectations.

&quot;I probably don&#39;t take as many wickets as them. They&#39;re tall quicks. They get a lot of bounce. I&#39;m obviously just a little bit skiddier, but try and move the ball off the wicket both ways and try to swing the ball away from a right-hander.&rdquo; said Brendan Doggett.

&quot;I try and emulate them as much as I can. Hopefully a little bit of a point of difference for me might help. But we&#39;ll wait and see.&quot; added Brendan Doggett.

During the last 18 months, Brendan Doggett has performed exceptionally well in Shield cricket. He picked up 63 wickets at an average of 20.12 in the last 13 domestic matches. This defines the fact that why Australian selectors picked him for the blockbuster series when their main pacers got injured. Due to these numbers, Doggett is also confident to make a strong debut in the upcoming Ashes test at Perth.

&quot;I don&#39;t know how ready you can be for Test cricket, I guess. But the last 18 months to two years for me has easily been the most successful I&#39;ve been in terms of numbers, but also just confidence in my body, confidence in my game.&quot; said Brendan Doggett.

<h2>Scott Boland Confident in Aussie Bowling Depth</h2>

Scott Boland is yet another pacer who could feature for Australia in the first Ashes test. He said that missing Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood is not ideal for the team, but their backup pace attack is still strong enough to challenge England in Perth.

&quot;Obviously you don&#39;t want to be missing two great players like Josh and Pat,&quot; Boland said on Monday. &quot;But I think our bowling stocks have been really strong for quite a while, but no one&#39;s been able to break in with the resilience, with Starcy, Pat, Josh and myself.&rdquo; said Scott Boland.

&quot;It&#39;s going to be exciting time, because a new guy or two will get a look in. But they&#39;re not inexperienced guys. Like Brendan&#39;s coming in. He&#39;s 31 years old. He&#39;s played a lot of first-class cricket.&rdquo; added Scott Boland.

Speaking more about Brendan Doggett, Boland said that he is a skillful bowler with a lot of domestic cricket experience. He added that Doggett can bowl long spells in matches, which is a significant advantage for the Australian team.

&quot;I think he brings real skill. He&#39;s a fast outswing bowler, and he&#39;s someone who can bowl really long spells. Bowls a lot of overs when he&#39;s playing for South Australia. He&#39;s someone who&#39;s tremendously fit, and if he gets the nod it&#39;ll be exciting to see him play.&quot; said Scott Boland.

The first Ashes test is scheduled to start in Perth on November 21, and Brendan Doggett is all set to appear in it. It would be interesting to see how he performs in this match, because his raw pace can bring plenty of challenges for the England team.

Brendan Doggett is excited to feature in the first test of the Ashes series. He is confident to make a mark in the contest by focusing on his raw pace bowling.

Doggett Poised for Breakthrough as Perth Test Approaches

Ollie Pope is gearing up for the Ashes challenge, and he is confident to deliver for England at the crucial no.3 batting position. The young England batter was struggling for form earlier, but the recent warm-up fixtures against England Lions have given him plenty of confidence. He is looking forward to carrying this form into the first Ashes test that is slated to start from November 21.

The team management of England recently appointed <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/england-announces-harry-brook-as-vice-captain/1594-5-0">Harry Brook</a> as the vice-captain of the test team. He replaced Ollie Pope, who was struggling to score runs in that format for quite some time. Speaking about this development, Pope said that he respects the decision of the management. He believes that Brook, being the captain of the white-ball teams, will be a better option for the test side as vice-captain.

&quot;I respect the decision they&#39;ve made. If they think that&#39;s the right thing for the team going forward, and obviously Brooky captaining the one-day stuff and the T20 stuff as well, then that&#39;s absolutely fine by me and I respect the decision they&#39;ve made.&quot; said Ollie Pope while speaking to the media.

Before England arrived in Australia, there were debates in the UK about whether Ollie Pope should be included in the Ashes series or not. Fortunately, his recent performances against the England Lions in the warm-up game have put all discussions to rest. The young batter believes that those debates will now halt for a while, as the team looks set for the first test.

&quot;I hope so. I&#39;ve got so used to those conversations being had (about the No.3 position). I don&#39;t go looking for them but it&#39;s pretty hard to avoid sometimes. I&#39;m so used to seeing it, I&#39;ve just learned to focus on my game.&rdquo; said Ollie Pope.

He further said that the upcoming Ashes series is important for him, and he is looking forward to performing in it with a better mindset. He is also pretty confident to repay the faith the management has shown in him over the last few weeks.

&quot;I&#39;m just trying to become a better player each time I step out and that&#39;s all I can do. Fingers crossed to get the nod, but all the trust is in those guys and I respect the decision they make.&quot; said Ollie Pope.

<h2>Turning Immense Pressure into Performance</h2>

The young batter recently faced immense criticism and scrutiny from many English cricket fans and media. Luckily, he didn&rsquo;t succumb to the pressure and took all the arguments as an opportunity to prove himself again at the international level.

&quot;It&#39;s been good for me that I&#39;ve learnt that, under the most pressure, I&#39;ve been able to deliver, especially in that Headingley Test. I know that I can learn how to deal with that and get the best out of myself at times.&rdquo; said Ollie Pope.

Speaking about the competition within the team, Pope said that he fully understands the challenge. He knows that his position in the squad could come under pressure if he doesn&rsquo;t perform with the bat. Because of this, he always works hard to give his best, as the team consistently requires in-form batters.

&quot;Everyone wants to be the first name on the team sheet, that&#39;s pretty clear. But at the same time we&#39;re playing international sport. I&#39;ve got to remind myself of that at times - there&#39;s always going to be someone on your heel if you haven&#39;t quite scored the volume of runs that you would have liked.&rdquo; said Ollie Pope.

&quot;I&#39;ll try and use the pressure I&#39;m under to get the best out of myself. I think I&#39;m a far better player than I was the last time I came out to Australia. I&#39;ve got those experiences behind me and I know how I want to go about it. So fingers crossed that I can deliver with a lot of runs.&quot; said Ollie Pope.

The Perth Test, starting on November 21, will be the first major challenge for Ollie Pope to justify his selection. He is looking forward to the match with an open mindset, as the fast, bouncy surface in Perth could test his temperament and skills to their extreme.

Ollie Pope is confident to make a mark in the upcoming Ashes series as a specialist batter. He recently gained some form after playing warm-up matches against England Lions.

Pope Aims to Thrive Under No.3 Pressure Ahead of the Ashes

The Ashes. The story of 140 years of history, rivalry, and drama in two simple words. The sporting world stops when England travels to Australia to compete for the coveted little urn. The 2025/26 Ashes series is the must-watch event of the year as it provides millions of Pakistani cricket lovers with the chance to watch The Ashes live in Pakistan and follow the confrontation between the titans, the traditions, and the new strategies.

tapmad will ensure you get all deliveries, all heated confrontations, and every record-breaking moment live and exclusively in Pakistan. It guarantees The Ashes 2025/26 live in Pakistan with quality assured.

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<h2>The Unmissable Ashes: A Clash of Titans</h2>

The 2025/26 Ashes is not just a Test series but a battle for supremacy in the longest form of the game of cricket across the world. Every match contributes essential points to the ICC World Test Championship 2025-2027.

Australia, which is headed by Steven Smith after Pat Cummins was unavailable to participate in the opener, will protect the urn on their home soil. They have to rely on aggressive speed, spin by Nathan Lyon, and consistent batting by Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. They are archetypal of Australian grit, hard, inexorable, efficient.

They are looking forward to securing their first Ashes in Australia since 2010/11 and combining the class of veterans like Joe Root with the pace of Mark Wood. The show is a cultural collision: English aggression with Australian supremacy, with its high-pitched, bouncy rhythms.

<h3>The Schedule: Your Guide to Late-Night Thrills (PKT)</h3>

Due to the time difference, matches from Australia begin in the early morning hours in Pakistan. This is where the mobile flexibility of tapmad becomes indispensable.

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			Match
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			Dates
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			Venue
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			Estimated Start Time (PKT)
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			1st Test
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			Nov 21&ndash;25, 2025
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			Perth Stadium, Perth
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			Early Morning / Morning
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			2nd Test (D/N)
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			Dec 4&ndash;8, 2025
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			The Gabba, Brisbane
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			Morning
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			3rd Test
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			Dec 17&ndash;21, 2025
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			Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
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			Early Morning
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			4th Test
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			Dec 26&ndash;30, 2025 (Boxing Day)
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			MCG, Melbourne
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			Early Morning
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			5th Test
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			Jan 4&ndash;8, 2026
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			SCG, Sydney
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			Early Morning
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The early morning starts, especially for the crucial Tests in Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney, mean that logging onto your mobile or Smart TV via tapmad is the easiest way to catch the action without interruption. With five full days of cricket for each Test, having tapmad as your exclusive viewing window is non-negotiable.

<h2>The Exclusive Broadcast: Why Choose tapmad?</h2>

As the officially secured digital partner for The Ashes 2025/26 live streaming in Pakistan, tapmad offers the most reliable, exclusive, and high-quality access to the entire five-match series. Choosing tapmad means opting for an experience meticulously tailored for the modern Pakistani cricket fan. No other platform offers this dedicated, high-spec viewing experience for this series.

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<h3>Device Flexibility and True Mobility</h3>

Given the unconventional timings, you won&#39;t always be near your main television set. tapmad solves this critical logistical problem by providing seamless, single-account streaming across all major devices:

<ul>
	<li>Mobile and Tablet: Watch from your bed, on your commute, or during a break using the dedicated tapmad app. The app is optimized for low-data consumption without sacrificing quality.</li>
	<li>Smart TV Integration: Cast the match directly to your living room screen or use the native Smart TV app for a full-screen, cinema-like experience.</li>
	<li>Web Browser: Tune in directly from your PC or laptop while working or studying.</li>
</ul>

Your Ashes viewing experience is fully mobile and flexible, ensuring you never miss a historic moment. If you want a guaranteed, high-quality england vs australia live stream, tapmad is your solution.

<h3>A Focus on User Experience</h3>

The tapmad platform is designed from the ground up for the ultimate sports viewer. Its intuitive interface allows you to navigate quickly and easily to the live England vs Australia section. You won&#39;t waste precious time searching through confusing menus; the Ashes will be front and centre as soon as you log in.&nbsp;

Furthermore, the tapmad service often provides integrated features like immediate access to daily highlights and scorecards right within the application, enhancing your overall series tracking.

<h2>How to Watch Eng vs Aus Live Streaming Exclusively on tapmad</h2>

Gaining access to the exclusive Ashes 2025/26 live streaming is quick and straightforward. Follow these steps to prepare your device before the opening ball is bowled in Perth on November 21st:

<ol>
	<li>Download the App: Navigate to your smartphone&#39;s app store (iOS or Android) and download the official tapmad application, or simply visit the tapmad website directly on your browser.</li>
	<li>Create Your Account: Sign up using your preferred email address or mobile number. The process is streamlined for Pakistani users.</li>
	<li>Choose a Subscription: Select a premium subscription package that grants you exclusive access to live sports content. tapmad offers various flexible and affordable plans designed for the Pakistani market.</li>
	<li>Find the Match: On the app&#39;s homepage or within the dedicated Sports section, click on the &ldquo;Ashes 2025/26&rdquo; banner or live stream link, which will be prominently displayed.</li>
	<li>Start Streaming: Enjoy the uninterrupted, high-definition action instantly.</li>
</ol>

<h3>Dedicated Support for Ashes Viewers</h3>

In the case of a technical hitch, tapmad&#39;s support is readily available. Contact customer service in-app or call customer support to resolve any problem quickly, ensuring you don&#39;t waste time on connectivity issues.

<h2>Final Words</h2>

The Ashes 2025/26 will present the hardest, most intense Test cricket event of the year. From the high bounce in Perth to the spin-friendly track in Sydney, both venues present the world&#39;s best players with unique challenges.

For Pakistani fans, tapmad is the exclusive key to this legendary rivalry. Do not use unreliable and poor-quality feeds. Secure your subscription today and prepare for six weeks of thrilling, high-stakes cricket that only the Ashes can provide. Be ready to witness history live, exclusively on tapmad.

Get the complete details on Ashes 2025/26 live coverage in Pakistan. tapmad is simplifying the exclusive streaming of the Eng vs Aus Test series in stunning HD quality.

Where to Watch Ashes 2025/26 Live in Pakistan | tapmad Exclusive Streaming

The Ashes rivalry has really shaped Test cricket over more than a century now. Each era brings along fresh heroes, those spells you can&#39;t forget, and comebacks that people still talk about even today. With the 2025 edition coming up soon, the excitement over England vs Australia head to head figures is rising higher than ever. Fans keep asking about who has the edge, what happened in the latest matches, and what the past says about this huge cricketing battle.

Australia holds the urn right now after that tight 2-2 draw in the 2023 England series. The next one happens down under, so England faces the challenge of ending their streak of heavy defeats away from home. Australia looks set to keep its stronghold if it maintains its momentum.

People often look back at the full England vs Australia Ashes record and all the stats heading into 2025.

<h2>England vs Australia Head-to-Head: Last 5 Ashes Meetings</h2>

The 2023 Ashes turned out chaotic and full of intensity, with everything perfectly balanced between the sides. Both teams pulled off some massive moments, and the final five Tests in that series showed just how close it all was.

27 July 2023 &ndash; England won by 49 runs 
19 July 2023 &ndash; Match drawn 
6 July 2023 &ndash; England won by 3 wickets 
28 June 2023 &ndash; Australia won by 43 runs 
16 June 2023 &ndash; Australia won by 2 wickets

Two wins each and one draw. A perfect summary of how tightly matched these sides have been recently. These England vs Australia stats leave fans guessing again ahead of 2025.

<h2>Full England vs Australia Test Record in The Ashes</h2>

The Ashes began in 1882-83, and since then, both sides have battled through 345 Tests.

Australia: 142 wins 
England: 110 wins 
Draws: 93

Out of 73 <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/the-ashes-2025-26-schedule-fixtures-venues-and-squads/2254-2-0">Ashes series</a>, Australia have won 34 while England have taken 32. The remaining seven finished level, with Australia retaining the urn in six. These numbers show the rivalry&rsquo;s balance. Whenever one team dominates, the other eventually responds.

This long, rich history keeps the series unpredictable, no matter where it is played.

<h2>Batters to Watch in Ashes 2025</h2>

Both teams bring serious firepower into the new Ashes chapter. Here are the recent batting numbers that stand out.

Steven Smith &ndash; 9 matches, 775 runs, 51.67 average, 57.15 strike rate 
Travis Head &ndash; 10 matches, 690 runs, 40.59 average, 82.24 strike rate 
Harry Brook &ndash; 10 matches, 920 runs, 54.12 average, 85.58 strike rate 
Ben Duckett &ndash; 10 matches, 846 runs, 47 average, 84.01 strike rate

Brook is England&rsquo;s most explosive batter in recent times. <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/steve-smith-questions-england-pace-attack/2260-5-0">Steve Smith</a> remains Australia&rsquo;s anchor. <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/duckett-on-england-cricket-bazball-approach/2211-5-0">Ben Duckett</a> offers stability at the top. The head brings aggressive counter-attacking. The battle between these batting units could decide the series.

<h2>Bowlers to Watch in Ashes 2025</h2>

Bowlers often lead Ashes contests. One spell can flip a match upside down, and these recent numbers show who might do it again in 2025.

Mitchell Starc &ndash; 10 matches, 41 wickets, 3.32 economy, 35.48 strike rate 
Nathan Lyon &ndash; 9 matches, 30 wickets, 3.13 economy, 49.23 strike rate 
Shoaib Bashir &ndash; 8 matches, 30 wickets, 4.17 economy, 59.3 strike rate 
Ben Stokes &ndash; 8 matches, 27 wickets, 3.4 economy, 48.33 strike rate

Starc at home is always dangerous. Lyon knows how to bowl long spells and break partnerships. Bashir brings young spin energy for England. Stokes&rsquo; wicket-taking ability can swing momentum fast.

<h2>ICC World Test Championship Standings Before The Ashes</h2>

The Ashes 2025 is bigger than just a rivalry. It also carries weight in the ICC World Test Championship.

Australia &ndash; 3 matches, 3 wins, 0 losses, 36 points, 100% 
England &ndash; 5 matches, 2 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw, 26 points, 43.33%

Australia sit at the top with a perfect record. England are chasing consistency. Every Test in this series will influence the final WTC standings.

<h2>The Ashes 2025 Schedule &ndash; Full Fixtures</h2>

The Ashes 2025 begins on 21 November in Perth and concludes on 7 January in Sydney. The complete schedule is:

<ul>
	<li>First Test: 21&ndash;25 November, Perth</li>
	<li>Second Test: 4&ndash;8 December, Brisbane (Day-Night)</li>
	<li>Third Test: 17&ndash;21 December, Adelaide</li>
	<li>Fourth Test: 25&ndash;29 December, Melbourne</li>
	<li>Fifth Test: 4&ndash;8 January, Sydney</li>
</ul>

This upcoming tour brings a significant change. The series starts somewhere besides Brisbane for the first time since 1982-83. Optus Stadium in Perth kicks things off on a surface that favors pace bowling and sets the early tone.

<a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/brisbane-heat-launch-shaheens-fan-bay-for-bbl-15/1649-5-0">Brisbane</a> gets a pink-ball Test, which marks the first one at The Gabba for Ashes cricket. Adelaide gives a fair fight for both teams, Melbourne holds onto its Boxing Day custom, and Sydney introduces spin-friendly conditions toward the end of the series.

Every ground has a story. Every venue shapes the outcome.

<h2>Ashes Rivalry Stats: Series Results This Century</h2>

Here&rsquo;s how the Ashes have gone since 2001:

2001 &ndash; Australia won 4-1 
2002-03 &ndash; Australia won 4-1 
2005 &ndash; England won 2-1 
2006-07 &ndash; Australia won 5-0 
2009 &ndash; England won 2-1 
2010-11 &ndash; England won 3-1 
2013 &ndash; England won 3-0 
2013-14 &ndash; Australia won 5-0 
2015 &ndash; England won 3-2 
2017-18 &ndash; Australia won 4-0 
2019 &ndash; Draw 2-2 (Australia retained) 
2021-22 &ndash; Australia won 4-0 
2023 &ndash; Draw 2-2 (Australia retained)

These Ashes rivalry stats make things pretty clear. England tends to rule at home, but Australia has remained unbeaten on its own soil for over ten years now.

<h2>Who Are the Favourites for 2025?</h2>

Australia enter the series as favourites. They&rsquo;re strong at home. They&rsquo;ve held the urn since 2017. Their current form is solid. But England&rsquo;s environment is changing. Their approach is bold, aggressive, and effective. The team looks balanced. The squad looks fresher and hungrier.

Even former England star Stuart Broad said that while Australia are favourites, this English squad is the best since 2010-11.

The stage is set for a dramatic showdown.

<h3>What to Expect in The Ashes 2025</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Perth will test batters with raw bounce.</li>
	<li>Brisbane will challenge both sides with the pink ball.</li>
	<li>Adelaide will be a tactical chess match.</li>
	<li>Melbourne will bring Boxing Day pressure.</li>
	<li>Sydney will test the technique against spin.</li>
</ul>

Smith and Stokes bring different leadership styles. One is calm and controlled, the other fearless and aggressive. Their decisions will shape the rhythm of the series.

England will rely on tempo. Australia will depend on structure. Both sides are loaded with match-winners. Every session could swing the series.

<h2>Conclusion</h2>

The England vs Australia head-to-head rivalry in The Ashes remains cricket&rsquo;s greatest story. The history, emotion, and unpredictability of this matchup make it something the world watches closely. As the 2025 series nears, fans go over England vs Australia stats again, discuss their top players, and speculate on what might happen.

From Perth&rsquo;s fast tracks to Sydney&rsquo;s spinning pitches, the Ashes rivalry stats tell us one thing: nothing comes easy in this battle. Both sides want the urn. Both sides have the skills. And both sides know the world will be watching.

The countdown begins. The excitement builds. And Ashes cricket prepares to deliver another unforgettable chapter.

Explore the full Eng vs Aus head-to-head record in The Ashes, with key stats, history, recent results, top players, and the complete 2025 schedule.

England vs Australia Head-to-Head Record in The Ashes - Full Stats & History

England&rsquo;s bowlers are gearing up for the Ashes series against Australia, and James Anderson isn&rsquo;t mincing words. Pure speed, he says, won&rsquo;t decide this battle. Accuracy, cunning, and patience will. That one nugget of advice already has fans speculating about England&rsquo;s lineup.

The first Test at Perth Stadium starts Friday, and England is expected to field their full pace arsenal: Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, and Josh Tongue. That&rsquo;s raw power on display, no doubt. Yet Anderson knows the Australians will have answers ready. &ldquo;The pitches will move a bit, as they did before,&rdquo; he said in a podcast. &ldquo;You need precision as much as pace.&rdquo;

Ben Stokes could be England&rsquo;s secret weapon. Out of the group, he offers spells of skill and control that few others can match. But the injury cloud hanging over him has everyone guessing. Will Stokes bow long, or will England rotate cautiously to protect him? Fans are excited to know.

Anderson envisions a rotation system after Perth. One pacer rests while another takes over, leaving room for emerging talents like Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson. Shoaib Bashir and Jacob Bethell, though less heralded, could swing the momentum with a well-timed spell. That one moment, a quick breakthrough, could flip the series.

Australia, even with Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood missing, remains favorites. Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, and Mitchell Starc anchor a lineup that&rsquo;s far from easy to break. &ldquo;There are cracks, sure,&rdquo; Anderson said. &ldquo;But Australia still has the edge at home.&rdquo;

For England, this opening match will set the momentum. The roar of the crowd, the nerves in the players, and the weight of the urn all meet at once. A well-placed bouncer or a last-second catch can flip the mood and spark the kind of energy people expect in the <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/sports/england-tour-of-australia-2025-26/229/1">Ashes</a>.

Fans, pundits, and players all agree on one thing. The first Test in Perth may set the tone for the entire <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/the-ashes-2025-26-schedule-fixtures-venues-and-squads/2254-2-0">Ashes series</a> in Australia. As Anderson keeps saying, the battle is not only about pace. Precision, patience, and a touch of luck will decide who holds the urn when the dust settles.

Anderson urges England pacers to blend accuracy with speed ahead of Ashes opener. Fans brace for a thrilling clash at Perth Stadium.

Anderson Gives Key Advice to England Pacers Before Ashes Series

Australia&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/the-ashes-2025-26-schedule-fixtures-venues-and-squads/2254-2-0">Ashes 2025</a> build-up took a serious hit on Saturday after Josh Hazlewood joined Pat Cummins on the injury list, ruling him out of the 1st Test against England in Perth. The senior quickly felt discomfort during New South Wales&rsquo; Sheffield Shield match against Victoria earlier in the week. Early scans cleared him, but second-round imaging confirmed a hamstring strain and ended his hopes of playing the series opener.

Cricket Australia released a brief statement and confirmed the change in diagnosis. It stated that the updated scan showed clear signs of strain, which left the selectors with no choice but to pull him from the Perth trip. The timing could not be worse for Australia, which was already bracing for Cummins&rsquo; absence.

Cummins has not played since a lower-back injury against the West Indies more than three months ago. He continued rehab and targeted the second Test in Brisbane for his comeback. That plan stays in place, but the first match now leaves Australia without the two bowlers who have shaped their red-ball attack for years.

Hazlewood&rsquo;s withdrawal created immediate concern within the camp. His control with the new ball suits Perth&rsquo;s pace and bounce, and Australia wanted stability at the top of their attack. Instead, they must reshuffle the group days before the series begins on November 21.

Reserve quick Sean Abbott also sits out after suffering his own injury setback. That forced selectors to bring in Michael Neser on Saturday. Neser has played only two Tests but remains trusted for his accuracy and stamina. He trained well throughout the domestic season and gives Australia a steady option if required.

<h2>Starc and Boland Face Increased Responsibility</h2>

The situation shifts more responsibility onto Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland. Starc carries the new-ball duties now, while Boland steps up as the control bowler. Both are already prepared to play major roles, but the absence of Hazlewood and Cummins increases their workload. The selectors also kept a close watch on Brendan Doggett, who now stands in line for a potential debut. Doggett bowled with rhythm in the Shield and impressed with his pace and carry. If the pitch offers assistance, he becomes a strong chance to feature.

England followed the developments closely. Their batters struggled against Hazlewood&rsquo;s nagging length in the previous series, and Cummins&rsquo; bounce always created early pressure. Their absence changes the tone of the contest. England has arrived with renewed confidence after a productive build-up and knows the opening Test offers a chance to seize early control of the series.

Australia is still backing their attack to hold firm, but the first Test demands quick adjustments. Starc, Boland, and a likely debutant must carry the load while the team waits for Cummins&rsquo; return and monitors Hazlewood&rsquo;s recovery.

Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the 1st Ashes Test with a hamstring strain, adding to Australia’s injury concerns as Pat Cummins also sits out. Here’s the latest team update ahead of the Perth opener.

Hazlewood Ruled Out of First Ashes Test - Australia’s Injury Woes Deepen

Cameron Green&rsquo;s 94-run performance in the Sheffield Shield match between his Western Australia team and Queensland at the WACA Ground provided a great boost to his Ashes bid.

His hundred was a miss, but his knock scored vital extras to his count and also enhanced his qualifications in the build-up to the 2025 Ashes, which begins later this month.

On day three, after the play resumed, WA were 210/5 in response to the Queensland score of 390/5, and Green was not out on 49. He played a critical role when the game was evenly poised, and this was his intention.

On the first ball of Mitch Swepson, he made a four so that his total was fifty.

His restraint was in its entirety when he constructed his innings against a tightening Queensland attack and an unorthodox and swinging pitch. Green was composed and relaxed during the 60s and withstood two lbw appeals.

Shortly after lunch, Green fell just short of a century, getting trapped leg-before-wicket by Michael Neser. He made 94 runs off 172 balls, a vital hit by which WA was placed on a firm footing to stay in the game.

After Green was dismissed, WA declared at 322/7, with Aaron Hardie the other notable scorer of the day. Hardie made a crucial contribution of 55 runs, helping to steady the ship.

Queensland&rsquo;s second innings began with Matt Renshaw. Having just missed out on selections for the Ashes, Renshaw struggled with a knee ailment to make 51 off 73 balls, with Clayton contributing 54.

Bowlers under the auspices of WA, headed by Corey Rocchiccioli, conveyed a different message. Rocchiccioli completed 4/41.

Queensland fell to 183 at 4 to 184 at 8 following the spell of Rocchiccioli, and they were at the mercy of the last day.

Green had also contributed with the bowl, previously having bowled 1 out of eight low overs that had held the Queensland batters at bay, and now bowling 0 out of eight overs. Combined with his batting strength, these figures in bowling make his case in the Ashes stronger.

It remains unclear whether Australian selectors will include Green or Beau Webster as the all-rounder in the first Ashes Test on 21 November in Perth.

Green has a well-balanced performance, patience at the crease, and disciplined bowling, which is an asset and helps to support his case.

A difficult period befell Queensland as Green took the new ball, but he dug his heels in and negotiated the swinging and difficult period with great composure.

At 63, Green survived an lbw appeal by Neser, and at 74, another lbw plea by Gurinder Sandhu, he batted on and proved his grit and patience, despite a late setback.

It demonstrated his readiness for international cricket, and he is a major candidate for the Ashes team.

Queensland, having posted 390 in their first innings, went to stumps at 187 for 8 in their second innings, holding a 255-run lead, with everything to play for on Friday.

Everything is still to play for on the final day, and the chances of a win that WA have are not yet dead, mostly due to the all-round performance of Green.

Cameron Green’s 94 in the Sheffield Shield boosts his Ashes chances, adding 8 overs and impressing with both bat and ball.

Green Boosts Ashes Hopes with Key Performance

England&rsquo;s Ashes tour opener was marked by a day of contrasts. While an early injury scare marred the return of Mark Wood, <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/stokes-rallies-england-in-ashes-build-up/2227-5-0">Ben Stokes</a> gave England a morale boost with a commanding performance, taking 6 for 52 against the England Lions on a slow pitch at Lilac Hill.

Mark Wood, in his first competitive outing after knee surgery, was forced to leave the field after experiencing hamstring stiffness. He had bowled two four-over spells before the injury, and a precautionary scan was taken, casting a shadow over his much-anticipated return to competitive cricket.

Despite this setback, Stokes put in a stellar shift, taking six wickets from 16 overs. All his wickets came from shorter-length deliveries, showing off his intensity and fitness, especially after ramping up his bowling loads following a shoulder injury in July.&nbsp;

The surface was slow, with several nicks failing to carry to the slips, making Stokes&rsquo; performance all the more impressive.

England had some help from batters who holed out, but Stokes&rsquo; energy and fitness stood out on the sedate surface. The first Test at Optus Stadium is set to be much faster and bouncier, so the preparation on this pitch was far from ideal. <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/mark-wood-eyes-strong-ashes-return/2175-5-0">Mark Wood</a> and Jofra Archer, meanwhile, tried to produce trademark aggressive deliveries, but the Lions&rsquo; batters remained largely untroubled.

Opener Ben McKinney and a host of others, including Jordan Cox, Will Jacks, 17-year-old Thomas Rew, and Matthew Potts, all contributed aggressive half-centuries, helping the Lions post a total of 382 from 79.2 overs by the end of the day.

&quot;It was good to get miles in the legs. To walk off the pitch with 10 wickets was a successful day,&quot; England batter <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/harry-brook-135-not-enough-as-new-zealand-win-1st-odi/1997-5-0">Harry Brook</a> told reporters. &quot;It was [the surface] a little bit slow, but we can&#39;t do much about that. We&rsquo;ve got the opportunity to go out there, and bat tomorrow and hopefully we can go past their score.&quot;

As hinted by Stokes the night before, England&#39;s squad was given a chance to showcase their talents, with the main XI fielding a pace-heavy attack, suggesting that the team hierarchy is leaning toward pace for the first Test. Meanwhile, off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was included in the Lions XI, while fast bowler Brydon Carse was absent due to illness.

<a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/jofra-archer-returns-to-englands-playing-xi-for-lords-test-against-india/826-2-0">Jofra Archer</a> and Gus Atkinson took the new ball and tried to shake off the rust on the flat pitch. Despite several short balls, they were unable to break through as McKinney, in aggressive form, held strong. Archer, in his first six-over spell, had no luck with a breakthrough.

The match was set against the picturesque backdrop of the wineries, but the action was slow, prompting Stokes to rally his side. He came on first-change and picked up two key wickets, skipper Tom Haines and a sluggish Jacob Bethell. Bethell had faced 16 balls before he hammered the next delivery straight to square leg.

Stokes&rsquo; six-over spell saw him occasionally wayward but ultimately untroubled, silencing any lingering fitness concerns. Wood&rsquo;s first spell had been economical, costing just 12 runs, as he tried to make something happen on the docile surface. McKinney had been aggressive but was dismissed just after the lunch break, nicking off to Josh Tongue.

Mark Wood had <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/jordan-coxs-hundred-heroics-earn-him-england-recall-for-ireland-t20is/1352-2-0">Jordon Cox</a> on the back foot with some sharp deliveries before his departure, which added tension to the day. The rest of the Lions&rsquo; batters, sensing an opportunity, began to take more risks in the final stages of the innings.

Stokes continued charging in with another six-over spell from the other end. His wickets came thanks to the Lions&rsquo; ultra-aggressive tactics, and the last session of the day turned into something of a lark. Potts took on Joe Root&rsquo;s spin, launching several sixes into the next field, while Root&rsquo;s figures spiraled to 1 for 117 from 14 overs.

Archer claimed Potts&rsquo; wicket to ensure he wasn&rsquo;t wicketless as the day&rsquo;s play wrapped up.

This warm-up match has been held about 30 kilometers from Perth at a suburban ground, a far cry from the main venue where Sheffield Shield matches are underway.&nbsp;

Some of the rowdy behavior from passing cars could be heard, particularly from a local tabloid&rsquo;s mocking portrayal of Stokes and Root.&nbsp;

But there was no rowdiness from the several hundred fans at the ground, most of whom were England supporters, leaving the day with mixed feelings.

Ben Stokes impressed with 6 for 52 on the first day of England's Ashes warm-up, while Mark Wood’s early injury and aggressive batting from the Lions added drama.

Stokes Shines with Six-Fer on England's Pre-Ashes Warm-Up Day

The Ashes 2025/26 schedule, fixtures, venues, and squads revealed. Full list of England vs Australia fixtures 2025/26, dates, and Test match details.

The Ashes 2025/26 Schedule, Fixtures, Venues, & Squads.

PERTH: England&#39;s plans for the first Ashes Test in 2025 may be undermined as <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/mark-wood-eyes-strong-ashes-return/2175-5-0">fast bowler Mark Wood</a> strained his left hamstring during a warm-up in Perth.

After nine months of absence due to left knee surgery, Wood made his comeback. He bowled two four-over spells against the Australia A Lions at Lilac Hill.

Wood was forced to exit the field midway through his second spell during the second session. This raised doubts about his fitness for this opener at Optus Stadium on November 21.

&ldquo;The plan for Mark Wood was for him to bowl eight overs today,&rdquo; the ECB said in a statement.

&ldquo;He felt some stiffness in his hamstring, which kept him off the field for part of the second session of day one.

&ldquo;He will undergo a precautionary scan tomorrow. He is expected to bowl again in two days. It is unlikely he will return to the field today.&rdquo;

Although he had been injured, Wood got glimpses of his pace and bounce on a relatively slow pitch. Nevertheless, the circumstances in the warm-up location are most likely to be a bit different than what should be taking place at the first Test, which is likely to be quicker and more bouncy.

England opted for a slower approach against the Lions, leaving off-spinner Shoaib Bashir out of the starting XI.

Bowling was led by team captain Ben Stokes, who claimed four of the five wickets that had fallen before tea - his first competitive bowling since the end of July.

The Australian camp is also active with reports on injuries. Josh Hazlewood, a fast bowler, was cleared of any hamstring issue, and Sean Abbott was pulled out after the scans revealed moderate injury to his left hamstring.

The series of Ashes, which is scheduled to start in Perth, is full of history. Australia has won 140 out of 340 Tests against England, while England has won 108.

Australia also prevailed in a series victory 34-32.

England's Mark Wood faces a potential injury concern after experiencing stiffness in his hamstring during the warm-up match in Perth ahead of the Ashes Test series.

England Paceman Mark Wood Faces Injury Concern Ahead of Ashes 2025

England is still backing Pope to deliver big in the Ashes, as the upcoming warm-up match against Lions will be his first test to regain the form. It was earlier expected that Jacob Bethell would get an edge over Ollie Pope for the first test selection. However, the latest scenario indicates that England is still placing some trust in Pope for the series opener.

Ollie Pope has struggled in test cricket for quite some time. Due to his continuous bad form, his position came under scrutiny when England started preparing plans for the Ashes. At one point, there were talks that England might drop him from the Ashes squad. Fortunately, this extreme decision found no support, as England retained him with firm confidence for the blockbuster series.

The England <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/england-announces-harry-brook-as-vice-captain/1594-5-0">vice-captain, Harry Brook</a>, recently said that England will be going hard against the Lions in the upcoming warm-up fixture. He said the idea is backed by Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, who are basically the chief architects of England&rsquo;s new aggressive approach in test cricket.

&quot;That was partly what Baz and Stokesy said. We&#39;re going hard. We&#39;re going to go 100%. We&#39;re going to try and beat them. I think we&#39;re going to be selecting an XI and playing against another XI, so it&#39;s not going to be just a mess-around&hellip; It&#39;s good preparation playing against some of the best players in England ahead of the Ashes.&quot; said Harry Brook.

Keeping this strategy in view, Ollie Pope can once again get a chance at the No.3 position in England&rsquo;s batting order. His position was initially under threat due to the strong emergence of Jacob Bethell, however, a ray of hope has once again emerged for the young Pope ahead of the upcoming warm-up game.

A recent interview of Marcus Trescothick revealed that England will go with the same Playing XI in the warm-up match that has been consistently featuring in the test matches. This clearly indicates that Ollie Pope will once again bat at the No.3 position, where he has excelled strongly in test cricket.

&quot;I&#39;m presuming the same sort of No.3 we&#39;ve had for a period of time. I can only say we are a very consistent team in what we&#39;re trying to do.&quot; said Marcus Trescothick while talking to the media.

He also said that performances in the warm-up game will be monitored, but they will not be seen as a final marker to change the squad for the first Ashes test. This decision has been taken to instill confidence in the players who are currently planning to feature in the Perth test.

&quot;It&#39;s definitely not going to change dramatically before the start of an Ashes series because someone puts their hand up by taking five wickets or gets 150. The team has been what it has been for a period of time for a reason, so that when you come to big series, you are more settled and confident going into it.&quot; said Marcus Trescothick.

England has indicated that Ollie Pope could be retained for the No.3 spot in the Ashes. He will first get a chance to play at his preferred position in the warm-up game against Lions.

England Lean on Pope to Hold No.3 Position for Ashes Opener

The upcoming Ashes series is a tough challenge for the England team. They are touring Australia for the blockbuster series after a long period of time. Their limited preparation ahead of the start of the Ashes has attracted a bit of criticism lately. However, the assistant coach of England, Marcus Trescothick, has backed his team&#39;s plans, saying that it is the exact &ldquo;way of the modern game.&rdquo;

In the past, the entire schedule of Ashes tours was quite long. Before the start of the series, plenty of warm-up fixtures used to be scheduled for the visiting teams. It allowed players to understand the conditions, and prepare themselves accordingly for the main matches.

In comparison to that, the upcoming Ashes tour is quite different. England will not participate in any warm-up games, instead, they will focus more on the intra-squad matches to prepare themselves for the series opener.

&quot;It&#39;s the way that the series are generally done - for us and for other opposition teams - around the world nowadays. With the volume of cricket that&#39;s played [elsewhere], you don&#39;t have the time for preparations like potentially playing two or three first-class games, which has happened in the past.&rdquo; said Marcus Trescothick while speaking to the reporters in Perth.

He backed the decision by saying that England have been playing continuous cricket lately. He added that many players were recently involved in the New Zealand series, while some have travelled straight from England after participating in the domestic season.

&quot;I think you generally roll with a prep game, or some facilities - whatever you have available - and you go from there. Of course, most of the guys have been playing in New Zealand for us. Some of the guys have come out from England, but it&#39;s the way of the modern game nowadays.&quot; said Marcus Trescothick.

A prominent cricketing voice of England, Michael Vaughan, has recently said that playing on a club ground with low bounce does not offer ideal preparation for the Ashes. Giving an answer to this argument, Marcus Trescothick said that England&rsquo;s training in nets were quite great and the team enjoyed world-class facilities in Australia to prepare for the first Ashes test.

&quot;We&#39;ve had facilities here with the nets, and obviously then the nets out in the middle, and then we&#39;ve got the preparation game here as well.&rdquo; said Marcus Trescothick.

He further said that the England team will have three days of training at Optus Stadium in Perth. This will give them plenty of know-how about the pitches, as well as the ground conditions. Keeping that in view, they are currently happy with the designated training schedule.

&quot;In my day, playing at the Waca was very unique and very different, but you prepare yourself for those sorts of changes in facilities and pitches as you go along. We&#39;ll have three days of prep at Optus, just to get used to pitches and we go along with that, and we&#39;ll go from there. We&#39;re very happy at the moment.&quot; said Marcus Trescothick.

Backing Trescothick&rsquo;s view, a similar type of statement was given by <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/ben-duckett-shines-as-england-clinch-rollercoaster-test-win-over-india/686-2-0">Ben Duckett</a>, who arrived in Australia just a few days ago. He said that England are not short of game time, as they have been playing cricket continuously over the past few weeks.

&ldquo;We play a lot of cricket at the minute, and we&#39;ve obviously just come off the back of our summer. We&#39;re certainly not lacking any gametime. I don&#39;t make those plans, but I&#39;m pretty happy getting ready in the nets. If we&#39;re facing Jofra [Archer], Woody [Mark Wood] and those guys every day, I think that will be pretty good prep.&quot; said Ben Duckett.

The first Ashes test in Perth is approaching fast, and both teams are finalizing their plans for this electrifying contest. It would be interesting to see how England&rsquo;s Bazball plays out in Perth, as this aggressive approach is still untested on fast, bouncy Australian surfaces.

Marcus Trescothick has defended the preparation strategy of England ahead of the Ashes. He said the team is in good shape, as they have been playing cricket continuously.

Trescothick Stands by England’s Ashes Preparation Strategy

Australia&#39;s <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/starcs-comeback-headlines-australias-home-series-drama/1743-5-0">Mitchell Starc</a> has requested that pitch curators develop vibrant wickets for the next Ashes series against England to test the aggressive style of play known as &ldquo;Bazball&rdquo;. The first Test of the 5-match series will begin on November 21 at the Perth Stadium.

At the Sydney Cricket Ground, Starc expressed his desire for curators to stick to their preferred pitch preparations rather than flat, five-day surfaces that only drag out matches. &quot;I hope the groundsmen stick to their guns and prepare the wickets they want. If we&rsquo;re concerned about five days of revenue, then there are bigger problems at hand,&quot; Starc said.

The left-arm pacer also spoke candidly about his struggles with rhythm, admitting he has had difficulty finding his best form. &ldquo;It has been a while (since I played first-class cricket), probably too long if I had my time again,&rdquo; Starc acknowledged. &ldquo;But that&rsquo;s fine, it was alright, working on a few things, getting that rhythm back.&rdquo;

Starc explained that although he wasn&#39;t at his best during the ODIs against India, he is now on the verge of regaining full momentum. &ldquo;That was probably my longest layoff injury-free for a long time. I was just trying to find that rhythm through the ODIs (against India). It just felt like something wasn&rsquo;t quite clicking there, and it felt pretty close today, so I&rsquo;m reasonably happy,&rdquo; he said.

Reflecting on the break, Starc added, &ldquo;I think the break was a good thing, but I just tend to be someone who continues bowling and keeps in rhythm. I&rsquo;ve just been speaking to (head coach) Ronnie (Andrew McDonald) then, I think I&rsquo;ve sorted it out and now it&rsquo;s just getting the engine going again.&rdquo;

Starc is also performing well in the ongoing Sheffield Shield, where he took a four-wicket haul against Victoria. Starc finished with 4/91 in 18 overs, which pointed to recovery before the Ashes.

Mitchell Starc calls for lively pitches in the Ashes series to challenge England’s Bazball, as he works to regain his rhythm ahead of the first Test on November 21.

Starc Urges Lively Pitches to Counter England's Bazball

Jake Weatherald has received the Ashes call for the first time, and he is super excited to be part of the Aussies squad this summer. Weatherald is one of those players who have performed tremendously in Australia&rsquo;s domestic circuit over the past few years. Unfortunately, he didn&rsquo;t get the opportunity before because the Aussie squad was already packed with specialist test openers.

However, with the departure of David Warner, a ray of hope came for him. Being a seasoned domestic performer who has scored loads of runs in the Sheffield Shield, Weatherald grabbed his opportunity. The recent announcement of the <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/australia-ashes-squad-smith-leads-in-cummins-absence/2127-5-0">Australia squad</a> for the first Ashes test has named Jake Weatherald as a specialist opening batter. This is a remarkable achievement for the South Australian batter, who once thought his moment of glory might never come.

&quot;Playing for Australia&#39;s the hardest thing to do in Australian sport. It was always a goal that felt maybe a little bit out of reach at times. But at the same time, I probably got comfortable with myself to know that if I did the right things, at the right time, and I took my opportunities, then I&#39;d be ready to go. It is a pinch-yourself moment.&rdquo; said Jake Weatherald.

He then described playing for Australia as the greatest honor of his career. As a kid, it had always been his dream, one that has now finally come true.

&quot;As a kid in Australia, you grow up wanting to play professional sport; representing Australia in cricket is the highest honour, and something that I&#39;ve aspired to my whole career.&quot; said Jake Weatherald.

When asked whether he has the backing of all team players like Usman Khawaja to feature in the first test, Weatherald jokingly said that he didn&rsquo;t a few days back. The South Australia batter then praised Khawaja, saying that getting the back of players like him is not an easy task.

&quot;He didn&#39;t have me in four days ago. You get the backing of someone like that who&#39;s played so much first-class cricket, so much Test cricket.&rdquo; said Jake Weatherald.

He then described his excitement about opening with Khawaja in the upcoming Test. It certainly looks like a strong possibility, as Australia currently do not have any other specialist opener in the squad.

&quot;He&#39;s made so many hundreds for Australia and is such a respected cricketer within our community. I&#39;d be really excited to partner up with him at some point.&quot; said Jake Weatherald.

Usman Khawaja himself praised the decision to include Jake Weatherald in the squad. He described Weatherald as a terrific player who has proven himself in the Australian domestic circuit by scoring plenty of runs.

&quot;He&#39;s been knocking the door down. I&#39;ve played a lot of cricket against him...he&#39;s a terrific player. Conditions last year were pretty hard at Shield cricket, and he was a standout.&quot; said Usman Khawaja.

Getting words of appreciation like these from top players is a big achievement for Jake Weatherald. Over the years, he has matured into a specialist player who understands how to handle tough pressure while playing professional cricket.

&quot;We&#39;ve got to a point in our careers where we understand our games and how to handle the media, how to handle the pressures of playing first-class cricket. Hopefully that keeps me in good stead.&quot; said Jake Weatherald.

The South Australia batter is confident that he can adapt to different conditions and situations in the upcoming matches. He has a firm belief in his skills that has so far given him plenty of success in the Sheffield Shield cricket.

&quot;I think the way I operate is probably around that [being positive]. But at the same time, I&#39;m not too preconceived about what I want to do. I feel adaptable. I don&#39;t feel like a one-gear player. I feel like I can do different things.&rdquo; said Jake Weatherald.

The first Ashes test is slated to start from November 21 in Perth. Jake Weatherald is quite confident for this match, as he is currently in good scoring form. He is looking forward to the contest with an open mindset, as facing England quicks on fast, bouncy pitches will bring an exciting challenge for him.

Jake Weatherald is confident to make a mark in the first Ashes test. He has been selected in the Australia squad after scoring plenty of runs in domestic cricket.

Weatherald Rewarded with Test Spot Following Years of Determination

Pat Cummins is feeling confident to feature in the 2nd test of the Ashes series. He is working hard to regain match fitness, as the recent tests of the pacer have also given positive reports. Analyzing those carefully, he has started bowling in nets to gain some rhythm. Currently, he is bowling close to eight overs in the nets, and plans to come with full force before the start of the first test.

Since returning to the nets, <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/pat-cummins-expected-to-return-in-ashes-2025/1901-5-0">Pat Cummins</a> has not felt any pain in his lower back. The reports are also clear, showing no signs of a recurrence of the stress fracture. This is encouraging for the Australian team that is currently planning to face England in Perth in the absence of Cummins.

The team management is monitoring the recovery of Cummins closely, as they have not made any final decision as of yet. The Australian skipper is confident that he will clear all the checks before the second test, which is slated to start from December 4 at the Gabba.

&quot;That&#39;s the aim and we&#39;re building our plan to the second Test. It&#39;s probably not until you get a bit closer that you can really know where you&#39;re at. &quot;The good thing is that I&#39;m pulling up well and the body is great,&rdquo; said Pat Cummins while speaking to the media.

He also said that the upcoming net sessions will bring more clarity on his fitness. He is aiming for the second test as a viable option for his comeback, though the final decision will be made after completing the bowling sessions in Perth.

&quot;We&#39;re trying to keep that second Test as a live option. I&#39;ll have a really good bowl in Perth, and by then I&#39;ll know where I&#39;m at,&quot; said Pat Cummins.

Even after making a comeback, Cummins can face some serious hurdles during the rest of the Australian summer. The tough schedule of back-to-back matches, with little gap in between, is something the Australian selectors are concerned about. They know the importance of managing the workload of bowlers carefully during the summers. Keeping that in view, it would be interesting to see how Cummins&rsquo; fitness will be managed by the team during the rest of the Ashes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&quot;I&#39;m pretty keen to play as much as I can. But realistically, if we have a big game and bowl 40 or 50 overs and then there&#39;s a game that starts a few days later, it might be a bridge too far. I&#39;m trying to get right, and if I get right then hopefully I&#39;ll try to play most of it as I can,&quot; said Pat Cummins.

The Australian captain is confident of featuring in the Ashes without playing any warm-up games in the Sheffield Shield. He will fly directly to Perth with the team and spend time with the coaches to prepare accordingly for the Gabba Test.

&quot;Before the 2023 ODI World Cup, I flew over to South Africa and watched the last couple of ODIs there. It was actually a really different view from the coach&#39;s box. It&#39;s a different perspective. So hopefully I gather some information from being in that position through the Test that later on in the series I can use. Or maybe Steve Smith needs something, and I have seen something differently from up there,&rdquo; said Pat Cummins.

He further said that having close conversation with the team is better instead of sitting out of the camp. Keeping that in view, he will travel with the side to Perth to analyze the game closely and prepare himself for the Gabba challenge.

&quot;But being close to the game and the conversations, I think I will need that going into the second or third Test,&quot; said Pat Cummins.

The 1st Ashes test will start in Perth on November 21. Australia will enter the contest without having the services of Cummins, as Steve Smith has been announced as the Aussie captain for the series opener. England is looking forward to exploiting this gap, as they are confident of taking down the Australian attack with their extra-aggressive batting approach.

Pat Cummins is eyeing an Ashes return in the 2nd Test at Gabba. He is working hard in the nets currently to regain his match bowling fitness.

Cummins Confident for Gabba Return After Analyzing Fitness

The <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/australia-ashes-squad-smith-leads-in-cummins-absence/2127-5-0">Ashes&nbsp;squad</a> for the first Test in Perth has been announced, and surprisingly, Sam Konstas has been left out of it. The young batter made headlines when he faced India in the last Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Many people were impressed by his unique attacking style that took down the Indian bowling lineup comfortably. Due to that, he had a stellar series, and people assumed that the young batter would now become a permanent player of the Australian test side.

However, the recent form of Sam Konstas has worried national selectors. He performed quite poorly in the West Indies tour, and the recent Shield games were not satisfactory as well. Keeping that in view, the young batter has now been left out of the Ashes squad. This is definitely tough news for Konstas, but he can only blame himself for facing such a decision.

Reacting to the news, the Australian great Steve Waugh has come out in support of the young Konstas. He sympathized with Sam by drawing parallels to his own career, saying that he also faced a similar type of uncertainty at the start of his career.

&quot;I feel a little bit sorry for Sam Konstas. He&#39;s been in and out of the side a bit, and it actually reminds me a bit of myself when I first started playing for Australia. Not fully confident of being in the side, and up and down, and form not quite there. So he&#39;s probably lacking a bit of confidence.&rdquo; said Steve Waugh after the announcement of the Ashes squad.

He advised the young star to believe in his skills and not listen to random voices. The Australian great also suggested him to go back to the basics, as it will help him to correct his technique, which faced tough questions during the last few months.

&quot;[My advice to Konstas would be] not to listen to everybody. Just trust one or two people around you. Go back to basics. At the end of the day, it&#39;s really hard to learn how to play Test cricket while you&#39;re playing Test cricket, and that&#39;s what happened to me for a few years. I wasn&#39;t really that finished product. I&#39;d go back to Shield cricket, try and build some long innings, bat for as long as you can, and just get to know your game really well. And then [when] you walk out to play for Australia, you&#39;re confident in what you&#39;re doing.&rdquo; said Steve Waugh.

The Australian chair of selectors, George Bailey, also expressed sympathy to Sam Konstas over his omission from the Ashes squad. He said that Sam is currently in a learning phase, just like other young batters across the country. He is therefore confident that Sam will utilize this opportunity to enhance his game, because his performances have come under tough scrutiny lately.

&quot;I feel for Sammy [Konstas] because at the moment, if he farts, it&#39;s a headline. There&#39;s a handful of young guys his age playing Shield cricket around the country, and they are all learning and are all going through the journey of becoming the best cricketer they can be, and Sammy is no different - he just happens to doing it under immense scrutiny.&quot; said George Bailey.

He advised the batter to focus more on his game and try to score big runs for New South Wales to get some confidence. As per Bailey, this is not the end of the road for Sam Konstas, so he can always come back to the squad by showcasing improvement in his batting.

&quot;We really like him&hellip; he&#39;s been in and around the Boxing Day Test, he&#39;s been on subcontinent tours, [and] he&#39;s been on Aussie A tours. So we like the skillset, and [are] confident over the long run, it will continue to build out. It&#39;s not going to be linear - no one&#39;s passage through their career is linear - [but] the message is just to keep it simple: score runs and bat for as long as he can for New South Wales.&quot; said George Bailey.

The first Ashes test will commence on November 21 in Perth. It would be interesting to see how Australia will pick the Playing XI for this match, as Pat Cummins has already been ruled out of the contest due to recovering from an injury.

Steve Waugh has come out in support of Sam Konstas after the Ashes omission. He advised Sam to stay strong and pay more attention to rectify his mistakes.

Steve Waugh Sees Reflection of His Younger Self in Sam Konstas

Australia&rsquo;s first Ashes squad has finally landed, and it comes with a few surprises. Tasmania opener Jake Weatherald has been handed a maiden international call-up.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/steve-smith-to-lead-australia-as-cummins-misses-first-ashes-test/2004-5-0">Steve Smith</a> will captain Australia while Pat Cummins continues his recovery from a back injury. It&rsquo;s only a short-term switch, but Smith&rsquo;s return as skipper adds fresh energy.&nbsp;

Selectors have also recalled Marnus Labuschagne, who returns after missing the West Indies series earlier this year. His recent form for Queensland has been irresistible. He&rsquo;s scored heavily, and his confidence looks restored. But where he bats is still up for debate.

Chair of selectors George Bailey confirmed that the final XI and batting order would be decided closer to the match. &ldquo;He can bat three, he could open,&rdquo; Bailey said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s got the skill set for both.&rdquo;

The other big headline is Weatherald&rsquo;s rise. For over a year, the left-hander has piled up runs for Tasmania and Australia A. His 1,391 runs at 53.50 tell part of the story. What those numbers don&rsquo;t show is his hunger. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s been consistent, he&rsquo;s clear about his game, and he scores quickly without being reckless,&rdquo; Bailey said. &quot;I think it&#39;s a pretty solid record for sort of 18-24 months,&quot; he also mentioned.

There&rsquo;s genuine excitement about Weatherald&rsquo;s aggressive edge. He&rsquo;s not a slogger, but he&rsquo;s not shy either.&nbsp;

Sam Konstas, meanwhile, misses out. Bailey said the youngster took the call well. &ldquo;Every conversation with Sam is a joy,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;He remains upbeat and focused. It&rsquo;s always about runs, in the end.&rdquo;

All-rounders Cameron Green and Beau Webster both make the cut, but it&rsquo;s still unclear whether both will play. Green will test his bowling fitness in Western Australia&rsquo;s next Shield game. The selectors want him to deliver 15&ndash;20 overs to prove his readiness.

George Bailey said the team will wait before confirming the final XI, as most players are currently involved in Sheffield Shield matches.&nbsp;

Usman Khawaja will miss the next Shield game with a minor adductor strain but should be fit for the Perth Test. Meanwhile, Australia&rsquo;s bowling unit remains unchanged with Josh Hazlewood, <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/starcs-comeback-headlines-australias-home-series-drama/1743-5-0#:~:text=Starc's%20Comeback%20Headlines%20Australia's%20Home,will%20need%20when%20India%20arrives.">Mitchell Starc</a>, Scott Boland, and Nathan Lyon all included. Lyon returns after sitting out the Jamaica Test earlier this year.

Brendan Doggett and Sean Abbott serve as pace backups, while Michael Neser, despite a strong start to the season, misses out. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s still in the frame,&rdquo; Bailey clarified. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s about complementary skill sets.&rdquo;

Josh Inglis remains in the squad as the backup wicketkeeper and an extra batting option. Once the T20I series against India ends, he&rsquo;ll rejoin Western Australia for the next Shield round.

The mood around the squad feels balanced and steady, but with a hint of freshness. Weatherald&rsquo;s inclusion brings new energy. Labuschagne&rsquo;s recall adds reliability. Smith&rsquo;s leadership, as always, steadies the room.

Few would argue Australia looks short on talent. The bigger question is whether they can find the right mix in time for the first ball at Perth. That&rsquo;s what will decide whether this Ashes starts with a bang or a stumble.

<h3>Australia Squad for the 1st Ashes Test Match</h3>

Steven Smith (capt), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.

Australia announce squad for the first Ashes Test. Steven Smith steps in as captain, while Jake Weatherald earns a maiden call-up for the opener.

Australia name Ashes Squad, Smith to Lead in Cummins’ Absence

Brendan Doggett is currently in stellar form, as his performances for South Australia have been exceptional over the last few games. Due to this, he is confident to get a call from the Australian selectors for the upcoming Ashes series. The injury of <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/pat-cummins-expected-to-return-in-ashes-2025/1901-5-0">Pat Cummins</a> has opened doors for many domestic stars to join the squad, and Brendan Doggett is certainly one of those names who is eagerly looking to seize that opportunity.

Brendan Doggett showcased a strong performance in his last game for South Australia, as he picked 6 for 48 in the first innings to give his team a strong edge in the contest. This remarkable display of bowling has not gone unnoticed, as Doggett is now being considered for selection in the upcoming Ashes squad for the first test in Perth.

&quot;Absolutely. [I&#39;ve] been waiting for this for a long time. I feel like if I do get a call to join that squad, I&#39;ll be ready. And then we&#39;ll see what happens.&quot; said Brendan Doggett while speaking to the media.

Brendan Doggett missed the opening rounds of Shield after suffering a hamstring injury in September. The medical panel of South Australia was therefore quite cautious during his recent return to the Shield game against Western Australia. They were in constant communication with Cricket Australia, who themselves are monitoring Doggett with high attention.

&quot;To get injured batting is unlike me. It was unfortunate. There&#39;s not much I can control in that. So it was just about getting my rehab right and trying to get back as soon as I could to play for South Australia. I guess the timing is perfect to take a six-for but obviously I was just really happy to get back on the park and contribute.&rdquo; said Brendan Doggett.

During a short stint with Durham in April, Brendan Doggett showcased a remarkable performance. He was going along nicely in the County Championship matches until a minor injury forced him to withdraw from the tournament. The pacer described his time at Durham as a very positive one, which gave him plenty of learning opportunities about English conditions.

&quot;I really enjoyed my time in Durham. Unfortunately, I got injured halfway through my stint. I had probably a bigger finish to our domestic season, obviously with the Shield final, I got through 50-odd overs [46.5] in that I think, so it was big finish for me to head straight over and play over there.&rdquo; said Brendan Doggett.

&quot;But I really enjoyed it. The conditions are so different, and it was just a really good learning curve for me. And the whole purpose of that was to sort of try being in and around that World Test Championship squad, which I was fortunate enough to be included in. I really enjoyed it, and I&#39;d probably love to go back if I had the opportunity.&quot; said Brendan Doggett.

Speaking about the South Australia coach, Ryan Harris, Doggett said that his coaching skills are simply remarkable. He applauded the role of Harris in his development, saying that the Ashes veteran has given him plenty of confidence to approach every game with a positive mindset.

&quot;Rhino has had a big impact for me, especially, probably in the last 12 months. More than anything, he sort of just given me a lot of confidence and just passed down his knowledge and the way he goes about coaching, he&#39;s really passionate and he just wants the best for us as his players. It&#39;s probably just nailing my strengths. Being able to go out and feel backed and feel confident to try and swing that new ball, or bowl aggressively and try and bowl quick and just probably do whatever the team needs.&rdquo; said Brendan Doggett.

The star pacer of South Australia is now waiting to get a call from selectors for the first Ashes test. There is a strong chance he will be included in the preliminary squad, although the final decision will depend on his current fitness.

Brendan Doggett is hopeful to get selected in the upcoming Ashes squad for the first test. He is confident after performing strongly against Western Australia.

Doggett Eyes Selector Nod as Battle for Ashes Spots Intensifies

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