Tag: Ashes 2025

Former Australia pacer Glenn McGrath has predicted that England will be whitewashed 5-0 in the 2025-26 Ashes.

The Three Lions have not won an Ashes series since 2015 and, notably, not a single Test in Australia since the 2010-11 series.

The most recent series between two arch-rivals, played in 2023, resulted in a 2-2 draw, with Australia retaining the urn.

Now, the six-time Ashes winner and legendary fast bowler McGrath is known for his bold predictions, and in the past, he has made similar statements.

“It’s very rare for me to make a prediction, isn’t it? And I can’t make a different one-5-0,” McGrath stated in an interview with a British news outlet.

“I’m very confident with our team. When you’ve got Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon firing in their home conditions, it’s going to be pretty tough. Plus, that track record England have had, it’d be interesting to see if they can win a Test,” McGrath added.

Glenn McGrath deemed Ashes 2025-26 crucial for England’s ace batter Joe Root, who is yet to make his mark down under.

Joe Root has amassed 892 Test runs in Australia, including nine fifties, but is yet to score a century.

The 55-year-old also lauded Harry Brook’s batting and termed his wicket crucial for the Australian pacers.

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“This series will be a big one for Root. He’s never really done that well in Australia, he’s not even got a 100 over there, so he’ll be keen to get out there. He’s in fine form,” he said.

“Brook’s the one that I’ve enjoyed watching,” added McGrath. “He just goes out there, plays his game, and takes it on. The Australians will need to get on him pretty early.

He further mentioned England’s top order and the key matchups between both teams.

“Ben Duckett is such an aggressive opener. Zak Crawley would be keen to score a few more runs than he has previously.

“It’s the top order or top and middle order of England against the Australian fast bowlers and Lyon. That’s going to be a big match-up,” Glenn McGrath concluded.

For the unversed, the opening match of Ashes 2025-26 will commence on 21 November in Perth.

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Former England pacer Stuart Broad has hit back at ex-Australia opener David Warner, who took a cheeky dig at Three Lions ace batter Joe Root ahead of the Ashes 2025.

Warner, who is set to feature in The Hundred, shared his views on Joe Root during a recent show with the BBC Sports.

“The big anchor there is Rooty, who is yet to score a hundred in Australia,” Warner said.

“Hazlewood tends to have his number quite a lot. He will have to take the surfboard off his front leg,” he added.

Bowlers To Dismiss Joe Root Most Times in Tests

11 – Pat Cummins (AUS)

11 – Jasprit Bumrah (IND)

10 – Josh Hazlewood (AUS)

9 – Ravindra Jadeja (IND)

England’s ace batter Joe Root has notched up 15 Test centuries since the start of 2022 at a stellar average of 64.64; however, the right-hander has struggled in Australia, scoring only 892 runs at a modest average of 35.68 according to his standards.

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Interestingly, Joe Root, who has 37 Test centuries to his name, is yet to score a ton in Australia, having played 15 matches so far.

Now, Stuart Broad has replied to Warner’s comments, specifically addressing the reference to ‘surfboard’.

“I’ve never heard England’s best ever batters front pad called a surfboard,” Broad tweeted. Just for clarity. Hazlewood has got Rooty LBW in Test cricket three times. Three,” Broad remarked on his X handle.

Most LBW dismissals in Tests since 2013

51 – Joe Root (ENG)

36 – Virat Kohli (IND)

33 – Steve Smith (AUS)

31 – Kraigg Brathwaite (WI)

30 – Jonny Bairstow (ENG)

Joe Root has been dismissed LBW the most (51) times since the start of 2013, accounting for 19.39 percent of his wickets. Notably, the recently retired Virat Kohli and Steve Smith, who will be featuring in the Ashes 2025, are in second and third spots, respectively.

Most LBW dismissals in Tests since 2013

51 – Joe Root (ENG)

36 – Virat Kohli (IND)

33 – Steve Smith (AUS)

31 – Kraigg Brathwaite (WI)

30 – Jonny Bairstow (ENG)

For the unversed, the Ashes 2025 will commence on 21 November at the Perth Cricket Stadium in Australia, with the home team currently holding the trophy after retaining it in 2023 with a 2-2 draw against England.

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