England assistant coach and batting great Marcus Trescothick feels that the conditions in Australia might suit the aggressive style of batting that they have cultivated under captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum, popularly known as ‘Bazball’, a play on the latter’s nickname. “The style of cricket we play is to try and put the bowlers under pressure,” Trescothick told reporters in Perth, where his team are preparing for the November 21 series opener.
“Playing on bouncy pitches, where the ball comes onto the bat nicely, is something we always talk about trying to get back at home. It suits our style of play, which we’re happy with. Definitely, the pitches have generally evolved in the last few years in Australia but you still expect them to be quick and bouncy and maybe have a bit more in it for the bowlers compared to years gone by.”
England’s astonishingly dismal record in Australia
The Ashes urn has stayed with Australia since 2018 with England only managing draws in the subsequent editions of the series that they have hosted and losing 4-0 in 2021/22. Moreover, England have won just two Test matches out of the 30 that have been played between the two sides in Australia in this century, the last of which came in the 2010/11 series.
Needless to say, it has been a long time since England posed even a serious challenge to Australia Down Under, let alone coming even close to winning a series, and the buzz within the country’s cricket circles is that captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum’s aggressive style of play might help change that.
The 2025/26 Ashes begin on November 21 with the first Test in Perth. The second Test will be a day-night affair at the Gabba starting on December 4. The third Test will be in Adelaide from December 17, followed by the traditional Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26. The series ends with the New Year’s Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground that starts on January 4.
