The Ashes 2025: Steve Smith to be feared, pressure on Khawaja and Green, and series predictions
When you’re closer to 40 than 30, questions will always be asked about your cricket future. That’s why Usman Khawaja badly needs to start the Ashes well or risk losing his spot mid-series.
Forget any notion of a series sweep in this upcoming Ashes series, but CODE Sports’ experts agree ageing champion Steve Smith will be the man England must fear this summer.
DANIEL CHERNY
Who will win the Ashes?
Australia 4-1. England’s best is too good for it not to come off at least once this series but over the course of five matches there are two many queries around the tourists’ bowling and Australia’s quicks will have the better of the English top order. A pink ball Test in Brisbane shapes as a bit of a lottery and several in the Australian side would have preferred to be playing under lights in Adelaide.
The England player Australia should fear the most ...
Ben Duckett. Famously doesn’t leave the ball and can put the Aussies on the back foot very quickly. Given his height he has contended with the short ball for years so the extra bounce shouldn’t worry him greatly.
The Australian player under the most pressure is ...
For his place in the team it’s Usman Khawaja, who is on a short leash given his troubles against quality fast bowling. But the real answer is Cameron Green, who has reached a point in his career where he needs to consistently shape the results of Test matches.
Will Bazball work in Australia?
The approach will win England a Test or two but the jury is out on whether it is sustainable. My guess is probably not overall, but doubtless there will be a handful of days in the series where we are wowed by the tourists’ approach.
Who will win player of the series:
Steve Smith. Twelve months ago this seemed unlikely but Smith is back in imperious touch and looks primed for another outstanding chapter in a storied career. England will be glad to see the back of him.
Who will be leading run scorer:
Smith, see above.
Who will take the most wickets:
Mitchell Starc. This is a bit of a process of deduction given England will likely rotate their quicks and Australia’s right-armers may also be shuffled around for various reasons. But Starc is indefatigable and though he will go for plenty of runs at times he almost invariably takes wickets.
ROBERT CRADDOCK
Who will win the Ashes?
Australia 3-2. I sense England will struggle in the first two Tests - particularly under lights in Brisbane - but, unlike many English teams, will finish strongly in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. Australia are not that good that they won’t lose Tests.
The England player Australia should fear the most ...
Harry Brook. If he gets going so will England. He could be the best batting talent of his generation.
The Australian player under the most pressure is ...
Mitchell Starc. With Cummins and Hazlewood out early he needs to hit the ground running.
The Ashes 2025: Steve Smith to be feared, pressure on Khawaja and Green, and series predictions
Will Bazball work in Australia?
It will win England at least one Test but won’t have the fibre to win a series. England will blow at least one Test from a winning position.
Who will win player of the series:
Steve Smith. Will score runs when Australia needs them most.
Who will be leading run scorer:
Joe Root. He will crack his century curse and fill his boots.
Who will take the most wickets:
Nathan Lyon. May not single-handedly win a Test, but he will average five wickets a game.
BEN HORNE
Who will win the Ashes?
Australia 3-1. If England can beat Australia in Perth it is game on and they become a legitimate chance to cause a major Ashes upset. But if Australia get the chocolates in Perth as I expect they will, I just can’t see a way back for England with the Aussies specials for the pink ball second Test in Brisbane.
The England player Australia should fear the most ...
Joe Root. It scares me the fact he is being so brazenly written off. This is a guy who has arguably been the best batsman on the planet for the past few years and although he’s never scored a hundred in Australia, his record is not deplorable and really no different to how a lot of Aussie stars have struggled in England. Root is a moral to score a hundred this summer.
The Australian player under the most pressure is ...
Usman Khawaja. If Khawaja was to struggle and Australia lose one of the first two Tests it’s not impossible selectors could look to make a swift change at the top of the order. Particularly with the likes of Matt Renshaw, Mitchell Marsh and Campbell Kellaway in form and waiting in the wings.
Will Bazball work in Australia?
If the pitches are dead flat it absolutely can. England’s big worry isn’t their batting it’s whether their bowlers can stand up over five Tests in Australia. I think that’s where it might fall apart for the visitors.
Who will win player of the series:
Steve Smith. I think the stand-in Australian captain is in for a vintage run-scoring summer. He loves having the c next to his name, his game looks in good order and he seems hungry.
Who will be leading run scorer:
Steve Smith. I can see Smith scoring three hundreds this summer and be the point of difference between the two batting line-ups.
Who will take the most wickets:
Mitchell Starc. I think the big left-armer has been Australia’s best bowler for a while now and will relish the extra responsibility on his shoulders with Pat Cummins injured and Josh Hazlewood under a minor injury cloud.
LACHLAN MCKIRDY
Who will win the Ashes?
Australia 4-1. England have their best chance in Australia for some years and should break their drought and finally secure a win, but the Aussies will still dominate the series and ensure the urn stays down under again.
The England player Australia should fear the most ...
Ben Stokes with his ability to impact the game with bat or ball.
The Australian player under the most pressure is ...
Nathan Lyon as the only clear world-class spinner in the series; pressure will be on him to be the difference.
Will Bazball work in Australia?
In theory, yes, but if the pitches are as bowler-friendly as they have been in recent years, it could be a long series for England’s top order.
Who will win player of the series:
Steve Smith - Smith looks in imperious form early in the summer, and we know how he rises with the pressure of captaincy. Expect him to dominate in what will likely be his last home Ashes series.
Who will be leading run scorer:
Steve Smith - Smith called the difficult SCG Shield wicket ‘flat’ when all of his teammates struggled, which should give you a sign of how ready he is for this summer. He’s found his hands and he’s set to find even more runs.
Who will take the most wickets:
Mitchell Starc - With injury ravaging the Australian bowling attack, Starc is set to be the talisman to carry them through. He’ll get the new ball swinging early and will capitalise on some BazBall batters losing their head prematurely in each innings.
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Originally published as The Ashes 2025: Steve Smith to be feared, pressure on Khawaja and Green, and series predictions
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