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.

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.

Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne is ready to modify his game to once again play Test cricket, even if it means giving up his long-cherished No. 3 spot to open the batting in the Ashes.

The 31-year-old has not played for the Test side since the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025, after having a poor run between December 2022 and March this year, averaging just 33.08 in the Test arena. This decline in form was the reason for Labuschagne’s omission from the West Indies series earlier this year, his first omission since he made his place in the side in 2019.

Due to Labuschagne’s absence, Cameron Green was promoted to No. 3 and had some success in difficult conditions in the Caribbean, scoring 184 runs at an average of just over 30 in six innings. With Green continuing to embrace the No. 3 spot, and young opener Sam Konstas with 50 in six innings, selectors could call on Labuschagne to fill the top order void.

Labuschagne, who opened in the WTC final against South Africa, scoring 17 and 22, says he is ready for the challenge. “I would be happy to do that – I would love to. If opener is where I need to bat to be playing in the Test team, that’s fine,” he told News Corp. “I’ve batted at three my whole career, but at this stage you don’t get a choice. I got in during the final but didn’t go on with it.”

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Determined Labuschagne Eyes Ashes Return After Period of Reflection

His time out of the Test side has given him a rare opportunity to reflect and work intensively on his game without the pressure of immediate performance. “It’s something I thrive on proving the doubters wrong,” Labuschagne said. “Missing those West Indies Tests gave me the chance to think, ‘This is where I want to be and this is how I’m going to get there.’”

The Queenslander remains part of Australia’s ODI setup and could feature in the upcoming three-match series against South Africa. He will also have three Sheffield Shield games before the Ashes squad is named in mid-November, a key window to push for his recall. If form and opportunity align, Labuschagne’s path back to the Baggy Green may well begin at the very top of the order.

England’s quest to reclaim the Ashes in Australia this winter will be broadcast live in the UK by TNT Sports, following a newly signed one-year deal with Cricket Australia. The agreement ensures that TNT will show every ball of the five-Test Ashes series, alongside all international fixtures hosted in Australia between August 2025 and March 2026.

This includes the white-ball series against South Africa and India, and a multi-format women’s series against India early next year. TNT will also broadcast England’s white-ball tours of New Zealand and Sri Lanka, solidifying its role as the go-to channel for England’s winter cricket.

TNT Sports, which took over from BT Sport, is building a growing reputation as the home for overseas cricket after Sky Sports scaled back its winter commitments due to rising costs and a heavier focus on Premier League football. Sky retains rights to ICC events and Cricket South Africa, but bilateral series like the Ashes are now firmly under TNT’s umbrella.

Importantly, TNT plans to send a commentary team to Australia, unlike last winter’s India tour, where coverage was provided remotely from Europe. However, much of the match footage will still rely on the host broadcaster’s feed.

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TNT Sports becomes home of England’s winter tours, including blockbuster Ashes series in Australia

England fans will be hoping for a change in fortunes under the southern sun. The team has lost 13 of its last 15 Tests in Australia and hasn't won a Test there since 2011. The Ashes were last won by England in 2015 on home soil under Alastair Cook’s leadership.

Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg welcomed the renewed partnership: “We’re pleased to extend our longstanding partnership with TNT Sports, who will again be instrumental in showcasing the Australian summer of cricket to UK audiences.”

Scott Young of TNT’s parent company, WBD Sports Europe, added, “With Pat Cummins and Ben Stokes leading two great sides, fans can expect compelling, must-watch drama from one of sport’s greatest rivalries.” As the countdown to Brisbane begins, all eyes now turn to whether England’s Bazball revolution can finally crack the Aussie code.

It was the Day 5 of the second Test between England and Australia during 2005 Ashes. At the start of the day 5 Australia needed 107 runs with just two wickets remaining. It was a thriller everybody has spent the night raving about. Brett Lee along with Michael Kasprowicz added a phenomenal 59- run stand to reduce the deficit.

But it was Steve Harmison, who got hold of the wicket of well set Kasprowicz and Australia’s hope simmered down. The wicket came at a juncture where Australia were just three runs away from the victory. On the other hand, a valiant 43 runs inning from Brett Lee bore no desired result.

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Flintoff named Man of the Match

The Test became the talk of the town and it is still recollected by many up until this date. Though Australia lost the game and England won by a whisker, the Test will forever be remembered for the sportsmanship displayed by Andrew Flintoff. Flintoff stopped his celebration in between and went to console the dejected Lee who was at the non-strikers end. He was also adjudged Man of the Match for his all-round performance in the game.

The veteran Australia off-spinner, Nathan Lyon, feels that spin will play a huge role during their home summer for the Ashes 2025/26 against England, who may be surprised with their pace-bowling planning. The Ben Stokes-led side will enter their fifth and final WC contest at home this year with no frontline spinner after Shoaib Bashir’s injury and the decision to drop Liam Dawson. 

Lyon was present before the reporters during a Cricket Australia Sponsorship announcement in Sydney on July 31 and provided many insights into how the two sides should plan for the oldest rivalry in the game this November. He suggested that England will need to re-jig their plans before the opening contest on November 21 in Perth.

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‘I played with Jimmy Anderson last year at Lancashire, and he said that they're picking Bashir to do what I do. So I took a little bit of pride out of Jimmy respecting a little bit of what I've been able to do in my career. But Bashir has been OK. Jacob Bethell is playing this Test match (at The Oval against India).’ The New South Wales spinner expressed.

Nathan Lyon suggests England to rejig plans for Ashes 2025/26

Lyon was left out of the Australian playing eleven for the first time apart from injury since he made his debut against Sri Lanka 13 years ago. He didn’t play their recent red-ball fixture against West Indies at the Sabina Park in Jamaica, as Scott Boland replaced him due to the day-night game with the pink ball assisting the pacers.

It is a massive role, and it can be a massive challenge for people who haven't done it in the past in these conditions. But I'm not going to let my secrets out, so they come out and perform well out here. Our guys know how to play spin well in this country. That's probably what helped me develop my skill to where it is at the moment. I know I'll keep trying to get better, and we'll see how their spinners go.’ The veteran informed.

Australia has been unbeaten at home against the England side since losing the 2011/12 series. They retained the urn during the last series in 2023 after drawing with a 2-2 margin.

For the first time in over four decades, Australia's Ashes summer will kick off at a venue other than the iconic Gabba. Cricket Australia announced on Wednesday that Perth Stadium will host its maiden Ashes encounter when England visits for the first Test of the 2025-26 series. This marks a historic moment for the stadium and Australia’s cricket history, as the Ashes opener moves to Western Australia for the first time.

Perth Stadium will become only the eighth venue to host an Ashes Test in Australia, with the opening match set to begin on November 21, 2025. England has a challenging record in Perth, having won only one Ashes Test in the city.

Day-Night Test at the Gabba follows Perth opener

Following the Perth opener, the series will shift to Brisbane, where The Gabba will host the second Test—a day-night affair—starting on December 4. This will be the third time The Gabba hosts a day-night men's Test, with the previous encounters being against Pakistan in 2016 and Sri Lanka in 2019. The introduction of the day-night format adds an extra element of excitement to this iconic Ashes venue.

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Traditional venues follow for the remainder of the series

After Brisbane, the third Test will take place at the Adelaide Oval, maintaining its traditional spot in the schedule. Cricket fans can then look forward to the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and the New Year’s Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), rounding out the highly anticipated five-match series.

This shift in the opening Ashes venue signals a new chapter in Australia’s rich cricketing history and adds to the anticipation surrounding the iconic Ashes rivalry.

The year 1938 was significant in the broadcast industry as many TV programs, including live sports started televising as well amid a time when radio was the only source of news. As far as televised sports are concerned, The Oxford and Cambridge Boar Race, the FA Cup Final, the football match between England and Scotland, and the ice hockey match between Harringay Racers and Streatham Redskins were all televised live on TV, especially on BBC. Along with these, a Test match was also televised on BBC for the first time – the second Ashes Test between England and Australia at Lord’s – on June 24, 1938.

BBC live-telecasted Ashes Test match

However, Ashes used to cover on the radio before this way back in 1930 but that was the first time the BBC live-telecasted a Test match as well. It was the second Ashes Test between England and Australia at Lord’s after the first at Trent Bridge ended in a draw. There were three cameras where one focused on the batter, another one on the bowler and the rest focused on the general scenario.

Moreover, a commentary position was set up at the Nursery End of the Lord’s stadium and Teddy Wakelam was given the responsibility of broadcasting considering his prior experience.

 

 

 

 

 

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However, the coverage was from 11:30 AM to 12:30 (Morning session), followed by 2:30 PM to 3:30 (Till tea) and from 3:50 PM to 5 PM (Evening session) as well. Don Bradman won the toss for Australia and they chose to bat first.

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Lord’s Test witnessed a significant success

After the success of the Lord’s Test – where Wally Hammond scored a double-century (240) alongside Bill Brown (206*) the fifth match at The Oval too was telecast. In that match, England scored 903 for 7 – a record that was not broken for nearly six decades. Len Hutton smashed 364 as England won the match by a massive margin of an innings and 579 runs, which is still the largest margin of victory for a team in Test cricket as well.

The same year in 1938 – also saw BBC telecasting their first-ever overseas Test match between South Africa and England, the Christmas Eve Test, which saw Tom Goddard pick up a hat-trick on Boxing Day as well. 

England pacer Jofra Archer has announced his ambition to return to the Test arena for the next edition of the Ashes series. After battling numerous injury setbacks, Archer is determined to prove his critics wrong and is using the rest of 2024 to work towards his goal. Although he has recently returned to T20 cricket, Archer is yet to make a comeback in the longer formats of the game.

Archer’s determined comeback

In a recent interview with the BBC, Archer expressed his desire to utilize the remaining months of 2024 to ensure his selection for the Ashes remains a viable possibility. The fast bowler emphasized that he is motivated to silence the doubters who have mocked his fitness struggles on social media. Archer plans to manage his fitness diligently, aiming to reach peak condition by the start of the Championship next year, which he views as a crucial step toward his Test return.

“I am going to use the rest of this year to make sure that is at least a possibility. I’m tired of going on Instagram and seeing posts saying ‘he’s going to be on the physio’s bed in the next two weeks’ and stuff like that. I want to spend the rest of the year proving some people wrong and hopefully play in another Ashes,” said Archer.

“I will manage myself as best as possible and get myself [through] until at least maybe the start of the Championship next year. I’ll probably play a few of those [games] and keep building up and getting that workload ready for Test cricket,” he said in the same interview.

“I am feeling good and want to get some games in. I am going to enjoy this little phase of some white-ball cricket,” he added.

Focusing on fitness and future goals

Archer’s journey back to full fitness has been gradual, with Ben Stokes, England’s Test captain, stating that the pacer will not be rushed into the longest format of the game.

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Archer, who was part of the England squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 where they were defeated by India in the semi-finals, is eager to manage his workload effectively and build up his stamina and form through domestic matches. His focus remains on contributing to England’s Ashes campaign and reestablishing himself as a key figure in the Test squad.

Cricket Australia announced the schedule for their home summer and Melbourne will host the Australia Women’s team in a Test for the first time since 1949. On the other hand, India and Australia will be starting the 2024-25 Border Gavaskar Trophy on November 22 at Perth.

Historic Women’s Ashes at iconing MCG

While the debate over women’s Test cricket seems like a never-ending one, Australia will be hosting England at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground for a 4-day Pink ball Women’s Ashes Test in January. MCG will be hosting a D/N Test match for the first time to mark the 90th year anniversary of the first Women’s Test series between Australia and England in 1934-35.

After the previous two Women’s Ashes were held at North Sydney Oval and Canberra, the Cricket Australia committed to schedule the Women’s Ashes Tests at some prime venues around the country this time. As a result, the iconic MCG will get to host the Women’s Test first time since 1948-49. It will also be the first time that a women’s international cricket match will be played at the MCG after 2020 T20 World Cup semi-final.

Border-Gavaskar Trophy schedule out

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy comprised of five Test matches between Australia and India will begin on November 22 in Perth. The second Test will be a D/N one played at the Adelaide Oval from December 6 followed by third Test at Brisbane from December 14, the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne from December 26 and the New Year Test from January 3 at Sydney.

While speaking of giving Perth the first match of the series over Brisbane, Peter Roach, CA’s head of scheduling mentioned about multiple factors including the broadcast timezone suitable for audiences from both countries. He also added, “The clear advice from our national team is that there is a preference to start series strongly at venues where they’re really comfortable and Perth and Brisbane they believe are somewhat comparable in terms of the advantage they get out of that.”