OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

[Mr Ducie]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/c5ylw0lw131o

Wood injury concern for England in tour match

[The Bloop]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

Disappointing that Tribe and Kellaway aren't playing, but understand England's needs to get the whole Ashes squad some game time. Hopefully, they'll get their chance in the other matches.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

Encouraging figures for Stokes. As for Wood, I’ll be amazed if he’s fit for all five tests.

[Lord Worcester]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

Encouraging figures for Stokes. As for Wood, I’ll be amazed if he’s fit for all five tests.

Or even 1 of them!

Well done for starting an official ashes thread. Will anyone be posting to it by the end of the 3rd test?!

[Hilts]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

England with a fit and firing Wood and Archer will be a pretty formidable attack and I think Smith is going to be really targeted with short bowling.

Id be suprised if they played more than 1 test together and maybe that will turn out to be zero.

They have stuck with Crawley for this series as they think the conditions will suit. If he flops this series he needs to be axed.

Bazball is going to be judged on this series and Bethell possibly at 3 I think takes it too far.

I think Hameed should have been recalled to be an opener option or no.3.

But he doesn't in with Bazball.

Stokes Wood Archer Root all playing and at the top of their game and I think England win comfortably.

Even though they wont all stay fit I still pick England to win an entertaining series 3-2.

I hope what doesn't clinch it is the pink ball day nighter in Brisbane.

[Lord Worcester]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

England with a fit and firing Wood and Archer will be a pretty formidable attack and I think Smith is going to be really targeted with short bowling.

Id be suprised if they played more than 1 test together and maybe that will turn out to be zero.

They have stuck with Crawley for this series as they think the conditions will suit. If he flops this series he needs to be axed.

Bazball is going to be judged on this series and Bethell possibly at 3 I think takes it too far.

I think Hameed should have been recalled to be an opener option or no.3.

But he doesn't in with Bazball.

Stokes Wood Archer Root all playing and at the top of their game and I think England win comfortably.

Even though they wont all stay fit I still pick England to win an entertaining series 3-2.

I hope what doesn't clinch it is the pink ball day nighter in Brisbane.

Have England ever won a day nighter other than the noddy one in England v WI when it wasn’t even dark for most of it!!

[Hot Shot Hamish.]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

Encouraging figures for Stokes. As for Wood, I’ll be amazed if he’s fit for all five tests.

I’ve just seen a reel of Ben Stokes wickets today. 5 of them were caught on the boundary. Fair play to him, he looked suitably embarrassed!

[Hilts]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

Have England ever won a day nighter other than the noddy one in England v WI when it wasn’t even dark for most of it!!

They have an away win v New Zealand as well out of 7 matches.

Australia have played 13 matches the most of any country with 12 wins.

They will be huge favs for that test.

[The Bloop]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

I’ve just seen a reel of Ben Stokes wickets today. 5 of them were caught on the boundary. Fair play to him, he looked suitably embarrassed!

When I read the scorecard and saw caught Atkinson, Wood, Archer I thought they're not nicks to the slip cordon 😊

[FormerlyJohnnyBreadhead]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

Think there's a few things working in England's favour. For instance, the first test not being at the Gabba removes one of England's most traditional psychological barriers, and Cummins' fitness issues will undoubtedly impact Australia. If England can win that first test, I think we'll have a series.

For those that partake, 8/1 for a drawn series looks worth a punt.

[Majorblue]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

Think there's a few things working in England's favour. For instance, the first test not being at the Gabba removes one of England's most traditional psychological barriers, and Cummins' fitness issues will undoubtedly impact Australia. If England can win that first test, I think we'll have a series.

For those that partake, 8/1 for a drawn series looks worth a punt.

Cannot see a thing other than a comfortable Australian series win.
England may be competitive but a 3-1 win for the hosts is where my fiver would be.
Would be more than happy to be wrong about this.

[Majorblue]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

Think there's a few things working in England's favour. For instance, the first test not being at the Gabba removes one of England's most traditional psychological barriers, and Cummins' fitness issues will undoubtedly impact Australia. If England can win that first test, I think we'll have a series.

For those that partake, 8/1 for a drawn series looks worth a punt.

Cannot see anything other than a comfortable Australian series win.
England may be competitive but a 3-1 win for the hosts is where my fiver would be.
Would be more than happy to be wrong about this.

[Des Parrot]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

I’ve just come back from Oz. Their main talking point (in QLD) is that the 1st test is not in Brisbane, for the first time since 1982. It’s in Perth, at the new stadium.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

Latest score

https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#mdfb90000-7a08-761c-f5f7-08dded5af61d

Steve Smith saying that England may have picked the wrong type of bowlers because the character of Australian wickets has changed in recent years - he may have a point.

[Hilts]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

Latest score

https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_scorecard#mdfb90000-7a08-761c-f5f7-08dded5af61d

Steve Smith saying that England may have picked the wrong type of bowlers because the character of Australian wickets has changed in recent years - he may have a point.

I think the pitches aren't as fast as they were but im sure Smith would still prefer a low to mid 80s bowler to face rather than Archer or Wood bowling 90 plus at his head.

Archer and Wood are accurate enough anyway.

Tongue is the only one id say who falls into the category of maybe a traditional English seamer may be more effective.