The Ashes, one of the most exciting and fiercely contested series in world cricket, is about to kick off. However, the build-up has been filled with fiery discussions and bold predictions. England’s Stuart Broad has already declared that this Australian team is the weakest since 2010, while England is looking much stronger. On the other side, Australia’s star batsman Steven Smith has firmly stated that England’s “Bazball” approach will not work in Australia. As the verbal battle intensifies, one question remains: Can England finally break their 14-year drought and conquer the Ashes in Australia?
In the 2013/14 series, Australia made history by playing all five Tests with the same XI. Stability has always been seen as a key advantage, but this time, that advantage is missing. The team has been hit by the absence of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, and debutant Brendan Doggett is set to make his Ashes debut, the first specialist fast bowler for Australia since 2017.
On the other hand, England also has its worries. Can Jofra Archer deliver the same devastating impact as he did in 2019? Will Mark Wood stay fit throughout the series? And perhaps the biggest question of all—will Ben Stokes be fit enough? Stokes has the ability to turn matches around on his own, but his fitness remains a concern.
Statistics are also on Australia’s side. Since World War II, Australia has won 12 out of the 14 Ashes series openers, with England only winning twice. England’s last away series-opening victory came in the 1986/87 season. However, the “Bazball” era has changed the narrative. England has won 9 out of the last 11 series openers, including the last five away series.
England’s opening pair is now one of the strongest in world cricket. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett are now considered one of the best opening partnerships, with their runs in recent times leading the charts. On the flip side, Australia’s Usman Khawaja has been relatively quiet since 2024.
As for “Bazball,” it has transformed England’s approach to batting, with their aggressive shot rate reaching nearly 40%, compared to other teams’ average of 30%. The question now is whether Bazball can continue to succeed in the hostile conditions of Australia.
Australia’s secret weapon could be Scott Boland, who troubled England during the 2021/22 Ashes series with his extra bounce and accurate line. However, in 2023, Bazball has largely neutralized his impact.
The key battle, however, will be between Steve Smith and Joe Root. Smith is just a few hundred runs away from becoming the second-highest run-scorer in Ashes history, while Root still hasn’t scored a century in Australia—a major question mark hanging over him. However, Root has been the most consistent batsman in the world since 2022.
The ultimate question remains: Can England leave behind their grey history and witness a new dawn in Australian cricket?