Full Story Ashes preview: can Australia continue their dominant streak?
Nov 20, 2025
Ali Martin, a cricket correspondent from Perth, and Andy Bull, a senior sports writer at The Guardian, break down the upcoming Ashes Test. They discuss Australia's injury woes and England's historical struggles in Perth. The duo debates the effectiveness of different bowling strategies and the significance of player fitness, particularly Mark Wood's situation. They also analyze Joe Root's past performance against Australia and assess England's resilience under pressure. Predictions are shared, leaving listeners eager for the series ahead.
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Perth Pitch Dictates Match Plan
- Perth's toss and surface heavily shape tactics and often decides matches there.
- England's choice to bowl or bat will hinge on a pitch that can either explode or stay flat.
Exploit Pace With Short Spells
- Pick an all-pace attack in Perth to exploit bounce and seam where possible.
- Use short, aggressive bursts for injured quicks like Mark Wood to manage workload.
Missing Two Leads Doubles The Problem
- Losing both Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood is more than additive for Australia.
- Their absence multiplies vulnerability and forces less-proven bowlers into leading roles.