England's potential for success in the Ashes largely relies on Duckett and Crawley, according to Ponting
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has expressed his belief that England openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett could play a pivotal role in the upcoming 2025-26 Ashes series.
Ponting, who was commentating during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England last month, highlighted the aggressive and effective opening stands of Crawley and Duckett. He pointed to their performance at The Oval, where they put on 92 runs at more than a run-a-ball in England's first innings, as a testament to their ability to unsettle Australia's bowlers.
According to Ponting, if Crawley and Duckett can bat "really well at the top and set things up," they will provide a crucial platform for England throughout the series, giving them a good chance to challenge Australia on their home turf. He also noted their impressive statistical record, with the pair having scored over 2,000 Test runs since the McCullum-Stokes era began, maintaining an average of around 46.5.
Meanwhile, there is some uncertainty in Australia’s batting order, especially at the top. This could be advantageous for Crawley and Duckett if they capitalize on it early on.
In the Australian squad, Beau Webster's inclusion reduces the need for Cameron Green as much as before. However, Green, who bats at number three, is back in the side and is bowling again, but it's unclear how much he'll be relied upon. Marnus Labuschagne is a potential candidate to open for Australia if other top-order batters struggle in the early rounds of Sheffield Shield cricket.
There has been speculation about England’s bowling attack for the 2025-26 Ashes, with some suggesting a frontline spinner may not be required. However, no specific frontline spinner has been identified yet.
England's coaches and captain want Crawley and Duckett to continue playing in a similar manner during the 2025-26 Ashes, as their aggressive approach can help England put immediate pressure on the bowling side.
For those interested in the England vs India series, live streaming details can be found on our website, which also provides updates, latest news, team lineups, schedule, and quizzes for the series.
[1] [Source 1] [3] [Source 3]
Sports experts critique Australia's top-order batting instability, offering a potential advantage to England openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, as they showcase their timely runs and unsettling performance against Australia's bowlers. If Crawley and Duckett continue their aggressive style in the 2025-26 Ashes series, it could provide England with a critical edge in challenging Australia on their home grounds.
