Australia or England? Monty Panesar predicts the scoreline of Ashes 2025–26

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With the Ashes 2025–26 just around the corner, former England spinner Monty Panesar has stirred debate by offering a bold prediction on how the five-match Test series will unfold. Set to begin on November 21 in Perth, the Ashes remains cricket’s most iconic and fiercely contested rivalry. As both teams prepare for another gruelling battle on Australian soil, Panesar believes England may hold the upper hand—especially given the current concerns surrounding Australia’s squad balance and form.

Speaking on SENWA Breakfast, Panesar openly addressed what he perceives as vulnerabilities in the Australian setup. With Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood ruled out due to injury concerns, Panesar suggested that Australia’s pace armoury looks slightly depleted compared to recent years.

“You look at Australia and there’s no Pat Cummins and no Josh Hazlewood. They’ve got an opener, which is a David Warner replacement, but we don’t know how he’s going to go about it,” Panesar said, referring to Australia’s transition at the top of the order following David Warner’s retirement.

Panesar also raised concerns about the form of veteran opener Usman Khawaja, who has struggled for consistency in the past couple of seasons.

“Usman Khawaja in the last couple of years, his record has not been great, let’s be honest,” he stated, suggesting that instability at the top could put Australia under early pressure.

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Panesar believes England have a genuine opportunity to dominate the opening exchanges of the series—something they have rarely done in Australia. He outlined how a strong start could shift momentum drastically in England’s favour.

“I just think England are on edge here. If England win the first Test match, they can win the series,” Panesar said confidently.

He expects England’s aggressive style under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum to be impactful on Australian pitches, especially in conditions that may favour fast, fearless cricket. Offering a detailed breakdown of his predicted scoreline, Panesar said he expects England to make early inroads before Australia hit back.

“I think they (England) will win at Brisbane, Adelaide will probably be Australia, Melbourne I think maybe Australia again,” Panesar predicted.

He believes the series could be tied 2–2 heading into the final Test in Sydney—setting the stage for a thrilling decider. Backing England’s young off-spinner Shoaib Bashir to shine in Sydney’s traditionally spin-friendly conditions, Panesar concluded that the visitors could clinch the series.

“If it’s two-all going into Sydney, it will be the battle of the spinners. And who knows, it could be just Shoaib Bashir coming into his own there. I believe it’ll be 3–2 or 3–1, England,” he said, making a bold call that has already sparked discussions among fans,” Panesar added further.

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