The build-up to an Ashes Series is like no other in cricket.
Every milestone in the lead-up has a spotlight on it — whether it’s 100 or 50 days to go, squad announcements, airport departures and arrivals, or simply form in county or state cricket.
The nature of rolling sports news channels, and the role that social media plays in news digestion, ensures that interest is through the roof. It adds an extra level of excitement (or nerves) compared to what you usually see for a Test Series.
For me, this is the first time on the ‘other side’ of The Ashes. The last ball bowled in men’s Ashes cricket was my final ball in an England shirt. Now I’ve swapped my whites for a microphone, and I’m writing this from the flight over to Perth, working for Channel 7 TV and SEN Radio for the next couple of months. I can’t wait for that first morning and for the series to get going!
That first morning of an Ashes Series can be more nerve-wracking for players than you’d think.
In 2023, I sat in the home changing room at Edgbaston and noticed my legs felt so heavy. Jimmy looked at me with that same feeling… we’d played Ashes cricket for more than 15 years by that point and probably thought nerves were a thing of the past! Think again.
So whilst I may have a moment in Optus Stadium in the lead-up to the toss, seeing my old teammates out there with ‘Ashes 2025/26’ under the Three Lions on their shirts, thinking that I want to be a part of it, I’m confident it’ll subside pretty quickly knowing I’ll be staying on the other side of the boundary rope.
So much has been made of both teams ahead of the series. For England, do they play Archer and Wood in Perth? Some are thinking: protect the team from potential injuries, don’t play them together. For me though, we have to go with both in Perth.
Our biggest aggressive threat is with the ball, it’s key that we give it our best shot to get ahead in the Series.
Our biggest aggressive threats with the ball, it’s key that we give it our best shot to get ahead in the Series. Genuine pace is the Australians’ real weakness, and if we can have Jof and Woody firing in Perth, we have our best chance of winning.
You can look at selection for the second Test in Brisbane instead (not that Baz will look too far ahead), where Mitchell Starc will have the pink ball in hand for the day/night Test.
But for now, try to get ahead in the Series with our two quickest bowlers — as we all know, falling 1–0 or worse, 2–0 behind makes it a tough challenge to come back from.
The other dilemma is Pope vs Bethell, and sat on the flight just a few days out, for me, Pope owns the shirt and deserves his place. His hundred in the warm-up game probably sealed it.
You look at Australia and they’re nowhere near as settled as you’d expect. I’ve gone on record as saying they’re the weakest Australian team since 2010/11, when they last lost on home soil.
A settled Australian team would ordinarily have a squad of 12 or 13. You look at them in their prime in the late ’90s through to the late 2000s and the team picked itself. This time around they’ve named a squad of 15.
If they can do that, the Australian media spotlight will turn onto their own team. That only adds more pressure.
Whilst the players have had a lot of practice in the Sheffield Shield, results have been indifferent. Steve Smith has made runs and you’d expect him to be the main threat to England. Marnus is back in, as well as a few new faces.
For England, they have to target that top three in my mind. Put the pressure on them, and then the rest of the team. If they can do that, the Australian media spotlight — that I referenced at the top of this blog — will turn onto their own team.
That in itself only adds more pressure, when the media and fans turn on their own.
England have the talent to win the Series, and they know the flaws in this slightly aging Australian team. Australia will go in as favourites, as home teams ordinarily do in an Ashes Series.
It can be so tough to win away from home. But as Luke Donald has just proved with Europe in New York, it’s possible if you play to your strengths, remain focused and avoid the distraction of the outside noise. The same applies on an Ashes tour. Good luck, lads.
Stuart Broad is Fitzdares’ Ambassador.
