The Ashes Series 2025-26: The 5-match Ashes series between Australia and England is being played in Australia. The host team, which won the Perth match, has suffered a big setback before the Brisbane Test. Australian captain Pat Cummins was expected to return in the second match, but Cummins is out of this match also due to injury. In the second match of this Ashes series also, the team will be captained by veteran batsman Steve Smith.

Team announced for Brisbane Test

Australia has announced the team for the Brisbane Test a week in advance. Captain Pat Cummins has also been ruled out of the second test against England. The Australian team has not made any changes in its team for the second match of the Ashes 2025-26 series. The first match of this series was over in just two days. While batting first, the entire England team was all out after scoring 172 runs, after which England bowled out Australia for 132 runs. After gaining a lead of 40 runs in the first innings, England was able to score 164 runs in the second innings and gave Australia a target of only 205 runs. Which the Kangaroo team chased at the loss of only 2 wickets. Travis Head played an important role in this victory by scoring a stormy century.

Unchanged#Ashes pic.twitter.com/Xu7W7p9R3N

— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) November 28, 2025

Apart from Cummins, two more players were out

Apart from Pat Cummins, Sean Abbott and Josh Hazlewood have also been ruled out of the Brisbane Test. Both these players also had to stay out of the first test due to injury. The second match of the Ashes series will start from December 4 and Test captain Pat Cummins will travel with the team to speed up his recovery process.

Australian team for Brisbane Test:

Steve Smith (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wicket-keeper), Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Bo Webster.

The Ashes Series 2025-26: Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has argued that England’s baseball approach was specifically designed to win the Ashes in Australia. The Ashes series between the two countries is going to start from 21st November. Ricky Ponting told ‘7News’ that England’s aggressive style under the leadership of coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes has always been focused on mastering Australian conditions.

Ponting gave statement on baseball

Ricky Ponting said, “England is a team that has been together for the last two years (after the 2023 Ashes). They are preparing for the Ashes. I know Brendon very well, baseball was designed just for this one series. Forget whatever happened in the last two years. It was all about putting together a team and a style of play that could win Test matches in Australia. England have won Test matches in Australia in the last 25 years. They have done this only four times, they have to win at least three matches in this series, so I am curious to see how they play.

What will be England’s plan in the Ashes?

The 2023 Ashes began with a signal of England’s intent. Australia had deployed a deep backward point for the initial overs at Edgbaston, but despite this, Jack Crawley hit a four over cover. Ponting hopes that England will continue this aggressive approach throughout the summer. He said, “I don’t think they will change. I have seen them a lot in the last two years. I know they will play the same way. Ben Duckett and Jack Crawley will play the same way they have always played. If they can do that, England will win the toss and elect to bowl and will be confident of scoring more runs in the fourth innings than the opposition did in the first innings.”