The Ashes 2025-26 series is fast approaching, and former England skipper Michael Vaughan is confidently predicting a series win for Ben Stokes and his team in Australia. The opening Test is scheduled to take place on November 21st at the Optus Stadium in Perth, marking the start of an intense five-match battle for supremacy.
Vaughan highlighted England’s historical struggles in Australia, noting their last Test victory Down Under occurred in 2011. Nevertheless, he expressed optimism, citing the influence of captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum’s attacking cricketing philosophy as a catalyst for potential success. This ‘Bazball’ approach has apparently instilled a strong sense of belief within the current squad.
Speaking at a recent event, Vaughan stressed the importance of England securing a tangible trophy, suggesting that a drawn series, while acceptable, falls short of the team’s true potential. “I think they need a trophy,” Vaughan commented. “I mean, would I take two-all now? Probably, let’s be honest. In the last few series, 2010-11 is the only time that I’ve seen England have success… We haven’t won a Test since. So actually looking at growth in terms of what English cricket is delivering and, crikey, if you could get a two-all series, you’d obviously take that.”
He went on to describe the upcoming Ashes as Stokes’ defining moment. Vaughan believes that the captain’s aggressive nature and the team’s fearless strategy are perfectly suited to conquer the challenge and reclaim the Ashes urn. “But I think Ben and his mentality, and the way that he plays his cricket, this is his moment. He has to deliver and he has to get that urn in his hand. And it’s not putting him under pressure. They’ll be speaking in this kind of language in the dressing room. They will expect to win this series and now’s the time to deliver,” Vaughan stated, emphasizing the high expectations for the team’s performance.