Ashes 2025 live: England make Mark Wood decision as first Test team named

[ad_1] The Ashes - Can England finish the drought in Australia? England face Australia within the first Ashes Check in Perth on Friday, with Ben Stokes’s facet focusing on a primary away victory towards the previous enemy because the 2010–11 sequence.

Forward of the newest version in what's arguably cricket’s most well-known rivalry, Australia have been hit by accidents within the build-up, with captain Pat Cummins and fellow fast Josh Hazlewood each dominated out.

After an damage scare, Mark Wooden seems to have overcome a knock after bowling within the nets and appears set to deliver categorical tempo alongside Jofra Archer to an all-seam England assault, after being a part of the 12-man squad named for the primary Check on Wednesday morning. Spinner Shoaib Bashir seems destined to be twelfth man, with one other spin choice, Will Jacks, not included within the matchday group.

Debate has swirled round whether or not Bazball can thrive Down Below, although a 2023 thriller, which led to a 2-2 draw to make sure Australia retained the Ashes, brings hope of a fiercely contested and shut five-match sequence.

Comply with all the newest information from Down Below with the crew information anticipated within the coming hours, plus our player-by-player information and mixed Ashes XI right here:

Ashes 2025/26: Australia v England England to rotate Archer and Wooden? Jimmy Anderson believes that the primary take a look at match in Perth often is the solely recreation wherein Jofra Archer and Mark Wooden play along with England resting and rotating the pair all through the sequence.

He defined: “I believe if you are going to play them collectively, doubtlessly the primary Check at Perth, the place it is quick and bouncy, you need to get off to a great begin within the sequence so hit them immediately with correct tempo.

“After that I think about they will try to play one in all them, and relaxation and get better the opposite.”

Anderson added that Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse might want to bowl persistently all through the sequence if England stand an opportunity of profitable.

“That leaves area for Brydon Carse or Gus Atkinson. They're nonetheless fast sufficient, however they have ability as properly, and possibly a bit extra management than the others,” Anderson continued.

“They will have an enormous half. If England are going to win this sequence, or have an opportunity, then the bowling assault has bought to be relentlessly good.”

Mike Jones 19 November 2025 09:37

England want 'accuracy in addition to tempo' England electing to go along with an all seam assault is all properly and good however there tempo will likely be ineffective if they don't even have the accuracy to use it.

England’s all-time main wicket-taker, James Anderson, performed in six excursions of Australia and is aware of a factor or two about taking wickets there.

“The pitches can have just a little little bit of motion in them, they've carried out within the final two excursions we have been there. So that you do want accuracy, in addition to tempo,” Anderson informed the Tailenders Podcast forward of the sequence.

“I believe one of many query marks for England will doubtlessly be Ben Stokes - out of that group of bowlers, he's the one bowler that might churn out these spells of accuracy and ability.

“However he is additionally bought that damage file hanging over him, in order that could possibly be an enormous a part of the sequence as properly.”

(AFP through Getty Photographs) Mike Jones 19 November 2025 09:30

Will England choose 5 seamers? Perth is thought for its tempo and bounce and for being a pleasant pitch for seam bowlers.

England’s squad options 5 seamers together with captain Ben Stokes with Shoaib Bashir because the spin choice.

Will Stokes and Brendan McCullum punt for an all seam assault within the first take a look at?

"[The possibility is] very thrilling,” defined Gus Atkinson.

“We hear about these pitches in Australia with tempo and bounce, so to come back out right here is very nice figuring out as a quick bowler you may make main contributions.

"We’re all very excited. There's a lot a of tempo in our assault. I’m most likely a bit slower than a number of of the others.

"It’s to carry that management, look to take wickets and preserve the batters below strain."

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/11/19/9/34/England-Nets-Optus-Stadium-Wednesday-November-19th-u1kngpcd.jpeg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/11/19/9/34/England-Nets-Optus-Stadium-Wednesday-November-19th-u1kngpcd.jpeg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/11/19/9/34/England-Nets-Optus-Stadium-Wednesday-November-19th-u1kngpcd.jpeg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE"/> (Robbie Stephenson/PA Wire) Mike Jones 19 November 2025 09:22

Enjoying within the Ashes is 'thrilling' says Atkinson England tempo bowler Gus Atkinson is ready to get his first expertise of an Ashes sequence when the motion will get going later this week.

The 27-year-old has made a nice begin to his take a look at profession earlier than damage saved him off the pitch.

He’s totally match and firing forward of the sequence although and is wanting ahead to what ought to be an ‘thrilling’ affair.

"It means lots,” Atkinson informed BBC Sport when requested the way it felt ot play within the Ashes.

“Rising up the 2005 Ashes was the principle factor for me. Ever because it’s been a dream to play in an Ashes sequence.

“To get the chance could be very thrilling."

Mike Jones 19 November 2025 09:13

Mitchell Starc assured Australia can overcome accidents All of the noise popping out of the Australian camp surrounds injured duo Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, severely depleting the house bowling shares.

Scott Boland and uncapped Brendan Doggett are anticipated to interchange the injured duo who boast 604 Check wickets between them.

And Mitchell Starc is assured the crew can cope with out their talismen.

“Sadly, accidents and quick bowling occur,” the 35-year-old Starc mentioned of Cummins and Hazlewood.

“However (it’s) good to see the depth within the squad. We all know what Scottie Boland can do. Doggie’s (Doggett) coming off a scorching streak for the time being as properly.”

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/11/19/8/04/SEI274871930.jpeg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/11/19/8/04/SEI274871930.jpeg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/11/19/8/04/SEI274871930.jpeg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="Mitchell Starc isn’t concerned about injuries to Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE"/> Mitchell Starc isn’t involved about accidents to Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood (Getty Photographs) Luke Baker 19 November 2025 09:04

Gus Atkinson comfortable to fly below the radar The prospect of Mark Wooden and Jofra Archer teaming up for simply the second time in Check cricket has everybody excited however Gus Atkinson may also be an important a part of the seam assault.

And Atkinson, who has taken 63 wickets at 22.07 in 13 appearances – together with a hat-trick towards New Zealand final winter and eight in his most up-to-date outing towards India – is content material to remain out of the firing line.

“I’m unsure it is a mistake...it has been like {that a} bit up to now in my profession, within the background and I do not thoughts that in any respect,” he mentioned.

“Jofra and Woody are wonderful bowlers and so they'll be large for us this sequence.

“You hear about it (Assessments in Australia) prior to now and it’s all ‘tempo, tempo, tempo; however we're listening to these days a bit extra seam motion. For me personally, it’s good to listen to that. That’s one thing I am wanting ahead to.”

(Robbie Stephenson/PA Wire) Luke Baker 19 November 2025 08:45

Ashes 2025/26 schedule The primary Check will get underway this Friday and right here’s how the schedule for the entire sequence appears this 12 months

First Check, Optus Stadium in Perth: 21-25 November (UK begin time: 2.20am GMT)

Second Check, Gabba in Brisbane: 4-8 December (4.30am)

Third Check, Adelaide Oval in Adelaide: 17-21 December (12am)

Fourth Check, MCG in Melbourne: 26-30 December (11.30pm, 25 December)

Fifth Check, SCG in Sydney: 4-8 January (11.30pm, 3 January)

(Robbie Stephenson/PA Wire) Luke Baker 19 November 2025 08:30

England take Mark Wooden gamble in Ashes first Check squad Mark Wooden appears set to start out the opening Ashes Check for England towards Australia as a part of a five-man tempo assault after being named within the 12-man squad.

X-factor bowler Wooden has confronted a race towards time to show his health after present process surgical procedure earlier this 12 months. He recovered sufficient to journey Down Below however solely accomplished eight overs of the warm-up match towards England Lions at Lilac Hill earlier than tweaking his hamstring.

Nonetheless, a scan on the difficulty got here again all clear earlier this week and that has set him as much as be a part of an all-seam assault, offering he can correctly show his health within the nets over the subsequent 48 hours.

The seam-friendly nature of the pitch at Optus Stadium in Perth has made this a viable technique and Wooden is ready to start out as a part of a bowling unit alongside fellow pacemen Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson and Ben Stokes. It could be the quickest bowling assault England have put out in current reminiscence, with absolutely the quickest of these – Wooden and Archer –having solely ever performed one Check collectively earlier than.

Luke Baker 19 November 2025 08:16

Mark Wooden in England squad for first Ashes Check Okay, the 12-man England squad for the primary Ashes Check, beginning on Friday, has been launched and the massive information is that MARK WOOD IS IN!

Offering he proves his health over the subsequent 48 hours, which means he'll probably begin as a part of a five-man tempo assault alongside Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson and Ben Stokes.

Shoaib Bashir can be within the squad however absolutely slated for twelfth man duties, given the seam-friendly nature of the Perth pitch and his struggles in current occasions.

Which means there’s no place for Will Jacks, so the mooted concept of him being chosen to increase the batting line-up, and supply a part-time spin choice, hasn’t come to fruition.

As anticipated, Ollie Pope has seen off Jacob Bethell, so will take the No 3 spot within the line-up.

England’s 12-player squad:

Luke Baker 19 November 2025 08:00

Australia’s ‘previous blokes’ rally collectively for the Ashes chasing one final demolition of England There was a simplicity to the assertion. Australian cricket has a capability for straight speaking and Dan Christian, the all-rounder who got here out of retirement final winter to determine within the Large Bash in his forties, tended to justify the presence of veterans in 4 phrases: “Previous blokes win stuff”. It was his philosophy in Twenty20 tournaments and he received them in 4 completely different international locations, usually in his late thirties.

Since then, it's an perspective that appears to have unfold throughout Australian cricket. Younger blokes are conspicuous by their absence. When Australia final performed a Check at dwelling, it was with out anybody of their twenties: {the teenager} Sam Konstas was accompanied by 10 thirtysomethings. Once they named their squad for the primary Ashes Check in Perth, Konstas was dropped, the 31-year-old Jake Weatherald chosen and the 26-year-old Cameron Inexperienced was the one man under 30, joined by 14 of his elders. The Cameron Inexperienced technology consists of solely Cameron Inexperienced.