Former Australia head coach Darren Lehmann believes his nation will beat England in The Ashes, saying Bazball is not going to work on spicy pitches towards a robust bowling assault.
Ben Stokes’ vacationers will probably be seeking to win The Ashes away from dwelling for the primary time since 2010/11 after they go to Australia from November 2025 to January 2026.
England have misplaced 13 and drawn two of their 15 Checks in Australia since that Andrew Strauss-led triumph however there may be optimism the front-foot type of play instilled by Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum, dubbed Bazball, can finish that barren run.
Nevertheless, Lehmann – who’s now head coach at Northamptonshire in county cricket – expects his nation to defeat England once more, feeling the vacationers’ philosophy is not going to stand as much as the “pressures” of an Ashes sequence and a bowling unit set to comprise Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon.
The 55-year-old informed Sky Sports activities Information: “England have been exciting to watch, a joy. For me, will they win The Ashes? I don’t think so but that’s just me being an Aussie.”
‘Bazball does not work on pitches that do a bit’
In 2024, England misplaced 4-1 in India earlier than dwelling sequence victories over West Indies and Sri Lanka had been adopted by a 2-1 defeat in Pakistan and a 2-1 success in New Zealand.
Lehmann, Australia coach between 2013 and 2018, added: “They’re nicely led by these two [Stokes and McCullum]. They’ve had a little bit of a hiccup of late with Bazball, have not received too many video games, so that may be a problem.
“Are they a chance to win The Ashes? They have a chance but they will have to play very well. They haven’t won a Test in Australia for something like 15 years, so it will need a big turnaround.
Australia swept Sri Lanka 2-0 on the street in January after beating India at dwelling
“It is something they could do if they get on a bit of a roll but I just think the bowling attack Australia put out there and on the wickets we play will be a real contest for them.
“Bazball has been wonderful and works on flat wickets however as quickly because the wicket does something it does not actually work.
“I haven’t seen it work on a wicket that does something and in Australia the wickets will do a bit. I can’t see it performing under that sort of pressure in the Ashes.”
Lehmann: England will dominate dwelling summer season
England play India in a five-Check sequence at dwelling forward of The Ashes, beginning at Headingley on June 20, after a four-day recreation towards Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge from Might 22.
England ended their Check 12 months in 2024 with a 2-1 sequence victory in New Zealand
McCullum’s males additionally face white-ball assignments versus West Indies and South Africa as they give the impression of being to rebound from a group-stage exit on the Champions Trophy in Pakistan this winter.
Lehmann expects England to get pleasure from an unbeaten summer season on dwelling turf, including: “India are a very good cricket team but England will win at home. That’s just what happens.
“I believe they’ll dominate the summer season and put loads of inquiries to mattress – then get to Australia the place the true questions begin.
“They will bounce back as a one-day side and I don’t think they will lose a game this summer.”
