The Ashes 2025-26 opener is still over a week away but the war of words has become intense. While Australia’s pace attack seems to be depleted in absence of skipper Pat Cummins and Sean Abbott for Perth Test, stand-in skipper Steve Smith believes England’s pace battery is fast but not ideal for the conditions. Smith said that the England selectors and team management may have got it wrong.
"Those sort of nibblers can be quite tricky," Smith told the reporters on November 13. "So they might have got things the wrong way around, if that makes sense, in terms of the pace from previous years.
"But obviously they've got those guys at their disposal now. They probably weren't fit, ready or old enough a few years back."
On a lighter note, Smith said that the Australia wickets might as well "have branches hanging off them". Smith believes that pacers who are a little slower may pose a harder challenge on these tracks.
"If you can do both, that's a good skill," Smith said. "But sometimes the slower guys are almost harder to play on those wickets where you have to make the pace.
"It's going to be different. But I think we've got plenty of players that play fast bowling well, and it's going to be a good challenge."
England's pace attack consists of Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse. England skipper Stokes is capable of bowling at good pace as well and his contribution will be crucial. But they are missing the likes of James Anderson and Chris Woakes who can trouble the batters with swing. Among the current lineup, Tongue is closer to that league.
Injury scare for England
Meanwhile, Wood had an injury scare during an intra-squad match. He experienced stiffness in his left hamstring and was sent for precautionary scans. He bowled two four-over spells against England Lions at Lilac Hill on comeback after injury to left knee. He had missed the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 as well.
"The plan for Mark Wood was for him to bowl eight overs today," an ECB statement said. "He has some stiffness in his hamstring, which has kept him off the field for some time during the second session of the first day and will undergo a precautionary scan tomorrow.
"He is expected to bowl again in two days' time. It is unlikely he will return to the field today."