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Former Australian spinner Steve O’Keefe has predicted that Ben Stokes-led England will end their win drought in Australian soil and win the upcoming Ashes 2025-26 by 3-2. While Australia have got an experienced pace attack even though Pat Cummins is injured, O'Keefe lauded England's current pace attack.
“Don’t miss the mail here, I’m calling it - England (to win) 3-2. I’m saying that the Aussies are going to get dusted on their home track. They’ve got some great quicks in Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue, just to name a few," stated O'Keefe, as quoted by Fox Cricket.
O’Keefe recalled the Ashes 2010 when England outclasses Australia and won the Ashes. The 40-year-old compared the current England team to the one that toured Australia 15 years ago, saying they are good enough.
“I just think that they are ready, they’ve got the right attack this time. They used to bring over some players, and you just never had that feeling that they were ever close or good enough. They were the superior team when they beat us twice before in the past. In 2010, they had the better team. This time, you could argue and say that they don’t, but I’m just saying it’s the right team in the right form to come over. I just think that the timing is right. It’s been 15 years since 2010," he added.
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Wickets to be flatter in Australia?
O'Keefe also predicted that the wickets are going to be flatter this time around which will help England batters, especially an in-form Joe Root to dominate the proceedings.
"Joe Root’s in the form of his life. Couple that with Harry Brook, Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley. I think the wickets will be flatter and they are going to look to wreak havoc against this Australian attack and take them on, and I think that’s what’s going to put pressure on the Aussies, and ultimately, I think they’ll fail under that pressure. What they’ve got is repeated fast-bowling options, there’s no let-off, and they are going to challenge this Australian team,” concluded the former left-arm spinner.
Question mark over Cummins for 2nd Test too
Australia will be without Cummins and Steve Smith will lead them in the opening Test of the series in Perth, starting November 21. It is yet to be seen whether Cummins will be available for the second Test at The Gabba, Brisbane, starting December 4.
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