Ashes | DD News

November 5, 2025 6:04 PM

Sam Konstas dropped, uncapped Weatherald included in Australia’s Ashes squad

Young opener Sam Konstas has been dropped from Australia's squad for the Ashes, opening the door for uncapped Jake Weatherald to make a test debut in the five-match series against England. Konstas, 20, misses out after a poor tour with the bat in the West Indies, while Weatherald has been included after topping the Sheffield Shieldruns list in 2024/25 and starting the new season with three half-centuries. Top-order batter Marnus Labuschagne was recalled in the 15-man squad after starting the d...

November 3, 2025 12:06 PM

Australia’s Travis Head released from T20 squad for red-ball warmup for Ashes

Australia batter Travis Head has been released from the T20I squad against India to get some red-ball practice in the Sheffield Shield before the Ashes. The left-hander scored 28 in Australia's four-wicket win in Melbourne last week but managed only six from four balls in the third T20 in Hobart on Sunday as the hosts slumped to a five-wicket loss. Head will be available for South Australia's Shield clash against Tasmania next week, Cricket Australia said on Monday. The first Ashes test start...

November 2, 2025 6:18 PM

England coach Brendon McCullum doesn’t expect Ashes hangover from ODI disappointment

Coach Brendon McCullum believes England's batting struggles in the 3-0 one-day international series loss to New Zealand were format-specific and will have little bearing on the Ashes. One century from Harry Brook aside, England's top order failed to produce sufficient runs in New Zealand to give their bowlers the opportunity to put pressure on the Black Caps. McCullum, while obviously disappointed at being whitewashed in his homeland, did not think there would be any carry over into the test s...

October 29, 2025 2:53 PM

Australia captain Pat Cummins returns to bowling in buildup to Ashes

Australia captain Pat Cummins has eased back into bowling in his rehabilitation from a lower-back injury as he scrambles to be fit for the second Ashes test against England. Cummins was ruled out of the series-opener in Perth starting on November 21 but hopes to be available for the following match in Brisbane two weeks later. The 32-year-old paceman bowled off a short run-up in the nets at Cricket New South Wales' training base on Tuesday as staff watched on. Australia head coach Andrew McDo...

October 28, 2025 4:56 PM

Alex Carey hoping Australia fans can block out English taunts during Ashes

Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey remembers a hostile reception from English crowds after stumping Jonny Bairstow at Lord's during the 2023 Ashes and hopes home fans can drown out the taunts of the Barmy Army in the coming series. Carey sparked a 'Spirit of Cricket' row when he threw down the stumps as Bairstow left his crease at the end of an over on the final day of the second test at the game's spiritual home. Australia's players were subjected to abuse from MCC members in the stadium's Lon...

October 27, 2025 12:39 PM

Pat Cummins to miss first Ashes Test, Steve Smith to lead Australia in Perth

Australian skipper Pat Cummins is set to miss the first Ashes Test in Perth due to a back stress injury, the International Cricket Council (ICC) stated on Monday. In his absence, star batter Steve Smith will lead the side for the opening Test, with Cummins now aiming to regain fitness ahead of the second Test in Brisbane, scheduled to begin on December 4. Cummins has been managing a back injury in recent weeks, and Cricket Australia (CA) confirmed that he will not recover in time to take part ...

October 21, 2025 1:00 PM

Scott Boland backs himself to deliver after tough Ashes in England

Australia paceman Scott Boland says he has nothing to prove in the upcoming Ashes, two years after being taken down in a 'Bazball' storm in the 2023 series in England. Boland took two wickets at a cost of 231 runs across his two tests in the last Ashes, conceding nearly five runs an over in the drawn series. It was a humbling experience for the Victorian quick who took 18 wickets on home pitches in the 2021/22 Ashes, including his unforgettable seven-wicket test debut at the Melbourne Cricket ...

October 17, 2025 4:22 PM

England’s Mark Wood optimistic about fitness for Ashes opener

England fast bowler Mark Wood is "quietly confident" he will be fit for the Ashes opener against Australia next month after being sidelined since February due to a knee injury. The 35-year-old underwent surgery in March and was ruled out for the summer but was included in England's 16-man Ashes squad named last month. Wood was one of England's standout bowlers in the 2021-22 Ashes, claiming 17 wickets. England last won the Ashes in 2015, while their last series victory in Australia coming in 2...

October 15, 2025 4:55 PM

England’s Kiwi coaching trio eye NZ success before Ashes

Jeetan Patel is one of a trio of New Zealanders on the England coaching staff plotting Ashes success Down Under this year but first they will be looking to take down the country they once proudly represented. Patel, who has coached England's spin bowlers since 2019, was joined more recently by former seamer Tim Southee in the staff of their former Black Caps teammate, head coach Brendon McCullum. They will be guiding England in three Twenty20s and three one-day internationals against New Zeala...

October 15, 2025 11:34 AM

Australia’s team is their worst since 2010-11 Ashes, says England’s Stuart Broad

Australia are heading into the Ashes with their worst team in over a decade and all the pressure will be on the hosts when the five-match series begins next month, former England bowler Stuart Broad said. England last won the Ashes in 2015 and have not won in Australia since 2011, with Australia winning their last three home series 5-0, 4-0 and 4-0. Australia will once again be favourites, but they have suffered a significant setback with captain Pat Cummins saying on Monday that he was more l...