Ashes 2025-26.

[sussexpob]

Cloud cover still has an impact. But naturally is unpredictable. My one visit to the MCG saw the Aussie top order collapse under cloud, and then Gilchrist and Symonds add about 300 when the sky cleared and the pitch looked suddenly flat.

It was Matthew Hayden who had the mammoth partnership with Symonds in 2006. He recounted his memory of it on comms fairly recently after Symonds death, as they were very close friends who grew up together for a long time at Queensland. He said as Symonds got towards his maiden ton, Hayden took it upon himself to coach him through it, advising him not to throw it away and just play the singles into the gaps and take his time.

Symonds responded by baseball batting England's bowlers into the stand, ignoring the fielders set for the shot on the boundary, and then finished the job by hitting Paul Collingwood into the stratosphere.

Hayden joked that was the end of his coaching career.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Ok thanks. At least I remembered a left hander.

[Durhamfootman]

and the Bleached Bradman will be captain.

I have no idea who that is

[Arthur Crabtree]

Steve Smith of Sandpaper Gate.

[Durhamfootman]

crumbs.... is he still around?

[Durhamfootman]

I thought he might have had a wander down Wee Davey Lane by now

[Arthur Crabtree]

Admittedly it no longer works because he doesn't bleach his hair anymore and he doesn't score a lot of runs either. But a search tells me I've been using it for 6 years and I'm not stopping now.

[sussexpob]

Admittedly it no longer works because he doesn't bleach his hair anymore and he doesn't score a lot of runs either. But a search tells me I've been using it for 6 years and I'm not stopping now.

Steve Smith's form is obviously the key question on how this series will go. If you asked me before the SL tour, I would have said he looked like a player in deep decline, and visually struggling with his technique. But he scored big runs in that series on Galle pitches that can be tough to bat on, and while the paper figures in West Indies might invite negativity, I would consider those pitches to have been below test match standard.

His 71 in the 2nd test was an absolute belter of an innings in the context of the conditions, and his 48 in the last test might seem utterly forgettable, but that pitch was just not fit for elite level cricket - West Indies got the second worst test score in history the innings after - 48 on that deck feels like a 150 on a normal pitch. And not only was the pitch a wreck, but Jaydon Seales was recorded as swinging the ball more than anyone in records....

I am less confident we have seen the back of the bleached Bradman yet. One last run fest hurrah might be on the cards. But I think he will retire after this series.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Hard to imagine England will go from drawing at home with India to winning away in Australia. To me, it's about losing well.

Not sure about SMith, feels like it could go either way on form. But not likely to be quite as implacable as on previous tours. If he's thinking about retiring, that could go either way also.

[andy]

At the moment it's starting to feel like whatever teams captain is able to be fitter and play more matches will have the edge! Real worry for Cummins that after all these years he's back to a back issue.....the back up seamers aren't young either so maybe just maybe there's an area England can exploit....Lyon has bowled less and less over last 18 months too.....just maybe this could be much closer and competitive then people think

[Durhamfootman]

nah!

not for me.

I'm with Arthur, it's about how well they lose. I think that 2 years ago, they could have won had that been an ashes year, but Aus are ready for all that stuff now. Had 2 years to prepare for it

[sussexpob]

I think the schedule doesn't favour England. The Aussie attacks record at Perth is ridiculous, and aside from the first match of that Covid series in 2020-21 that doesnt feel like much of a useful example considering bowlers weren't bowling at all in the lead up for months, no away team has got any runs on that deck ....

And then after that you are going to Australia's fortress where they basically lose once every ice age, in a format they have....er.... never lost in, and in 20 odd games have only conceded a first innings lead once. I think England have a chance in every other venue, but the two hardest challenges are back to back right at the start. And both teams will know 2-0 down under in OZ is a lot different to 2023 in England - at 2-0 down the flashbacks of all the post 2006/07 5-0s and 4-1s will start to haunt the English side.

[Durhamfootman]

it's almost as if Australia thought about all this stuff when they were planning the schedule and the venues

[alfie]

Not game to make a prediction because I think that Australia are potentially vulnerable , due to an ageing side and some batting disorder : but on the other hand England are bringing a bunch of players with little experience in Australian conditions.

The Aussie bowling attack - even without Cummins - is first rate. But if other injuries were to strike ...

England (again fitness permitting) look to have a strong pace bowling list - less said about spin the better. Think it likely comes down to which side's batting performs ; but obviously that home advantage looms as a massive obstacle for England. They have to believe to have a chance - so that first match may be key.

[Arthur Crabtree]

There seems to be an expectation among pundits that England will have the stronger batting. Obviously the Aussies are not at a peak in that respect, but England's is still massively unreliable and has no experience in reserve. And lacks top order bats. They think Crawley will be key because he did well last time. But he really didn't. He made a 50.

Root was going through that period where he always made a start but never went on to three figures.

England bowled their overs very slowly.