Heading into the Ashes 2025/26, there was a massive monkey on the back of Joe Root, who had yet to celebrate a Test century against Australia down under. In the opening Test of the Optus Stadium, he went for two flashing drives for boundaries and got dismissed against the left-arm pace of Mitchell Starc. 

The stage in the second Test against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane was different. He walked early in the middle after the visitors lost two key wickets of their opener, Ben Duckett, and the number three batter, Ollie Pope. But Joe Root was the key batter to hold the innings for the Ben Stokes-led side.

See Also: Watch: Michael Neser dismisses Zak Crawley for 76 during 2nd D/N Test in Ashes 2025/26 in Brisbane

By the time he reached 98, there was a loud noise at the Gabba. At the start of the over against Scott Boland, the Yorkshire batter looked a bit out of touch before he drilled the ball into the leg side for a boundary to get his maiden Test century in the Ashes history down under. The monkey is off his back now.

Watch: Joe Root celebrates maiden century in Tests down under in Ashes 2025/26

Heading into the series, the former Australian opening batter, Matthew Hayden, made a hilarious comment that if Root doesn’t score a Test century, then he would run naked around the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Now, he won’t need to do that, given that Root has broken the ice.

HE'S FINALLY DONE IT!

Joe Root has his first #Ashes century in Australia.

Live blog: https://t.co/2htO3lMX8d pic.twitter.com/9uZ26zQnPp

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 4, 2025

England, after losing their opener and the number three batter, got a fine 100-run partnership for the second wicket with Zak Crawley, who mashed a fine knock of 76 runs. Root kept batting from one end. But the England batters couldn’t contribute much from the other end as they found themselves nine down for 264 runs from a situation where they were looking good to go beyond the 350-run mark.

For Australia, Mitchell Starc, the left-arm pacer, who has been the king of the Pink-ball Test with 81 wickets in 27 innings heading into the contest, picked up six wickets. Michael Neser and Scott Boland also chipped in with one wicket each.

With the injury of premier pacer Mark Wood, the management of the England Test side has decided to pick the Mumbai Indians star, Will Jacks, for the second day-night Test of the Ashes 2025/26 at the Gabba in Brisbane, starting on November 04. It will be the spin all-rounder’s first red-ball appearance in three years after leapfrogging Shoaib Bashir as their main spinner.

It will be the third Test game for Will Jacks, having earned his first two in Pakistan in 2022, where he picked up 6/161 on his debut at the Rawalpindi ground. The 27-year-old was one of the multiple spinners on those two occasions, but now finds himself not just in an Ashes series with 1-0 down, but also as a primary spinner of the pink-ball affair.

See Also: Watch: Ravichandran Ashwin credits this behind Rohit Sharma turning into six-hitting player

Jacks featured in just five-class matches in the last two seasons, and picked up five wickets in the three County Championship 2025 games at an average of 38.80. If he gets a wicket at the Gabba, then it will be his 50th scalp in first-class cricket since his debut in 2018.

England include Will Jacks in second D/N Ashes 2025/26 Test at Gabba

Bashir became the first-choice spinner of Stokes’ side since the start of the 2024 summer, debuting in India earlier that year, but has been left out for the very first time regarding the choice of the spin options. He didn’t find himself in the 12-member side in the previous Perth Test as they opted for an all-pace attack.

“Talking about the tactical element of a day-night game, you do try to look at Australia. They play a lot of day-night cricket here, how they use their spinner as an attacking option, or more to give the bowlers an easier rotation and to get through the overs quicker to have more time with the new ball under lights.” Captain Ben Stokes expressed in the press conference.

England’s playing eleven for second Ashes 2025/26 Test

⁠Zak Crawley, ⁠Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, ⁠Harry Brook, ⁠Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wk), Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, ⁠Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer.

Australia will continue to be without their regular captain, Pat Cummins, for the second Ashes 2025/26 Test, which will be a day-night contest at the Gabba in Brisbane. The selectors have picked the same 14 players who were on duty in Perth, with Josh Inglis, Michael Neser, and Beau Webster among those who failed to make it into the eleven.

Cummins bowled to Steve Smith on November 28 at the SCG and will travel to Brisbane with the team. He is likely to make his return in the third Test at the Adelaide Oval, which gives him two weeks to prepare. Their opening batter, Usman Khawaja, has retained his place in the squad after back spasms in Perth.

See Also: Watch: “Only Razai…”- Yuzvendra Chahal makes fun of Arshdeep Singh and Ravi Bishnoi on Instagram Live

Travis Head’s success during the chase of Australia, where he smashed a fine knock of 123 runs off just 83 runs in the fourth innings of the game, has prompted debate about whether it should be made a permanent move.

Australia retain 14-member squad for second D/N Ashes 2025/26 Test in Brisbane

The absence of Cummins means that Brendan Doggett, who claimed five wickets in Perth, is likely to retain his place alongside the experienced duo of Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc. However, a question stands on Nathan Lyon, given he only bowled two overs in Perth and didn’t feature in Australia’s most recent pink-ball Test at the Sabina Park in Jamaica.

“I am going to control what I can control, keep ticking the legs over, and keep bowling and trying to improve in every session and game. If I get called on in that second Test, I feel like I am ready to go again.” Doggett expressed. Josh Hazlewood, who never had a chance to play in Brisbane, continued his recovery from a hamstring injury.

Australia lost their previous day-night Test at the Gabba against the West Indies, where they were blown away before the superb, fiery spell of Shamar Joseph.

Australia squad for second Ashes 2025/26 Test in Brisbane

Steve Smith (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the full schedule for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka, as the defending champions, India, will play the very first game of the competition against the previous editions’ co-host, the United States of America (USA).

A total of 40 group-stage clashes will take place between February 07 and 20, with the top two teams from each group moving to the Super Eight stage of the event starting on February 21. One of the strong contenders of the event will be England, who are led by their upcoming superstar of the game, Harry Brook.

See Also: Watch: Virat Kohli touches down in India to prepare for IND vs SA 2025 ODI series

England won their very first T20 World Cup nearly 15 years ago before the Jos Buttler-led side blew away Pakistan in the final of the T20 World Cup 2022 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) to be crowned for the second time in the event. In the last edition of the competition, England finished in the semifinal leg.

ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026: England’s full schedule revealed

England will remain in India for all four group-stage clashes of the event. Their opening game of the competition will be against Nepal at the Wankhede Stadium. The humidity of the ground in the afternoon will be a challenge for the players, as the slow surface will produce an acid test for their batters against the spin-heavy opposition.

Their second game of the event will be against the West Indies three days later at the same ground. After that evening game. England will move to the Eden Gardens in Kolkata for their third and fourth clashes of the competition.

England will take on Bangladesh on February 14 in the afternoon clash, while the timing will continue for their very last game of the event against Italy.

England’s full schedule in ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026

Australia continues to show its dominance with its eight-wicket win over the England side during the opening Ashes 2025/26 Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth. They came into the clash with three consecutive victories during the three-match Test series against the West Indies in the Caribbean.

Australia were without their premier pacer and captain, Pat Cummins, who was ruled out of the Perth Test, along with the veteran seamer, Josh Hazlewood, who was also ruled out of the same clash and would also remain unavailable for the second Brisbane Test. Steve Smith was given the responsibility to lead the side.

See Also: Watch: Kuldeep Yadav dismisses Wiaan Mulder during IND vs SA 2nd Test in Guwahati

In the first innings, the visiting England side was bundled out for 172 runs in 32.5 overs, while Harry Brook celebrated a fine half-century, while Ollie Pope missed the chance of getting to the milestone by a few runs in the clash. But Australia couldn’t do well either with the bat and were blown away for 132.

Know updated WTC 2025-27 points table post Australia’s victory in 1st Ashes 2025/26 Test in Perth

England continued to struggle with the bat in their second innings of the encounter as they could post only 164 runs. At one point, they were at a good position of 65/1 and went on to lose their last nine wickets for 99 runs. Scott Boland ended with fine figures of 4/33 in 11.4 overs, while Mitchell Starc completed 10 wickets in the game.

Travis Head smashed a sensational knock of 123 runs in 83 balls with the help of 16 boundaries and four sixes at a strike rate of 148.19 as they completed the chase by eight wickets.

Updated WTC 2025-27 points table post Australia’s victory

The former England pacer, Stuart Broad, was in tears when he saw his team crumbling before the expressive pace of Mitchell Starc during their second innings with the bat in the opening Ashes 2025/26 Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth. England were 99 runs ahead with one down heading into the lunch break, but they lost nine wickets for 105 runs. 

The camera cut to Stuart Broad in the commentary box, whose expression captured the weight of Root’s fall as he rubbed his eyes and pressed his lip in disbelief, and showed visible frustration. The former Australian opening batter, Matthew Hayden, grinned at Broad as they realized the shift of momentum with Australia taking full control in the fixture.

See Also: Watch: “Rattle Aussies…”- Monty Panesar hits back at Steve Smith’s sledge during Ashes 2025/26

Australia were bundled out for 132 in the first innings as the visitors enjoyed a lead of 40 runs. But England lost their opener Zak Crawley in the fifth ball of the opening over in the third innings. Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett posted a fine fifty-run stand for the second wicket before the disaster.

Watch: Stuart Broad shocked and in tears to see England’s struggle during Ashes 2025/26 Perth Test

The first of the struggle was when Duckett got an outside edge into the hands of the slip fielder, Steve Smith, while Scott Boland removed Pope, who went for a flashing drive away from his body and edged it into the hands of the wicket-keeper, Alex Carey.

Stuart Broad and Matthew Hayden are getting along brilliantly 😭#Ashes https://t.co/QyAAUQxrW8 pic.twitter.com/qYYr2iMNey

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) November 22, 2025

The new batter, Harry Brook, on a three-ball duck, went for another massive drive to Boland, who was caught in the slip region, while Joe Root, on 2, got an inside edge into the stumps against Mitchell Starc as the tourists lost four wickets in 11 runs.

Jamie Smith was next to follow in a controversial way of dismissal when he gloved the leg-side ball into the hands of the wicket-keeper before they got bundled out for 164. Travis Head’s 73 runs in 55 balls for Australia also killed the target as they raced away to 111/1 in the 205-run chase.

AUS vs ENG 1st Test Ashes, 2025 Match Preview:

The first match of the iconic Ashes 2025 series will be played at Optus Stadium, Perth. In the last Ashes series in 2023, both teams won two matches each (2-2). Steven Smith will lead the Australian side in the absence of Pat Cummins. Australia has been in good form in the Test format, winning four of its last five games.

On the other hand, England played their last series against India, which ended 2-2. In this first match, both teams will aim to give their all to register their first win of the series.

AUS vs ENG Recent Performance: 

AUS vs ENG 1st Test Ashes, 2025 Match Details:

• Series/Tournament: The Ashes, 2025
• Match: AUS vs ENG Match 1 Test
• Date: 21 Nov. 2025
• Match Start Time: 07:50 AM IST
• Stadium/Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth
• Live Score: cricketwinner.com
• Live Streaming: Sony Sports TEN Network, Jio Hotstar & Fancode

AUS vs ENG Head-to-Head Stats:

(Last 10 Matches)

AUS vs ENG Pitch & Weather Report:

The weather report for the Perth test is ideal. The temperature is expected to reach around 22.7°C. Based on previous stats, the average 1st inn score at this venue ranges between 320 and 350 runs. The pitch offers good assistance to pacers.

Optus Stadium Perth Stats: 

The Optus Stadium Perth pitch favours the pacers. Winning the toss and opting to bat will be a wise decision on this surface.      

AUS vs ENG Dream11 Prediction Playing 11

Australia (AUS) Probable 11:

1. Usman Khawaja, 2. Jake Weatherald, 3. Marnus Labuschagne, 4. Steven Smith(C), 5. Travis Head, 6. Cameron Green, 7. Alex Carey(WK), 8. Mitchell Starc, 9. Nathan Lyon, 10. Brendan Doggett, 11. Scott Boland

England (ENG) Probable 11:

1. Ben Duckett(WK), 2. Zak Crawley, 3. Ollie Pope, 4. Joe Root, 5. Harry Brook, 6. Ben Stokes(C), 7. Jamie Smith(WK), 8. Jofra Archer, 9. Brydon Carse, 10. Josh Tongue, 11. Gus Atkinson

AUS vs ENG- Top Picks from AUS

AUS vs ENG- Top Picks from ENG

AUS vs ENG Captain & Vice-Captain Choices:

AUS vs ENG Fantasy Team Suggestion:  

AUS vs ENG Dream11 Prediction Expert Advice 

AUS vs ENG Dream11 Prediction Probable Winners:

Australia is expected to win this match. They have more depth and experience in their batting unit. Although the absence of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood may hurt them, they still have Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc to counter the England batters.

AUS vs ENG 1st Test Ashes, 2025 FAQ

Who is likely to win the AUS vs ENG match today?

Australia (AUS) are expected to win this match.

Who is ahead in head-to-head stats?    

Australia

Who are the top fantasy picks for the AUS vs ENG Dream11 team?

Steven Smith, Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Harry Brook 

What is the pitch report for this match?

The surface favours the pacers, and we can expect an average score range between 240 and 280 runs.

Along with some of the memorable batting performances, the Ashes series has been historic thanks to some of the fiercest bowling. It’s about the moments of the game, like how you start the game, whether it’s the delivery from Steve Harmison in the second slip to start the trip or Mitchell Starc’s leg-side delivery breaking the stumps of Rory Burns around the leg. 

Over the years, several bowlers, irrespective of pacers and spinners, have provided some of the sensational bowling performances in the Ashes history. The Ashes 2025/26 series will begin on November 21 at the Optus Stadium in Perth, and before that, here is a glance at the top five best bowling performances in Ashes history.

Let’s take a look at the Top 5 bowling performances in history of Ashes-

1. Jim Laker (England)

The former England off-spinner, Jim Laker, was incredibly successful in his bowling against Australia in the history of the Ashes. The late spinner picked up 79 wickets in just 33 innings at an average of 18.27 and a strike rate of 50 with five five-wicket hauls and as many four-wicket hauls at the best bowling figure of 10/53.

Laker’s best bowling came in 1956 at the Old Trafford ground in Manchester, when in the first innings, he ended with magical figures of 9/37 in 16.4 overs as the visitors were bundled out for 84 with only two batters getting into the double figures. In the second innings, he collected 10/53 to build up the match figures of 19/90 to collect an innings and 170 run win.

2. Stuart Broad (England)

Australia will never forget the 2015 Ashes Test at Trent Bridge. It was one of those unique games where all the edges were nearly taken at the slip region or to the wicket-keeper. James Anderson was out of the clash due to injury, as the responsibility fell on the home boy, Stuart Broad, who ended with 8/15 in his 9.5 overs. Australia got bundled out for 60 in the first innings and couldn’t recover from that position to face a massive innings and 78-run defeat.

See Also: Watch: “Comical…”- Steve Smith roasts Monty Panesar in hilarious reply over sandpaper sledge

Broad, who retired during the 2023 Ashes at the Kennington Oval in South London, is the third leading wicket-taker in Ashes history with 153 scalps at 28.96 in 74 innings at a strike rate of 54.44 with eight fifers in the format against Australia.

3. Glenn McGrath (Australia)

The former Australian pacer, Glenn McGrath, was known for putting in the hard yards in the same line and length in a handkerchief and continued to pick wickets or either drying up the runs at one end, which opens the gate of wickets falling from the other side. He is the second leading wicket-taker in Ashes history with 157 wickets at an average of 20.92 and a strike rate of 46, thanks to 10 fifers.

McGrath’s best bowling figures of 8/38 came at the iconic Lord’s Test in 1997. The home side was bundled out for 77 runs in 42.3 overs before Australia grabbed a massive lead of over 150 runs. However, the foul weather and improved batting from the home side in the second innings ended it as a draw.

4. Shane Warne (Australia) 

Over the years, Shane Warne has had several memorable bowling performances in the Ashes. The former late great leg spinner is the leading run-getter of the Ashes history with 195 wickets in just 72 innings at an average of 23.25 and a strike rate of 55.16, having 11 five-wicket hauls at the best bowling figures of 8/71 in an innings.

His best performance in the Ashes also came through a six-wicket haul, and that was in 1997 at Old Trafford in Manchester. In the first innings, Australia were bundled out for less than 250 as they needed an inspiring bowling performance, and Warne stood out. He finished with 6/48 in 30 overs as the tourists claimed a 268-run win.

5. Mitchell Johnson (Australia)

The 2013/14 Ashes belonged to the hostile bowling performance of the left-arm pacer, Mitchell Johnson, who fired up with the ball and bounced out the England batters with several short balls. It was a theater for the fans, but a nightmare for the batters. Johnson has collected 87 wickets in 19 Tests of the Ashes at 25.81, thanks to five fifers.

His best bowling came in 2013 at the Adelaide Oval when he picked up a brilliant 7/40 in 17.2 overs to blow away the Three Lions for 172 runs. Australia took a fine lead by a 2-0 margin to collect a massive win by 218 runs.

Joe Root is the second leading run-getter in the longest format of world cricket. The former captain of the England side has collected 13543 runs in 288 innings at an average of 51.29 and a strike rate of 57.49 with the help of 39 centuries and 66 half-centuries at the best score of 262 runs. 

Against Australia, the right-handed batter has clubbed 2428 runs in 65 innings at an average of 40.46 and a strike rate of 50, with the help of four centuries and 18 fifties at the best score of 18. He has recorded only 892 runs in 27 innings down under at 35.68 with nine fifties. But is it the best batter for England?

See Also: List of fastest players to score 1000 runs ft. Abhishek Sharma

“He certainly looks to have a hunger for scoring runs. He just looks calm, even in this phase of his career. He plays the ball really close to his bat. And it’s almost like when the captaincy pressure was released from his shoulder, it just seemed to relieve him in every single aspect of his life and convert it to a different mindset. To do this stuff and jump on the board at this stage is excellent.” Australia’s former wicket-keeper, Adam Gilchrist, expressed on Fox Cricket.

Watch: Adam Gilchrist reflects on Joe Root’s skills to be England’s best batter of all-time

Gilchrist reckoned that Root has been excellent in the Bazball era, while the former batter, Mark Waugh, questioned if Root could tackle the bouncer in this series, as the short ball issue keeps creating pressure on the batter.

'IS HE THE BEST ENGLISH BAT OF ALL TIME?' 🤔

He's never made a Test century on Australian soil, but does Joe Root have claims to be the Poms' greatest ever batter?

📺 Watch #AUSvIND on ch. 501 or stream via @kayosports: https://t.co/sOOmnqoiEr
✍️BLOG https://t.co/P5kdnBuxXh pic.twitter.com/unjXR9xxET

— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) November 8, 2025

“I think Root is the fastest in the Bazball era and always adapts the quickest. He can get a bit creative, but I think he would be the most important member of this whole tour to make sure that they would have enough foundation for the guys like Harry Brook to bat around and build the innings.” Gilchrist added.

“What he has done is to get a great tempo to his batting. He scores quicker even with that. He would get to a fifty in almost no time. The only thing I guess worries him is the bouncer here on the off-stump line, because he does play with a 40-45 degree angled bat. A bit like Ollie Pope, they have the chink in the armor.” Mark Waugh shed light.

England’s Test captain, Ben Stokes, has signed a two-year deal, which provides a clear indication of him playing the Ashes 2027 on home soil. The 34-year-old’s career is sandwiched only to the longest format in the last 12 months as he was sidelined with hamstring and shoulder issues and hasn’t featured in limited overs’ game since November 2023. But his new contract suggests that he will not stop anytime soon. 

Along with Stokes, Brendon McCullum, England's head coach, is also under contract till the end of 2027, which suggests another two-year partnership between the two Kiwi-born. In this captain-coach stand, the Three Lions have won 25 and lost 14 Tests since June 2022, but are yet to record a win over the big three.

See Also: [WATCH] Yashasvi Jaiswal celebrates century in Ranji Trophy 2025-26 ahead of home Test series against South Africa

Stokes is one of the 14 players to have signed a new two-year central contract, with a further 12 players staying till October 12. The five players who have signed their first central contracts are Sonny Baker, Liam Dawson, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, and Luke Wood.

Ben Stokes extends England’s central contract by two years to sign Ashes 2027

Adil Rashid has continued to be in the central contract till 2027, while Sam Curran’s contract marks a return to favour after he spent the first half of this year outside England’s white-ball squads. Jos Buttler, despite stepping down as the white-ball captain earlier this year, committed to a two-year deal.

The most notable omissions from the contracts list are Tom Banton, an ever-present in England’s T20I side since Harry Brook took over as the white-ball captain, and Jordan Cox, who has been a regular member across formats in the last year.

England men’s central contracts-

Two-year contracts- (Till Sep 30, 2027) Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Ben Stokes, Josh Tongue.

One-year contracts- (until September 30, 2026)- Rehan Ahmed, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Zak Crawley, Liam Dawson, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Phil Salt, Luke Wood, Mark Wood.

Development Contracts- Josh Hull, Eddie Clerk, Tom Lawes, Mitchell Stanley.

Lapsed Contracts- Jonny Bairstow, Jack Leach, Liam Livingstone, Olly Stone, Reece Topley, Chris Woakes, John Turner.