Several familiar names are absent from England’s Ashes pace pool: James Anderson and Stuart Broad have retired, while Chris Woakes, Ollie Robinson and Sam Cook are not in the picture. In their place England will rely on a unit built for speed: Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse, Ben Stokes and Matthew Potts.
Six of those seven seamers have hit 90mph or more in Tests; Potts is the exception. That emphasis on raw pace underpins what has been dubbed ‘Operation Ashes’ — a deliberate shift after Anderson’s earlier-than-expected exit in summer 2024. England have struggled in Australia in recent years (no series wins there since 2010/11 and only two draws in 15 Tests), and selectors appear to have concluded that a quicker, more intimidating attack is the best response to the hard, true surfaces down under.
Mark Wood remains England’s quickest option when fully fit. He injected real venom into the 2021/22 tour, taking 17 wickets in four Tests after missing the opener, and with his hamstring concern easing he looks set to partner Jofra Archer in a pace-heavy five-man attack for the likely fiery Perth start. Wood’s recent success against Marnus Labuschagne — dismissing him five times in seven Tests — gives England a specific weapon, while Archer’s ability to unsettle top-order batters (notably his 2019 impact on Steve Smith) and his pronounced effectiveness against left-handers make him central to the plan.
Gus Atkinson has taken on regular new-ball duties and, in his 13 Tests to date, has taken 63 wickets at an average of 22.01. He combines genuine speed with accuracy and the ability to find seam movement. Josh Tongue is the more mercurial option: volatile but electric, capable of delivering both ordinary balls and match-turning strikes. He moves the ball and has a reputation for cleaning up tailenders — a useful trait given England’s recent difficulty finishing opposition lower orders.
Brydon Carse is something of an away specialist. His home-season figures with the Dukes were modest, but he has thrived with the Kookaburra overseas: 18 wickets in three Tests in New Zealand at 17.61 and nine in two Tests in Pakistan at 24.33. England captain Ben Stokes has described Carse as “three bowlers in one,” noting his capacity to bowl short, act as an enforcer, and also be a consistent wicket-taker with tidy economy.
There is also a role for subtler movement. Australia’s captain has suggested pitches may be offering more seam and nip than in past years, which could favour bowlers who can extract late movement rather than just sheer pace. That niche might be filled by Potts, Carse or by Stokes himself. Potts looks a likely candidate for the Brisbane day-night Test in December, but Stokes — who can generate pace and late swing and is capable of long spells — remains the go-to option when conditions call for control and movement.
Stokes was England’s standout bowler at home in the summer, taking 20 wickets in five Tests (including one versus Zimbabwe and four versus India) at an average of 24.05. His braced front knee allows him to combine pace, control and movement, and he is willing to shoulder heavy workloads when required. Fitness, however, is a recurring concern across this attack: Stokes has battled shoulder and hamstring issues, Wood has not played a Test in 15 months, and Archer has managed only two Tests since February 2021 despite looking robust in his recent comeback.
Fast bowling at this level is physically demanding, and England appear content to prioritise speed even if it brings greater rotation and workload management. That mindset explains moving on from Anderson, the omission of Cook despite his Kookaburra experience, and Robinson’s absence amid fitness questions. Expect rotation through the series: with so much uncertainty, most of the seam options are likely to be used at some stage.
In short, England will try to win back the initiative in Australia by unleashing pace and aggression. Whether the gamble on express bowling pays off will depend on fitness, pitch behaviour and the ability of a relatively new-look seam group to maintain intensity across a long tour.
Ashes series in Australia 2025-26 (UK and Ireland times)
– 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