David Shortte’s Ashes Preview

Posted on November 20, 2025November 20, 2025 | Posted by David Shortte

DAVID SHORTTE’S ASHES PREVIEW

The most eagerly anticipated Summer of Cricket in modern times has arrived and what an Ashes Series lies in wait!

The opening Test of the Summer is right here in our own backyard at Optus Stadium and with the first two days of the Test already sold out and the promise of something similar on day three the place will be heaving!

There hasn’t even been a ball bowled and yet it seems there have already been more twists than a licorice warehouse with Australia losing Skipper Pat Cummins and gun quick Josh Hazlewood as well as squad member Shaun Abbott in the build up to the first test while there has been secrecy around the makeup of the express English bowling lineup. Mark Wood was earlier this week cleared of hamstring damage after their warm-up match at Lilac Hill.

Let’s have a look at the recent history between the two teams before a look at the 2025 form guide and then the all important Punting Strategy for the 2025/26 Ashes.

HISTORY

Here is a brief summary of what has happened in the last four Ashes Series.

Australia have had the better of recent encounters winning their two home series 4-0 and chopping out 2 apiece in their two visits to the Mother country.

Australia in England 2023

Series Drawn 2-2

Leading Wicket Takers

Starc 23 at 27.08

Broad 22 at 28.4

Woakes 19 at 18.15

Cummins 18 at 37.72

Hazlewood 16 at 31.68

Wood 14 at 20.21

Robinson 10 at 28.4

Leading Runscorers

Khawaja 496 at 49.6

Crawley 480 at 53.33

Root 412 at 51.5

Stokes 405 at 45

Smith 373 at 37.3

Brook 363 at 40.33

Head 362 at 36.2

Labuschagne 328 at 32.8

Australia in Australia 2021/22

Australia win the series 4-0

Leading Wicket Takers

Cummins 21 at 18.04

Starc 19 at 25.36

Boland 18 at 9.55

Wood 17 at 26.64

Lyon 16 at 23.56

Green 13 at 15.76

Broad 13 at 26.30

Robinson 11 at 25.54

Leading Runscorers

Head 357 at 59.50

Labuschagne 225 at 41.87

Root 322 at 32.20

Warner 273 at 34.12

Khawaja 255 at 85.0

Smith 244 at 30.50

Malan 244 at 24.40

Stokes 236 at 23.60

Green 228 at 32.57

Australia in England 2019

Series Drawn 2-2

Leading Wicket Takers

Cummins 29 at 19.62

Broad 23 at 26.55

Archer 22 at 20.27

Hazlewood 20 at 21.85

Lyon 20 at 33.4

Leach 12 at 25.83

Leading Runscorers

Smith 774 at 110.57

Stokes 441 at 55.12

Burns 390 at 39.00

Labuschagne 353 at 50.42

Wade 337 at 33.70

Root 325 at 32.50

Australia in Australia 2017/18

Australia win the series 4-0

Leading Wicket Takers

Cummins 23 at 24.65

Starc 22 at 23.54

Hazlewood 21at 25.90

Lyon 21 at 21.93

Anderson 17 at 27.82

Broad 11 at 47.72

Leading Runscorers

Smith 687 at 137.4

S Marsh 445 at 74.16

Warner 441 at 63.00

Malan 383 at 42.55

Root 378 at 47.25

Cook 376 at 47.00

TEST RESULTS IN THE 2025 CALENDAR YEAR

AUSTRALIA

Australia have played 7 Tests in this Calendar Year for 6 wins and a loss.

They defeated India in the final test of last year’s series at the SCG in January.

They then went to Sri Lanka in February and won the series 2-0 in comfortable fashion.

In June the Aussies went to Lords for the World Test Championship where they were defeated by South Africa.

The Aussies most recent series was in June and July in the Caribbean where they swept the series against the West Indies 3-0.

ENGLAND

England have played 6 Tests in the Calendar Year for 3 wins 2 losses and a draw.

They defeated Zimabwe in England in a one off test in March

They drew the series with India 2-2 in England in June, July and August.

PUNTING STRATEGIES

MOST RUNS SERIES AUSTRALIA

TABtouch Market

Smith $3

Head $4.50

Labuschagne $6

Khawaja $6

Green $7

Weatherald $7.50

Carey $15

Webster $15

Inglis $51

This is one market where I am happy to play.

Steve Smith may not have been at his absolute peak over the past few seasons but over the journey he has feasted on the England attack.

His first and only three innings for NSW to start his Summer of Cricket have been 118, 57 and 56 not out. In those fixtures a lot of other talented top order players struggled indicating to me he is set for a fill your boots style of summer. It is worth remembering he did find some of his best form last Summer against the might of India with his 101 in the third test and 140 in the 4^th Test proving crucial.

There is a chance he will need a little bit of good fortune as I am forecasting Australia to lose some early wickets around him but I am backing his class to prevail and he will be one of my more confident plays of the Summer at $3.

I will be having a small saver on Marnus Labuschagne at $6 who is back in peak form. Likewise he could find himself having to contend with some fiery new ball spells but history shows that when Marnus gets his tail up he generally cashes in.  Marnus has had a stunning start to his domestic Summer with his 10 innings including totals of 130, 160, 105, 159, 101 and 50

Head was our play last Summer and he could again get some nice protection from the new ball but his last 10 innings of significance he has a top score of 31 and is averaging just 16.7.

I think Khawaja and Weatherald are both going to have their hands full against the new ball attack of England and while I think Green will have a good series I am not sure he will make the rapid rise to be our leading run scorer.

Webster may not play enough games to get the job done, Carey will do his bit but is an unlikely leading runscorer overall.

The thought of anyone below that being the leading runscorer for Australia through the series is pure fantasy.

PLAY: Smith $3 Leading Runscorer Australia. Small saver on Labuschagne at $6.*

MOST RUNS SERIES ENGLAND

TABtouch Market

Root $3

Brook $3.50

Duckett $5

Crawley $8

Stokes $8.50

Smith $9

Pope $9

Bethell $26

England are most likely to continue their aggressive nature when at the batting crease and that will give the Australian attack opportunities to take clumps of wickets, particularly on wickets with a bit of juice in them.

I am leaning towards Harry Brook at $3.50 with that protection of batting a bit lower down the order in his favour. He has emerged as one of the most damaging batsman in world cricket and after 30 tests he is averaging a very healthy 57.55.

I watched him closely in his recent white ball series against New Zealand and his knocks of 78 in a T20 and 135 in a one dayer were quite simply different gravy. Granted he now has to bring that form to Australia in different conditions but in fairness he is a young star at the peak of his powers and he doesn’t need to spend long periods of time at the crease to pile on hefty totals.

I think the other value play that is worth a speck at $8.50 is the England Skipper Ben Stokes. He is a phenomenal competitor and he has played some of the finest innings I have ever seen in big games, and many of them against Australia. He will also receive a bit of time to find his feet a bit lower down the batting order and he is capable of producing match turning contributions.

Ben Duckett and Zac Crawley are both quality players in their own right but I think the challenge of the new ball against the Aussie quicks has the potential to bring them undone.

Joe Root has earned the reputation of one of the finest players in the world and rightly so but I think he is a little underpriced at $3. He is yet to show his absolute best down under where he is yet to score a century and while he is a threat I don’t like his price.

Outside of them Pope is a very serviceable player but if he fails once or twice his spot could be taken by young up and comer Jacob Bethell so I am happy to pass there.

Jamie Smith was magnificent in the recent England v India series scoring 434 runs at an average of 62. He is a very important player in the scheme of the series and I expect him to perform well but I have a couple of players rated in front of him in the most runs space.

The remainder of the English outfit are here to get the job done with the ball and if one of them prevail as the leading runscorer it will have been a flat out nightmare summer for the Poms.

PLAY: Brook $3.50 Leading Runscorer England. Small saver on Stokes at $8.50*

TOP SERIES WICKET TAKER AUSTRALIA

TABtouch Market

Starc $2.75

Boland $3.25

Lyon $3.50

Hazlewood $4.75

Doggett $6.50

Cummins $7.50

Green $17

Injuries to Cummins and Hazlewood have significantly changed what might happen in this space!

Trying to win most wickets without playing the majority, if not all 5 tests will be difficult but I can’t help but feel there will be a bit of revolving doors around the Aussie attack this summer with the question marks over fitness of key operators.

I have gone the conservative route with Mitch Starc as my play at $2.75. The left arm pace man has been a marvellous campaigner for Australia and his ability to strike hard with his late inswingers could prove key to success in this space. He will get the new ball and can then come back and mop up tails with good effect.

My other speculative play will be Pat Cummins at $7.50. Going on the vision I have seen in recent days he is back nearing full fitness and if his body holds up he could well find himself playing tests two through to five and he has the ability to take bags of wickets that could see him rattle home for us at the big price.

I am yet to hear an official update on Hazlewood but he did miss a significant block of cricket last summer and until I see him back bowling close to full effect I am prepared to pass.

Nathan Lyon is a proven contributor and will play his part through the summer but I couldn’t say with any confidence that he will have too many wickets that will be to his advantage.

Scott Boland is a huge chance of taking nice wickets through the Summer but it must be remembered that he has traditionally been the 12^th man when the Aussie attack is at full fitness. There is a chance he could miss a couple of tests along the way due to that fact which would make his task difficult.

Doggett has earned his opportunity but may not play enough Tests through the Summer to be the Big Dog of the attack and Green and Webster can bowl some handy overs but are unlikely to be wreckers.

PLAY: Starc $2.75 Top Series Wicket Taker Australia. Small saver on Cummins at $7.50*

TOP SERIES WICKET TAKER ENGLAND

TABtouch Market

Archer $3.30

Atkinson $3.50

Carse $5

Stokes $6

Wood $6

Bashir $7

Tongue $7.50

For me this was the most difficult market of the summer to bet in to with any confidence.

I believe both Wood and Archer are the most destructive duo amongst the English attack but both come with significant buyer beware tags given how much cricket they have missed in recent times.

If you could guarantee me that either of the two could get through the summer close to full fitness playing most games I would be happy to get involved but there is too much doubt for me.

Gus Atkinson appeals as a more likely option to be there for a larger portion of the Summer but the $3.50 is hardly a spoil.

Carse has been preferred to Tongue for the first test but in the recent series against India he managed just 9 wickets at an average of 60.88 and that is hardly inspiring and if they are preferring him to Tongue early you wonder how many games he might end up playing.

No disrespect to Bashir but if he plays this summer in conditions that are not overly kind to spinners I can see him getting lit up like a pinball machine.

The only very small play I could entertain is a peanut on Stokes at $6 – he is not a front liner but as skipper if he is fit he will likely play all 5 tests and against India he took 17 wickets at 25.23 – something like that in this series could see him prevail at a nice price.

PLAY: Very small speck Stokes $6 Top Series Wicket Taker England.*

SERIES WINNER  

TABtouch Market

Australia $1.61

England $3

Drawn Series $8.75

Both sides have significant question marks heading in to this series but I keep coming back to the fact that Australia on home soil are a proven commodity.

England have not won a Test on Aussie soil at their last 10 attempts and to win this series they will need to play up to their very best.

PLAY: The price is not exciting for Australia to win the series at $1.61 but it is clearly the most likely outcome*

SERIES SCORE

My theory here which has been kind in recent times is that in one of the east coast Tests there will be enough rain to make a win very difficult to achieve.

That leaves us with 4 tests up for grabs. I think England are good enough to nick at least one maybe more but for the sake of this exercise I will predict a 3-1 series win for the boys in baggy greens.

PLAY : Australia to win with a series score of 3-1 paying $7.50*

MULTIS

Like last Summer I have taken multis through the options I am most confident about.

The multi options I have rolled in and out of each other for doubles and trebles this time around are :

Most Runs Australia : Smith $3 & Labushagne $6*

Most Runs England : Brook $3.50 & Stokes $8.50*

Most Wickets Australia : Starc $2.75 & Cummins at $7.50*

There you have it Punters my thoughts for what is going to be a magnificent Summer of Cricket.

Be sure to keep your eyes on the TABtouch Blog for my Test by Test previews and head to the TABtouch App to keep up to date with the Bet With Shortte Cricket Specials across the Ashes and Big Bash.

*Odds correct at the time of publication.

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