Twas the night before the Ashes...

As the 2025/26 Ashes draws near, anticipation is beginning to swell on both sides of the cricketing world. The historic rivalry between England and Australia is rarely short on drama, but this series already feels unusually full of uncertainty, narrative tension, and genuine unpredictability. For once, the momentum does not sit squarely with the hosts.

England travel to Australia carrying something they have not possessed on recent Ashes tours: belief. Under the leadership of Ben Stokes and the relentlessly aggressive “Bazball” ethos, the team has developed a swagger that feels oddly suited to the uncompromising Australian conditions. Central to that confidence is the pace attack. England may be fielding their fastest and most varied group of seamers in more than a decade, with Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue, and Brydon Carse all capable of hitting speeds that trouble even the world’s most seasoned batting orders. Former England bowler Steven Finn has gone as far as to say this is England’s best chance in 15 years to win a series on Australian soil.

Australia, meanwhile, enter the contest in a state of mild turbulence. Their batting lineup, long the anchor of their dominance at home, has shown signs of inconsistency, and concerns surrounding Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins’ fitness cast a shadow over the early stages of the series. Stuart Broad, never one to shy away from candid assessments of the old enemy, has described the current Australian side as potentially the weakest since 2010. Suggestions of decline may be exaggerated, but they speak to a growing recognition that Australia are not quite the immovable force they once were.

The question, then, is not whether England can compete, but whether they can sustain their volatility-driven method over a full five-Test series. Joe Root’s form could prove decisive. Although still England’s most technically complete batter, Root, who has never scored an Ashes hundred, has received criticism for a technique some Australian commentators believe will struggle on quicker, bouncier pitches. If he fires, England’s so-called Bazball engine gains a stabiliser; if he falters, the team may be left relying on momentum alone.

Pundits, unsurprisingly, remain divided. Predictions range from a razor-thin 3–2 win for England to a traditional Australian victory. Michael Vaughan imagines a draw overall but believes England could seize an early advantage in Perth, especially without both Hazlewood and Cummins. Data-driven projections tend to give Australia a slight edge while acknowledging that this is the closest an Ashes series has felt in years.

And yet, the series has the feel of a pivot point. England have the tools, the pace, and the mindset to do something exceptional. Australia still possesses the experience, the home advantage, and the formidable lower-order resilience that has saved them so many times before. It is a clash not only of cricketing cultures but of eras: an established champion meeting a fearless challenger determined to reshape the game in its own image.

If the contest lives up to the promise, expect late finishes, fluctuating sessions, and at least one Test decided by a moment of reckless brilliance. This time, though, the sense of opportunity surrounding England feels different, more substantial. Their aggressive approach, combined with a pace attack tailor-made for Australian surfaces, gives them a genuine path to victory. If they strike early in the series and maintain that intensity, the momentum could shift decisively in their favour.

My prediction: a result in each Test with England edging it 3–2, claiming their first Ashes triumph in Australia since 2010–11. It would be a landmark moment for a side intent on redefining Test cricket, and perhaps the clearest sign yet that the balance of power in this rivalry is beginning to tilt.