No James Anderson (retired). Stuart Broad (retired) is not available. There is no Chris Woakes (retired). No Olly Robinson (ignored). No Sam Cooke (overlooked).
He is not part of England’s Ash pace bowling cartel, which includes Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue, Brydon Kearse, Ben Stokes and Matthew Potts.
Six of these seven seamers have clocked speeds of over 90mph in Test cricket, with Potts being the only exception. This shows what England’s attacking mode is like. Right away.
That became clear when Anderson, the team’s all-time leading wicket-taker, was sent off earlier than he would have liked in the summer of 2024.
Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood and Brydon Curse (L-R) could have a big impact on this Ashes series
The call signaled the start of ‘Operation Ash’ with England, who have since crammed their speed units into a bid to break Australia’s dismal recent record.
Since winning the title overseas in 2010/11, they have had an appalling record of 13 defeats, 2 draws and 0 wins in 15 Tests in Australia.
Despite the skill of Anderson, Broad and others, the bowling line-up for the previous three series often looked lacking in venom on the hard, authentic Australian pitches.
But Wood brought the mean during a disastrous 4-0 defeat in 2021/22, picking up 17 wickets in four Tests after being left out in the opener. He remains England’s fastest bowler when at full rotation, but now has plenty of backups at stake for pace.
Wood could play in first Ashes Test after allaying health concerns over hamstring strain
The 35-year-old appears to be limited from taking part in the only warm-up due to a hamstring strain, but he and Archer are likely to be part of a five-man pace attack in Perth as the Ashes start on the spiciest pitch of the series.
England will be hoping that Wood can rough up Marnus Labuschagne as he has done in the past to dislodge a player who would have been Australia’s number three five times in seven Tests, and that Archer can make Steve Smith jump like he did on his Test series debut against Lord’s in 2019.
Archer then hit Smith on the head, leaving the batsman feeling like he had “drunk a dozen beers” and ruled him out of the next Test at Headingley under concussion protocol.
Archer’s stellar record against left-handers (21 of his 51 Test wickets so far in Test whites have come from southpaws despite far more deliveries to right-handers) could also be significant.
Australia could have up to five left-handed players in the top eight (Usman Khawaja, Jake Weatherald, Travis Head, Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc).
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Watch all of Archer’s deliveries from his first over in Test cricket against India last summer, including the wicket of Yashasvi Jaiswal
Atkinson, “The Three-in-One Bowler” and “The Mop”
Atkinson, who has taken on new-ball duties for England, has 63 wickets in 13 Tests as of 22:01. He has speed, is usually accurate, and can tuck the ball in, if not quite at the level of Wood or Archer.
Tongue can be erratic, but it’s also electric, mixing misplaced delivery with absolute jaffa, making him more than just a bouncer merchant.
He moves it too. Additionally, he has a talent for cleaning up the tail end, hence his nickname ‘The Mop’, something England have struggled with recently in Australia.
Kearse, on the other hand, could perhaps be classified as an away specialist.
Durham’s burly quick took nine wickets at 60.88 at Duke’s Bowl in the summer at home, but enjoyed success overseas with the Kingfishers last winter, taking 18 wickets in three Tests in New Zealand at 17.61 and in Pakistan taking nine wickets in two Tests at 24.33.
Kearse will be an option for England at various points in the game
Speaking in New Zealand in late 2024, England captain Stokes (more on his bowling later) called Kearse a “three-in-one bowler” and said: “We use him as an enforcer when we go to short pitches, but he also takes a lot of wickets and his economy rate is below three. He has the heart of a lion.”
Stokes will play a big role with the ball.
Pace will not be an issue for England in Australia this time around, but Smith has suggested the evolving nature of pitches at home means the ‘nibblers’, in his words, could have more of a say, so who could play that role for the tourists?
Potts, along with his Durham team-mates in Kearse and Stokes, could certainly be named for the day-night second Test in Brisbane from December 4, but if they can get on an attractive wicket, perhaps the captain will become England’s go-to man (he has taken various guises over the years).
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During the recent home series against India, Sky Sports’ Nasser Hussain and Suart Broad analyzed the evolution of England captain Ben Stokes’ bowling technique.
Stokes was the team’s best bowler this summer, taking 20 wickets at an average of 24.05 in five Tests (one against Zimbabwe, four against India), and was able to generate pace, control and extravagance thanks to a fixed front knee.
Like Stokes, he was ready to put in a marathon spell. I’m sure he would do the same if asked in Australia. And as with Stokes, and by extension Wood and Archer, fitness will be key. Every wince or grimace will make England fans nervous.
Stokes’ last competitive match was in July when he injured his shoulder. He also suffered two hamstring injuries in the second half of 2024. Wood’s last official match was in February. He hasn’t taken part in a test in 15 months. Archer has looked healthy since returning last summer, but has appeared in two Tests since February 2021.
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Stokes took six wickets on the Ashes’ first day of warm-up against the Lions at Lilac Hill
Bowling fast is hard work. But what England want is fast bowling.
That’s why they gave Anderson a pension, why they left out Cook despite having a decent record with the Kingfisher Ball at home and abroad, and probably one of the reasons why Robinson was let go (along with personality mismatches and fitness issues).
This is what the Pace Project is all about. The intensity of the Ashes series and the health history of some of the bowling pack means rotation is guaranteed and most, if not all, of the seamers will play that role. It’s time to fire the rocket.
Can Wood help England regain The Ashes?
Ashes Series in Australia 2025-26
always UK and Ireland
First Test: Friday 21st November – Tuesday 25th November (2.30am) – Optus Stadium, Perth Second Test (day/night): Thursday 4th December – Monday 8th December (4.30am) – The Gabba, Brisbane Third Test: Wednesday 17th December – Sunday 21st December (12am) – Adelaide Oval Fourth Test: Thursday 25th December – Monday 29th December (11.30pm) – Melbourne Cricket Ground Fifth Test: Sunday 4th January – Thursday 8th January (11.30pm) – Sydney Cricket Ground
