Get ready for heart-pounding drama—The Ashes 2025 is about to explode in Perth, pitting Australia's fierce cricketers against England's bold challengers in a rivalry that's as old as time itself!
Cricket enthusiasts worldwide are buzzing with excitement as they fix their gazes on Perth's Optus Stadium, where the 2025/26 Ashes series kicks off between Australia and England. This legendary matchup, loaded with rich history and nail-biting tension, brings together the best Test players from both sides, all vying for the prestigious Ashes urn. As the squads gear up for that inaugural clash, attention zooms in on the athletes, their game plans, and the iconic moments that have woven the fabric of Ashes tales.
Leading the charge for Australia is Mitchell Starc, the dynamic left-arm fast bowler who's a veteran of epic showdowns. Heading into his 15th season as a Test speedster, Starc touches down in Perth on Sunday, November 16, 2025, carrying a treasure trove of jaw-dropping dismissals from his career. For newcomers to the sport, think of fast bowlers as the aggressive pitchers of cricket, hurling the ball at high speeds to unsettle batsmen. Starc's resume is unparalleled, featuring highlights like the blistering delivery that nailed New Zealand's Brendon McCullum in the 2015 World Cup final or the deceptive swinger that demolished England's Ben Stokes at Lord's in 2019, dashing their dreams in spectacular style.
But here's where it gets controversial—Ashes fans can't stop replaying Starc's lightning-fast first-ball wicket against Rory Burns during the 2021-22 series. The deafening cheer at Brisbane's Gabba as Burns' leg stump tumbled like a pin in a bowling alley rippled through both teams, signaling a season of relentless battles. Starc himself reminisced, 'I've certainly never heard a noise like it at the Gabba,' capturing the intense pressure and thrill of those split-second triumphs. 'Any wicket is my favourite. Those ones are all very different. World Cups are huge. And lead ups make things feel different as well. Different formats, different lead ups, different stages. But they’re all very satisfying.'
Indeed, the Ashes is famous for its unforgettable opening plays—think Michael Slater's powerful cut shot in 1994-95, Nasser Hussain's contentious choice to field first in 2002-03, or Steve Harmison's wild wide in 2006-07 that set the stage for England's whitewash defeat. And not long ago, Zak Crawley's graceful cover drive off Pat Cummins in the 2023 opener added another thrilling page to this drama. As Starc put it, 'There was a lot made about the first ball (in 2023), but in the end we won the Test match. And it was the same bloke who bowled the ball who won it for us. It does leave a mark I guess, you think the Harmison ball, you think the cover drive that the English like to make a lot of. But ultimately we will sit here at the end of the Sydney Test and say this worked and this didn’t work, what was successful.' For beginners, these 'first balls' are like the opening pitches in a game of baseball—often symbolic and sometimes decisive.
As Australia mulls over whether to bowl first on Friday, November 21, Starc says he won't let past Ashes ghosts rattle him. 'It’s a long way down the track. It’s a different venue, and different too in that I am probably bowling to Zak Crawley,' he shared. 'Hopefully it starts the same way, but as Josh and I would both attest to we would love to bat all day on day one. But if it comes to bowling first, the big fella and I will aim to do some damage in the first spell and hopefully set us on our way to a successful series.' This illustrates how bowlers like Starc and Hazlewood strategize to strike early, aiming to dismiss batsmen quickly to gain an advantage.
And this is the part most people miss—while Starc sharpens his skills, a heated discussion about the series' star players intensifies. In a pre-match article for talkSPORT.com, former England fast bowler Steve Harmison picked an all-star Ashes XI from both teams, stirring up debates and excitement as he navigated tough choices among cricket's top talents.
At the top spot, Harmison shocked fans by choosing England's Zak Crawley over Australia's seasoned Usman Khawaja. Even with Crawley's Test average of 31.55 from 59 matches looking modest, Harmison sees this as Crawley's breakout moment. 'If Zak Crawley has the winter that we all expect him to, then I’d go for Crawley over Khawaja,' he reasoned. 'I think Crawley will look to put pressure on the bowlers, whereas Khawaja is 40 and if England have four bowlers who can bowl at over 90mph, that would be more of a challenge.' This pick raises eyebrows—do you think experience trumps potential here, or is Harmison betting on youth?
Next, English batsman Ben Duckett beat out Marnus Labuschagne for the second opener role, lauded for his flexibility and solid showings against India. At number three, Australia's Cameron Green earned the spot, with Harmison praising his versatility as a bowler-batsman and his key role if Pat Cummins is sidelined by injuries.
In the heavyweight clash for number four, Joe Root edged out Steve Smith, with Harmison rooting for Root's storied career and his knack for big scores on Australian pitches. 'I fully expect Joe Root to get two if not three 100s in that five-match Test series. I’ll always back Joe Root. I’d back Joe Root against anybody in the world,' Harmison proclaimed.
Travis Head secured number five ahead of Harry Brook, leveraging home turf and hot form, while Ben Stokes was the obvious pick at six for his motivational captaincy and game-changing spirit. Young Jamie Smith took the wicket-keeper gloves over Alex Carey, impressing Harmison with his poise in high-stakes situations.
On the bowling end, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood made the cut despite injury worries, valued for their consistent performances in a long series. Mitchell Starc's Ashes legends overshadowed Jofra Archer, and Nathan Lyon was a no-brainer as spinner over Shoaib Bashir.
Looking ahead, Harmison forecasted the series hinging on batting prowess and bowling might. 'The glaring difference between these two sides is Australia have a bowling attack who have produced, and we know how they are going to do and perform,' he noted. 'The exciting part for me is that we have a bowling attack that could potentially could blow Australia’s batting unit open, but that’s potential—we haven’t seen it. If England play to their maximum ability, and they get a huge amount of luck, England stand a chance. If England get injuries to key players like Archer or Wood, then it becomes even harder. But at this moment in time, it is England’s batters against Australia’s bowlers.' This prediction subtly challenges the status quo—could England really upset the odds, or is Australia's depth unbeatable?
With the opening delivery at Optus Stadium mere days away, the scene is primed for another epic Ashes chapter. From Starc's thunderous starts to an unexpected superstar stepping up, fans are in for edge-of-your-seat action as these two nations battle for supremacy. What do you think—will Starc replicate his past magic, or could Harmison's picks reshape the series? Share your thoughts in the comments: Do you agree with his team selection, or would you swap players for a different edge? Is this Ashes set to be Australia's dominance, or England's comeback story? Let's debate!
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