The former Australian opening batter, Matthew Hayden, has made a hilarious prediction on the former England batter, Joe Root, ahead of the Ashes 2025/26 against Australia down under. The opening game of the series will take place at the Optus Stadium in Perth on November 21, as the right-handed batter will be under pressure, having not celebrated a century down under.

Joe Root is currently the second leading run-getter in the longest format with 13543 runs in 288 innings at an average of 51.29 and a strike rate of 57.49, with the help of 66 half-centuries and 39 centuries at the best score of 262 runs. However, in Australia, he has drilled only 892 runs in 14 games at an average of 35.68 with nine fifties.

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“I will walk nude around the MCG if he doesn’t make a hundred his summer.” Hayden reckoned during a recent interaction on the ‘All over Bar The Cricket’ YouTube channel, as his daughter and presenter, Grace Hayden, requested the Yorkshire batter to notch up a red-ball century.

Matthew Hayden makes hilarious prediction on Joe Root ahead of Ashes 2025/26

In his overall record against Australia, Root has clubbed 2428 runs in the 34 red-ball encounters at an average of 40.46, scoring four centuries and 17 half-centuries. Apart from that, he has recorded over 3300 runs in 64 innings against India in Tests at an average of nearly 60 and a strike rate of 55, thanks to 13 centuries and 12 half-centuries.

Root has found the bowling of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood challenging. But Cummins is currently recovering from a back injury, and he could get ruled out for the first three encounters of the series. This could be a good chance for the batter, who was in excellent touch during the home red-ball series against India.

For him and a few veterans, it could be the last Ashes trip. England haven’t won a single Test, let alone a series, against Australia down under since earning the urn in 2010/11 under Andrew Strauss’ captaincy. It will be high time for them to turn the tables, and Root will be their key man with the bat.

Australia have faced a massive challenge ahead of the home white-ball series against India at home and the following Ashes 2025/26 as their red-ball captain, Pat Cummins, has been ruled out of the white-ball series and is expected to be under the scanner for the England series after a scan revealed lumbar bone stress in his lower back. 

That means Cummins won’t play any cricket for Australia ahead of the Ashes, which start on November 21 in Perth. His bowling workloads are considered significant as he missed the five T20Is against West Indies and both white-ball series against the Proteas. Meanwhile, he has been cleared of any fracture in his lower spine.

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The New South Wales-pacer was out of the red-ball series due to stress fracture across the first six years of his international career and didn’t feature in a Test match between his debut in 2011 and his second Test in India in 2017. Since that time, he has faced various issues, including the hamstring issue and ankle injury.

Australia sweats over Pat Cummins’ injury status ahead of home Ashes 2025/26

In each of the three calendar years, Cummins had bowled 400-plus overs in cricket but had bowled only 175.1 overs in the nine months of 2025, with 95.1 overs coming across the four Tests in June and July against South Africa in June during the WTC final and the away West Indies series in the Caribbean. Even with a possible Shield game and the four Ashes, he isn’t expected to complete 400 overs by the end of this year.

“Cummins was rested from the recent T20 series against the West Indies and South Africa. Despite this planned de-load period, Cummins has experienced some ongoing lower back pain following the West Indies Test tour.” The Cricket Australia statement expressed.

“Further investigation has identified a level of lumbar bone stress that will require further management over the coming months. Cummins won't be considered for the upcoming limited-overs series against India and will continue his rehabilitation plan with a return to bowling to be determined as part of his Ashes preparation.” The statement added.

The experienced left-arm pacer for Australia, Mitchell Starc, has decided to call it a time from the shortest format of the game to prioritize the heavy Test schedule next year and the upcoming 2027 ODI World Cup. The 35-year-old last featured in the format during the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and was part of the T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE. 

Starc is the second leading wicket-taker for Australia in the shortest format of the game. The New South Wales bowler has picked up 79 wickets in 65 innings at an average of under 24 and a strike rate of 18.45 with an economy rate of 7.74, thanks to his best bowling figures of 4/20 in an inning.

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“Test cricket is and has always been my highest priority. I have loved every minute of every T20 game I have played for Australia, particularly the 2021 World Cup, not just because we won but the incredible group and the fun along the way.” Starc expressed his thoughts on his T20I retirement for Australia.

Mitchell Starc announces T20I retirement for Australia due to heavy Test schedule

From the middle of 2026, the current WTC runners-up will face a hectic schedule with a home Test series against Bangladesh at home before a tour of South Africa and a four-match red-ball series against New Zealand, and another five Tests away in India in January 2027, followed by the one-off 150th anniversary against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and then an away Ashes 2027.

“Looking ahead to an away Indian Test tour, the Ashes and an ODI World Cup in 2027, I feel this is my best way forward to remain fresh, fit and at my best for those campaigns. It also gives the bowling group time to prepare for the T20 World Cup in the matches leading into that tournament.” Starc addressed the decision.

“Mitch should be incredibly proud of his T20 career for Australia. He was an integral member of the 2021 World Cup-winning side and, as across all his cricket, had a great skill for blowing games open with his wicket-taking ability.” The chairman of the selectors for Australia, George Bailey, reckoned.  

The England bowling all-rounder, Jamie Overton, has decided to quit red-ball cricket for a long period as he has taken an indefinite break from the longest format of the game. In a statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), he revealed the decision after ‘a great deal of thought.’

Overton, whose last of the two red-ball encounters came during the recent fifth Test of the five-match series against India at the Kennington Oval in South London, has picked up four wickets and smashed 106 runs in international cricket at an average of 35.33 with the best score of 97 runs against New Zealand.

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“Red-ball, first-class cricket has provided the foundation for my professional career and has been the gateway to every opportunity I’ve had in the game so far. It’s where I learnt the game, and it fueled the goals and ambitions that have driven me for so long.” Overton expressed the statement of the ECB quoted.

Jamie Overton decides to take indefinite break from red-ball cricket

In 99 first-class cricket for the Surrey side, Overton has overall clubbed 2410 runs at an average of 21.51, scoring one century and 13 half-centuries, while with the ball, the right-arm pacer has grabbed 239 wickets at an average of 31.66, thanks to the best bowling figure of 6/61 in an innings with seven five-wicket hauls.

“However, at this stage of my career, with the demands of cricket across a 12-month calendar, it’s no longer possible to commit fully to all formats at every level, both physically and mentally. Going forward, my focus will be on white-ball cricket, and I will continue to give everything to play at the highest level for as long as I can.” The Chennai Super Kings all-rounder addressed.

The 31-year-old’s decision has come just seven weeks before the opening Test of the five-match series against Australia at Optus Stadium in Perth for Ashes 2025/26. The national side will now need to find a suitable replacement in the all-rounder’s position for the series down under.

Since the end of the England-India five-match Test series, the craze and excitement for the upcoming five-match red-ball series in the Ashes 2025/26 is getting bigger day by day. The former opening batter and the head coach, Justin Langer, has advised the visitors to continue their aggressive approach to end the drought of winning red-ball series down under.

England has won just one Ashes series in Australia since 1987 and hasn’t won a single five-day clash in the last three trips there. Langer feels that the Ben Stokes-led side, which struggled against the Aussies' bowlers, would need to take on the bowling attack when the opening encounter begins on November 21 at the Optus Stadium in Perth.

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“Call it Bazball or the aggressive approach, but I think England must play that approach in Australia. No question, because it'll put pressure back on. The only players who had success against Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath were those who attacked them. They got back in their face, and they hated it because no one did it.” Langer expressed during the BBC Sounds’ cricket podcast.

Justin Langer provides suggestions to England for Ashes 2025/26

England changed their aggressive approach in the last couple of years, which they continued during the Ashes 2023 in the United Kingdom. That time the series ended at a 2-2 margin. This series would be an acid test for various players as it could be the end of their careers in the longest format.

“It's going to take courage because you have got Mitchell Starc bowling like he does, Josh Hazlewood never misses the spot, and Pat Cummins is a generational bowler. So it's going to take great courage. It's going to be a really, really close series.” Langer shed light during the podcast.

“My question for England will be, have you got the killer instinct to finish off a series if you get a chance? We've seen it, the two-all here in the last Ashes series, two-all against India. England had the chances to win that series. Do you have the killer instinct to win the Ashes in Australia? That's going to be the big question.” The former coach reckoned.

Australia all-rounder Beau Webster is eager to keep himself in Ashes contention by continuing to pile on performances at home, starting with the Sheffield Shield.

The 30-year-old has made a positive start to his Test career, scoring four half-centuries in seven Tests played on difficult surfaces. However, Webster knows there's no certainty at the top level of the game. "When you're at the top level, you're scrapping just to hang on to your spot," Webster said on Hobart after returning from a county stint following the West Indies Tests.

The Tasmanian all-rounder is aware of the competition, especially with Cameron Green. The tall right-hander believes Green's return to full bowling duties this summer could put the spotlight back on him, fighting for a spot in Australia's middle-order. "With all the wonderful cricketers around the country, and especially a guy like Cameron Green... he's obviously going to be back bowling this summer, which will put a little bit more pressure on my spot at No. 6 as the all-rounder. But I welcome it."

Runs in the Shield will be key for the all-rounder’s Ashes ambitions

Selectors will also need to navigate the balance of Marnus Labuschagne’s role, with the seasoned batter prepared to bounce around the order to fit in the XI. That flexibility, along with Green's return, means that Webster could perhaps be the most debated position of the Australian setup as they prepare for a five-Test Ashes series kick-starting in Perth on November 21.

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For Webster, it is about taking on the domestic red-ball scene in the meantime. This has given Webster hope with four Shield matches to play and an enormous opportunity to enhance his credentials. "I feel like I've been in this position many times in my career, where I've needed to score runs to either get to the next level or maintain my position on the team. It's certainly not new. I'm really looking forward to showing what I can do again at Shield level and hopefully lining up in the first Ashes Test in Perth.”

The all-rounder has a realistic mindset about his record to date. While he has produced gutsy contributions, he still does not have a maiden Test hundred. He thinks a hundred would be a good head of selection. "I feel like I have scored some tough runs. But I don't have a hundred next to my name, which I would have preferred. I feel like I was batting as well as I have in a number of those innings. I feel like I have the tools to be successful this summer in the Ashes with what England will probably throw at me."

Mitchell Starc had already celebrated his milestone 100th Test and 400th wicket this year – which Ricky Ponting deemed a legacy for Australian cricket – but the focus now shifts to the next evolution of cricketers, who are trying to seize their own moment in the spotlight. 

For Webster, the formula to be selected is evident: runs, consistency, and fighting spirit in the Shield to get the selectors to pick him. If he does do that, the Ashes would be a career-high point for Webster to really prove himself.

England's young spinner Shoaib Bashir has reacted to Nathan Lyon's comments, where the Australian great rated Jack Leach as England's best spinner and referred to Bashir's performances as "okay." Bashir didn't seem to mind the comment and said everyone has opinions, which aren't something he worries about, and praised Lyon's skillset, as Lyon has a masterful sense of overspin and is able to create a lot of sharp revolutions on the ball and this is why he has had success as one of the most successful spinners in modern-day cricket.

However, we know that Bashir is a calm and happy guy, but it looks like he is motivated to prove a point after Lyon's comments, and he could get the opportunity to do so in The Ashes 2025. The 21-year-old may be out for the foreseeable future, as his finger injury and subsequent surgery following the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy have kept him sidelined from competitive cricket, but when fit, Bashir is expected to fill a key role in England's spin department, and will likely be even more determined to shut up people and perform well in Australian conditions.

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“Everyone has their own opinions, and that’s fine. I just stick to what I believe and what the people around me believe. I don’t really look at that stuff. I do enjoy the way he bowls, especially his overspin, it’s a great asset he has, and the amount of revs he puts on the ball,” Bashir in an interaction.

England have chosen Shoaib Bashir as their lead spinner in Tests

England have several spin options in Jack Leach and Liam Dawson, yet the selectors have shown faith in Shoaib Bashir, who has impressed in a short career. His height and high-arm release give him an edge, producing bounce and overspin—qualities England believe will be crucial in Australian conditions. Much like Nathan Lyon, Bashir extracts sharp bounce after pitching, a trait that could make him highly effective on the bouncy tracks Down Under. This potential has convinced the management to groom him as their lead spinner.

However, Bashir still has areas to refine, especially in maintaining control. He often bowls loose deliveries, making it difficult to string together consistently tight overs in the longest format. Despite this, England view him as a long-term investment who already has the natural attributes to succeed. If he can overcome his control issues, Bashir has the potential to evolve into a complete spinner capable of making a significant impact in The Ashes 2025 and beyond.

Steve Smith has ticked just about every box he can in the game of cricket. 32 Test hundreds, multiple World Cups, countless Ashes moments, and a seat among the best to ever bat in the modern game. But for all of that, the Australian great says he is looking forward to two upcoming challenges more than any others: a final home Ashes series with England, and the chance to wear the green and gold for its 2028 Olympic debut in Los Angeles.

The Ashes Obsession

Smith will be back in the forefront for Australia's plans when England visits for the Ashes later this year. The rivalry remains the most historic contest in cricket, and Smith, who is third on the list of Ashes runs behind Sir Donald Bradman and Allan Border, is excited about another chapter. 

"I watched a lot of the series over in India and it was one of the best Test series I've seen in a long time," Smith said on Sky Sports. "The cricket that was played by both sides was exceptional. England's got a good team at the moment, and they are obviously playing a really aggressive brand of cricket. Coming down to Australia, especially for their batters, will be a huge challenge. The pitches for the last three or four years have been really tricky."

Australia's bowling depth continues to be its biggest strength, and with Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon, they have one of the most experienced attacks in world cricket. "We have a very experienced bowling lineup that has been extremely successful for a long time," Smith added. "I think it's going to be a great series."

He also mentioned Joe Root's brilliant patch of form. "His ability to go from 50 to 100 time and time again has been incredible. He hasn't scored a hundred in Australia yet, and I'm sure that's something he wants to tick off his list too."

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The Olympics Dream

Outside of the urn, though, Smith's interest piques in the possibility of something brand new. Cricket is back in the Olympic Games for the first time in 128 years at LA28 (which happens to be 35-year-old Smith's CDL - career-defining like). Smith concedes it's hard to resist the prospect of being involved in such a global entity, especially when he is standing on the precipice of human history.

“I heard cricket was going to be involved, I thought that would be cool to be a part of,” Smith told Sky Sports. “I've played in lots of World Cups and Ashes and Border-Gavaskar Trophies, but this is something new. A new opportunity to represent your nation on the world stage. I'd love to be a part of that. But still a fair bit away, so we'll see."

In Los Angeles, the men's and women's T20 tournaments will be cricket's grand re-entrance into the Olympic Games. For players like Smith, who have achieved their success in traditional match formats, the Olympic Games present a unique opportunity to showcase cricket to a new audience and write a new chapter in history.

A Legacy Still Unfolding

Smith, at a time when most have begun to slow down, is still motivated. A new Ashes series, a potential Olympic appearance, and the chance to inspire generations mean he remains hungry. 

"I’ve always been a fan of the Olympics since I was a kid, and watching Australian representatives compete has always given me a really good feeling. It would be an amazing feeling to do that in cricket," he said. 

Whether lifting the urn on home soil or chasing gold across the ocean in Los Angeles, Steve Smith isn’t finished yet. His career, already considered one of the greatest in Australian cricket, still has chapters left to fill.

The former captain of the Australian side, Steve Smith, has shown his excitement for the upcoming five-match Test series against England in the Ashes 2025/26 during the home summer. The veteran reckoned that it would be great fun for both sets of players to show their skills and determination before the hostile crowd. 

England haven’t won a single Ashes Test in their last three trips since winning the urn back in 2011. They were whitewashed in the 2013/14 series. England recently drew their home red-ball series against India, despite being 2-1 up after the third fixture at Lord’s, which they won.

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“I watched a lot of the series against India, and I felt that was the best Test series for a long time, with the cricket played by both teams. So, I think England is a very good side at the moment.” Steve Smith expressed during a recent interview on Sky Sports Cricket.

Watch: Steve Smith throws England new challenge before Ashes 2025/26

Smith has smashed 3417 Test runs in 66 innings against England at an average of 56.02 and a strike rate of 54.75 with the help of 12 centuries and 13 half-centuries at the best score of 239 runs. At home, he has notched up 5015 runs in 100 innings at an average of nearly 60, scoring 19 fifties and 18 centuries.

"Coming down to Australia, particularly for their batters is going to be a big challenge" 🏏

Steve Smith looks ahead to this winter's Ashes 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/Ut9dvQj0y3

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) August 15, 2025

“They play a very aggressive brand of cricket, and coming down to Australia, particularly for the batters, the wickets, in the last three or four years, have been tricky. We have, obviously, got a very experienced bowling line-up who have played for a long time. They have been incredibly successful.” The New South Wales batter shed light during the same interview.  

“So, I am excited for the summer. Hopefully, it will be a great series. I know, the last Ashes was during Covid. So, the Barmy Army couldn’t come. But this atmosphere will be different. We love to play in front of a big and hostile crowd. So, it will be really good fun.” Steve Smith concluded that Australia looks to retain the Ashes with another drawn and won series.

A few days ago, the former Australian opening batter, David Warner, went after Joe Root, the second leading red-ball run-getter in the history after Sachin Tendulkar, as the latter is yet to score a Test century down under in the Ashes. That remains the only place where Root hasn’t scored a Test century despite playing more than five red-ball encounters.

Warner, at the start of The Hundred 2025 for the London Spirits, claimed that Joe Root would have to take the surfboard off his front foot, which is a perception of how often he gets trapped leg before the stumps against Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.

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“I can't have any control or say on how people see the game or talk in an interview. It is irrelevant. What more can I do about it? Just keep my surfboard out of the way and make sure it is not a talking point in 100 days. I guess it is all part of the fun, right? We will see what happens, but it is not really in my nature to get too verbal.” Root expressed during the recent interview.

Joe Root responds to David Warner’s surfboard comment before Ashes 2025/26

Root and Warner will meet each other during the derby at Lord’s when the Trent Rockets meet the Spirits. The former has smashed nine half-centuries at an average of 35.68, which is well below his career average of 51.29 as he grabbed 537 runs in the five Tests against India this home summer.

“Having played in Australia a couple of times before, now going with 150-odd Test caps under my belt, I feel I couldn't be more ready for it. The thing that stands out for me is that I probably wanted it (a century) way too much the last couple of times. It took me away from what was important.” Joe Root addressed.

“I was captain, Covid [during the 2021-22 defeat], there was the Stokes incident, the time before that, the Jonny headbutt incident as well. This time, I want to just go and enjoy the tour for what it is. It is a beautiful country, it is a great place to go and play cricket.” The former England captain concluded.