No James Anderson (retired). No Stuart Broad (retired). No Chris Woakes (retired). No Ollie Robinson (ignored). No Sam Cook (overlooked).
That’s who is absent from England’s Ashes pace corps. This is who is there: Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse, Ben Stokes and Matthew Potts.
Six of those seven seamers have clocked 90mph or more in Test cricket — Potts the lone exception — which signals England’s preferred approach: express pace.
Anderson’s earlier-than-desired departure in summer 2024 marked a turning point and the start of what has been called ‘Operation Ashes’, with England packing their seam unit with speedsters to try to change a miserable recent record in Australia. Since their last overseas urn success in 2010/11, England have lost 13 of 15 Tests in Australia, drawn two and won none. Even with the skills of previous generations, recent touring attacks often looked short on venom on Australia’s hard, true surfaces.
Wood introduced genuine spite during the 2021/22 campaign, taking 17 wickets in four Tests after missing the first game, and remains England’s quickest when fully fit. With a hamstring concern easing after the warm-up stage, he looks likely to partner Archer in a five-man pace setup for the likely spicy Perth opener. England will hope Wood can trouble Marnus Labuschagne — whom he has dismissed five times in seven Tests — and that Archer can unsettle Steve Smith as he did in 2019, when his short bowling resulted in a concussion-enforced absence for Smith. Archer’s outstanding record against left-handers (21 of his 51 Test wickets so far) could be crucial: Australia may have up to five lefties in their top eight (Usman Khawaja, Jake Weatherald, Travis Head, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc).
Gus Atkinson has taken new-ball duties for England and, in 13 Tests, has 63 wickets at 22.01. He’s quick, generally accurate and can get the ball to nip around. Josh Tongue is an erratic but electric operator who mixes mediocre deliveries with unplayable ones, moves the ball and has a reputation for cleaning up tailenders — hence his nickname “The Mop” — a useful trait given England’s struggles to polish off lower orders in recent tours.
Brydon Carse might be considered an away specialist. His Dukes-ball return during the home summer was modest (nine wickets at 60.88), but he flourished overseas with the Kookaburra: 18 wickets in three Tests in New Zealand at 17.61 and nine in two in Pakistan at 24.33. England captain Ben Stokes, speaking in New Zealand in late 2024, called Carse “three bowlers in one,” using him as an enforcer for short-pitched spells while praising his wicket-taking and tidy economy.
Pace may not be a problem for England in Australia, but Australia’s captain Travis Head has suggested evolving pitch characteristics might give advantage to those who can extract subtle movement — “nibblers” in his words. That role could fall to Potts or Carse, or to Stokes himself. Potts is a likely candidate for the Brisbane day-night Test in December, but Stokes, whose bowling can offer pace and late movement, could be England’s go-to if surfaces nip.
Stokes was England’s best bowler at home in the summer, taking 20 wickets in five Tests (one vs Zimbabwe, four vs India) at an average of 24.05. His braced front knee helps him generate pace, control and movement, and he’s prepared to bowl marathon spells when required. Fitness is crucial — for Stokes, Wood and Archer alike. Stokes last played competitively in July, when he injured his shoulder, and he suffered two hamstring problems in the latter half of 2024. Wood’s last full fixture was in February; he has not played a Test for 15 months. Archer, despite looking robust since his comeback last summer, has managed just two Tests since February 2021.
Fast bowling is hard work — and England have chosen to prioritise speed. That is reflected in decisions to move on from Anderson, to omit Cook despite his decent Kookaburra-ball record, and in Robinson’s absence amid fitness and other issues. The nature of an Ashes series and the fitness uncertainty across the bowling group mean rotation is inevitable; most, if not all, of the seamers are likely to contribute at some stage. Time, then, to unleash the rockets.
Ashes series in Australia 2025-26
All times UK and Ireland
– First Test: Friday November 21 – Tuesday November 25 (2.30am) – Optus Stadium, Perth
– Second Test (day/night): Thursday December 4 – Monday December 8 (4.30am) – The Gabba, Brisbane
– Third Test: Wednesday December 17 – Sunday December 21 (12am) – Adelaide Oval
– Fourth Test: Thursday December 25 – Monday December 29 (11.30pm) – Melbourne Cricket Ground
– Fifth Test: Sunday January 4 – Thursday January 8 (11.30pm) – Sydney Cricket Ground