Ben Stokes calls upcoming Ashes ‘biggest series’ of his England captaincy
England captain Ben Stokes believes the next two months of Ashes cricket will be the most important series of his career.
The latest instalment in one of sport’s most enduring rivalries begins in Perth on Friday in front of a sell-out 60,000 crowd.
It has been billed as a battle that will define the legacy of the entire ‘Bazball’ era and Stokes accepts the hype is justified.
Harry Latham-Coyle20 November 2025 08:50
Steve Smith launches into bizarre Monty Panesar ‘Mastermind’ rant on eve of Ashes
Panesar recently called on travelling fans and media to barrack Smith over his role in the ‘Sandpapergate’ ball-tampering scandal seven years ago, saying he should be made to feel “guilty” about standing in as Pat Cummins’ replacement skipper.
Rather than let those comments pass, Smith took a curious tangent at his press conference on the eve of the first Test in Perth.
In what appeared to be a well-rehearsed response, Smith moved to discredit Panesar’s opinion with a detailed reference to a gaffe-ridden appearance on Celebrity Mastermind in 2019.
Harry Latham-Coyle20 November 2025 08:40
Australia name two debutants in team for first Test
Yes, as expected it is two debutants in the Australia team to take on England in the first Test. Jake Weatherald will open alongside Usman Khawaja with Marnus Labuschange re-installed at No 3 and Cameron Green sliding down to No 6 – leaving Beau Webster rather unfortunate to find himself out of the side.
Brendan Doggett is the other first-Tester – he joins Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc as the specialist seamers.
Australia XI to take on England in Perth: Usman Khawaja, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (capt.), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Brendan Doggett, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland.
Jake Weatherald is one of two Australia debutants, alongside Brendan Doggett (PA Wire)
Harry Latham-Coyle20 November 2025 08:31
The Ashes live
Happy Ashes eve to all those who celebrate. The start of the first Test is just hours away as an eagerly-anticipated series gets set to begin at a packed house in Perth. And we’ve got news of an Australian XI to start the morning with…
Steve Smith has confirmed the Australia XI (PA Wire)
Harry Latham-Coyle20 November 2025 08:24
Ex-England star offers advice to Ben Stokes and Joe Root on handling Ashes hostility
Phil Tufnell, the former England slow left-armer, has offered a unique perspective on the notorious hostility of Australian crowds during the Ashes, urging the current England squad to embrace the unforgiving environment.
His advice comes as anticipation for the series, which begins this Friday with the first Test at Perth’s Optus Stadium, reaches fever pitch, with figures like Ben Stokes and Joe Root already facing media baiting.
Mike Jones19 November 2025 22:00
Josh Hazlewood ruled out for first Ashes Test in huge blow for Australia
Hazlewood suffered a hamstring injury playing for New South Wales this week but was hastily cleared by Cricket Australia (CA) just hours after the issue first arose.
Mike Jones19 November 2025 21:30
England’s two options to seize huge Ashes opportunity against vulnerable Australia
Are you ready to be hurt again? Another four-year cycle, another chance for England fans everywhere to get their hopes up ahead of what will – likely – be another 4-0 away Ashes defeat.
Why should this series be different? Why should England supporters, both avid and casual, bother tuning in when history is so certain that another failure beckons? As a reminder of the stats, England haven’t won a match, let alone a series, in Australia since 2011. Played 15, won zero, drawn two and lost 13 is their record in the last 15 years.
Mike Jones19 November 2025 21:00
Scott Boland names Australia’s most prized England scalp before Ashes
Australia’s Scott Boland admits Joe Root remains the most prized wicket in England’s Ashes line-up, regardless of his ongoing search for a first century Down Under.
Despite boasting more than 13,000 Test runs – more than any other active cricketer and second only to Sachin Tendulkar on the all-time list – Perth’s West Australian newspaper welcomed Root’s arrival in the country with a front page splash dubbing him “Average Joe”.
Mike Jones19 November 2025 20:30
‘I’m praying for them’: Why England’s Ashes may hinge on Perth opener
Chris Tremlett has experienced both sides of the Ashes.
There was unbridled joy in 2010/11, when Andrew Strauss’s England cricket side became the first English team to win a series down under in 24 years.
And then unrivalled misery four years later when Mitchell Johnson subjected England to an examination they had no answer to.
Mike Jones19 November 2025 20:00
England take Mark Wood gamble in Ashes first Test squad
Mark Wood looks set to start the opening Ashes Test for England against Australia as part of a five-man pace attack after being named in the 12-man squad.
X-factor bowler Wood has faced a race against time to prove his fitness after undergoing surgery earlier this year. He recovered enough to travel Down Under but only completed eight overs of the warm-up match against England Lions at Lilac Hill before tweaking his hamstring.
Mike Jones19 November 2025 19:30
