Michael Vaughan names his Ashes 2025-26 favourites (Source: @ICC/x.com, @newsflashhub/x.com)
As the cricket world is enjoying a thrilling Test series between India and the West Indies, the biggest showdown of Test cricket is coming back later this year. Another high-voltage edition of the Ashes is coming back to excite the world.
Even before the first ball is bowled, the buzz around the Test series is reaching fever pitch. As the two arch-rivals prepare to clash, former England captain Michael Vaughan has already named his favourites for the contest.
Vaughan reveals his favourite for the upcoming Ashes
The most exciting time of year is arriving as the biggest festival of Test cricket is coming up. In the next month, the high-voltage Ashes is coming back as the cricket world awaits to see the fierce rivalry between England and Australia. But before the series kicked off, Australia faced a massive blow as Pat Cummins was ruled out of the first Test of the series with a stress injury in his back.
After the massive blow, Cummins’ absence has become a major concern for the Aussies, but that has become a huge boost for the English side. Writing in his column for The Daily Telegraph, Michael Vaughan declared that Cummins’ injury has made England the clear favourites for the series.
“With the news of Pat Cummins’s injury sinking in, one or two will think England are now favourites this winter. I would not argue against that right at this moment, but I would also say be very wary,” Vaughan said.
Will Cummins make his return for the second Test?
After wrapping up the first Test in Perth, both sides will face each other in Brisbane. Australia will be hoping for Pat Cummins’ return after he missed the opener, but uncertainty looms. Speaking on the matter, Michael Vaughan expressed doubts over Cummins’ comeback, pointing out that the injury will need more time to heal.
“If you have a stress fracture and are not able to bowl on November 21 in Perth, how are you going to be fit for the second Test starting on December 5? A stress fracture requires careful management. As much as the Ashes matter, and the temptation to rush him back will be huge, Cummins has to realise there are other series down the line,” he said.
“If he misses this one, he still has a few years left in the game. The last thing he should do is go all out to play one or two Tests in this series and cause some long-term damage and miss a whole year,” he added.
Over the years, the cricket world has always celebrated the fierce rivalry between England and Australia, but in recent years, Australia has dominated. Since England’s last triumph in the 2011 Ashes on Australian soil, victory has eluded them. With the upcoming series set on Australian soil, England is now aiming to end the long wait and reclaim glory.
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