As the cricketing world turns its eyes toward the much-anticipated Ashes series, England finds itself navigating a crucial period of transition, selection dilemmas, and a hunger to reclaim the urn after a decade-long drought. The upcoming series in Australia, set to begin on November 21, 2025, in Perth, promises to be a cauldron of intensity, leadership intrigue, and bold strategic choices.
England’s preparations for the Ashes have been anything but ordinary. Following a rain-affected T20I series against South Africa that ended 1-1 at Trent Bridge, head coach Brendon McCullum dropped a significant hint: Harry Brook, the dynamic Yorkshire batter and white-ball captain, could replace Ollie Pope as Test vice-captain. The news, delivered with McCullum’s trademark candor, has set tongues wagging across the English cricket community. “Harry Brook is emerging as a leader within English cricket, so that’s something we need to work out,” McCullum told reporters. “We will chat about that over the coming days, as we finalise our Ashes squad.”
Brook’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric. Since taking the reins as white-ball captain earlier in 2025, he’s impressed not just with bat in hand, but with his ability to galvanize teammates. McCullum was effusive in his praise: “I’ve enjoyed working with Brooky. He’s taken to the role really well, really quickly.” It’s this quick adaptation and the connections he’s forged within the squad that have made Brook a serious contender for the vice-captaincy, a role currently held by Ollie Pope.
Pope, for his part, boasts a solid record: five Tests as captain, three wins, two losses, and an average of 41.60 batting at number three under Ben Stokes. The Surrey man’s leadership has been steady, but the emergence of young gun Jacob Bethell has created selection headaches for England’s top order. With Bethell pushing for a spot, the selectors have some tough calls ahead as they look to build a team capable of toppling Australia on their own turf.
Leadership, however, is about more than titles, as McCullum was quick to point out. “A great team man understands that just because you haven’t got a title, doesn’t stop you from being a leader,” he said. It’s a sentiment that’s sure to resonate with a squad brimming with both established stars and hungry newcomers.
As the dust settles on the T20I series, attention turns to the practicalities of squad selection. McCullum, exuding the relaxed confidence that has become his hallmark, believes that picking the Ashes squad will be “straightforward.” The main debates? Choosing a backup spinner to Shoaib Bashir and finalizing the pace bowling group. England may take as many as seven fast bowlers to Australia, a nod to the grueling nature of a five-Test series Down Under. Mark Wood’s fitness remains a concern—after knee surgery in March, the Durham speedster is unlikely to play any competitive cricket before the first Test in Perth.
Pope’s versatility comes into play here as well. He’ll serve as backup wicketkeeper to Jamie Smith, meaning England can forgo a specialist deputy and instead bolster other areas of the squad. The concurrent England Lions tour of Australia, led by Andrew Flintoff, offers additional cover if injuries strike.
For McCullum, this will be his first Ashes series as England coach, and his excitement is palpable. “It’s going to be a ripper,” he beamed. “We go down there with the type of team that we want. We’ll give ourselves every chance against a very good Australian side in their own conditions.”
England’s ambitions are clear: win back the Ashes urn for the first time in a decade, and end a barren run in Australia stretching back to the 2010/11 series. The last three tours have been painful—one 5-0 thrashing and two 4-0 defeats. But McCullum is undeterred. “Now the Ashes is our next assignment in the Test team, we can’t wait. It’s going to be awesome. Ramp it up now, we’re ready to go.”
Preparation is always a talking point, and England’s approach this year is unconventional. While some have questioned the wisdom of having just one official warm-up—a three-day match against the England Lions—McCullum is satisfied. “If someone gave me a perfect preparation and said ‘if you follow this you’re going to win 5-0, well, we’ll do it’. But that doesn’t exist, so you’ve got to have conviction in how you think you can prepare guys and the team in itself.” He pointed to his record: “Over the last three years since I’ve been here, we’ve won every first Test of every Test series away, following the exact preparation we’re going to follow. It doesn’t guarantee us anything, but it’s the familiarity with that preparation which gives us a chance.”
England’s white-ball series against Ireland and New Zealand in the lead-up to the Ashes will help keep players sharp, with the T20 and ODI matches in New Zealand forming part of the overall preparation. McCullum has also hinted that one or two additional players may be brought in to ensure everyone is “cherry ripe” before the first ball is bowled in Perth. “We will also use the Lions set up as well to sure we get some loading into some guys when we all meet together in Perth. We’ll finish our preparation with our warm-up game and look forward to it.”
One of the most intriguing subplots involves Shoaib Bashir, England’s first-choice Test spinner. Despite being fit again after a finger injury, the 21-year-old was left out of Somerset’s playing XI for their penultimate County Championship match against Hampshire. Bashir has struggled for county opportunities, spending time on loan at Glamorgan and seeing his path at Somerset blocked by Jack Leach and Archie Vaughan. His contract with Somerset is set to expire at the end of the season, with Surrey and Worcestershire rumored to be interested in his services.
Bashir’s county record is modest—18 wickets from 14 games—but his international impact has been significant. He took 19 wickets in four Tests during England’s home summer and has been McCullum’s preferred spinner for over a year. The coach hasn’t hidden his frustration over Bashir’s lack of county playing time, once describing it as “slightly mad” not to give him and fellow spin debutant Tom Hartley more opportunities.
As England prepares to announce its Ashes squad in the week beginning September 22, all eyes will be on the leadership decision, the final bowling lineup, and the fate of players like Bashir. The leadership group—whether featuring Brook, Pope, or both—will face its toughest challenge yet in the hostile arenas of Australian cricket. With a blend of emerging stars and experienced campaigners, England believes it has the formula to challenge the reigning champions and perhaps, just perhaps, bring the urn home after all these years.
With anticipation building and questions swirling, England’s Ashes journey is about to begin in earnest. The squad’s final shape, the leadership baton, and the fortunes of players on the fringes will all come into sharp focus as the countdown to Perth continues. The stage is set for a classic contest—one that could define a generation of English cricket.
