Mark Wood, left, Jofra Archer, centre, and Gus Atkinson are all capable of bowling at high speed and generating steep bounce
A Promising Start
Had England been presented with their current Ashes squad at any point over the past year, it would have been met with widespread celebration.
The strategic moves to assemble this group commenced in the summer of 2024. Notably, this tour marks England’s first Ashes series in over two decades without James Anderson. The absence of a bowler in Anderson’s mold signals the successful execution of England’s strategic plan.
Historically, England has often found themselves at a disadvantage in Australia, lacking the firepower to match their opponents.
Now, with the likes of Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts, and Ben Stokes, England possesses the pace and aggression to compete. This represents arguably the most formidable cohort of fast bowlers England has deployed Down Under since the days of John Snow and Bob Willis, who spearheaded their victory in 1970-71, the last time England triumphed against a strong Australian side in their own backyard.
The first Test on a lively Perth pitch, followed by the pink-ball Test in Brisbane, promises to be a stern examination. England may opt to forgo a spinner in both matches, aiming to unleash the combined might of Wood and Archer, particularly in Perth.
These encounters are set to be captivating, high-stakes contests. The tourists must break their pattern of poor starts to Ashes tours and emerge from the first two Tests with, at worst, a level scoreline. Falling 2-0 behind would be a near-insurmountable challenge.
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While England expresses confidence in Stokes’ recovery from his shoulder injury by November 21, concerns remain regarding his ability to endure the entire series, given his limited participation in England’s last four campaigns.
Without Stokes at full strength, England’s chances of reclaiming the Ashes diminish significantly. Protecting the captain’s fitness could be a factor in deploying four frontline seamers in Perth.
Wood’s situation presents an intriguing scenario. Despite being one of the fastest bowlers globally, he has not played a Test since August due to elbow and knee injuries. His comeback has been repeatedly delayed, resulting in his absence throughout the summer. Wood asserts that he performs optimally when fresh, a notion supported by past evidence. He will undoubtedly be fresh in Perth.
Stokes and Wood are the only two bowlers in the squad with prior Test experience in Australia. Overall, only five players remain from the previous tour four years ago, a significant turnover reflecting England’s dismal record Down Under.
Questions linger about the durability of the entire attack, given the recent injury histories of Archer, Atkinson, Carse, and Tongue. However, such is the nature of fast bowling. Archer, the team’s potential game-changer, has demonstrated improved resilience recently. This is a collective that England could only have dreamt of.
Will Jacks’ inclusion, primarily as cover for Shoaib Bashir, perhaps indicates the limited role anticipated for spin in the series.
Jacks, a batting all-rounder with two Test appearances three years ago, has only secured five first-class wickets this year. As a tall off-spinner, he mirrors Bashir’s qualities, while his versatility provides England with tactical flexibility. For instance, he could step in for an injured Stokes, allowing for the inclusion of four seamers.
Harry Brook’s promotion to vice-captain, foreshadowed by coach Brendon McCullum, is a logical move given his potential to succeed Stokes as Test captain. However, it poses a challenge for Ollie Pope, who faces increased competition from Jacob Bethell.
The Pope-Bethell debate could extend to Perth, largely because England missed the opportunity to resolve it during the summer. Their knowledge of both players remains unchanged since April, with Pope failing to cement his position and Bethell receiving limited playing time.
Pope’s career Test average of 35 is closely mirrored by his 34 in the recent five home Tests against India. A similar performance against Australia would be deemed acceptable.
England must decide whether that is sufficient or whether to gamble on a 21-year-old with only one professional century, albeit a player who embodies the archetype of a gifted batsman.
The rest of the batting lineup remains a strength. England has invested in Zak Crawley, hoping for a return in Australia, while Ben Duckett is among the world’s leading openers.
Brook has the potential to play a pivotal role, and Jamie Smith must maintain consistency after a challenging first five-Test series as a wicketkeeper against India.
As always, much will depend on Joe Root, who will aim to silence critics by finally scoring a Test century in Australia. On his first tour, Root was an inexperienced player facing a dominant Mitchell Johnson, while in subsequent tours, he was burdened by captaincy responsibilities.
He arrives in Australia unburdened by leadership, confident in his game, and arguably the best batter in the world.
Australian legend Matthew Hayden has pledged to walk naked around the Melbourne Cricket Ground if Root fails to score a century, adding further pressure on Root to perform.
Much attention will be given to England’s preparation, or lack thereof, with only one red-ball match against the Lions before the first Test.
This unconventional approach has served Stokes and McCullum well. England has won the first Test in all five away tours during the “Bazball” era. However, finishing strongly has been a challenge, with England losing the final Test in four of those five series. The strategy in Australia must be to gain an early advantage and then maintain it.
England could benefit from the uncertainties surrounding the Australian team. The early rounds of the Sheffield Shield will be crucial in determining the top three batsmen, while concerns linger over Pat Cummins’ back injury. The Ashes series could be decided by which captain’s body endures the physical demands.
This could be the final Ashes series for veterans such as Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc, with the outcome dictating the atmosphere of a potential farewell in Sydney.
As for England, the future beyond the Ashes remains uncertain. It could be Bazball’s defining moment or a disappointing conclusion. Depending on the results and player fitness, some, including Stokes, may not wear the Three Lions again.
In summary, sixteen players are tasked with bringing the urn home. A captain born in New Zealand, fast bowlers from Barbados, South Africa, and Ashington, a public-school opening pair, a middle-order developed in Yorkshire, and a spinner discovered through social media.
There are 59 days until November 21, providing ample time to plan accordingly.
November
13-15 v England Lions, Perth (Lilac Hill)
21-25 1st Test, Perth (Optus Stadium) (02:30 GMT)
29-30 v Prime Minister’s XI, Canberra
December
4-8 2nd Test, Brisbane (d/n) (04:30 GMT)
17-21 3rd Test, Adelaide (00:00 GMT)
26-30 4th Test, Melbourne (23:30 GMT, 25-29 Dec)
January
4-8 5th Test, Sydney (23:30 GMT, 3-7 Jan)
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