Australia vs England 1st Ashes Test Preview & Tips - Australia backed for victory over England in 1st Ashes Test

Ben Darvill

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Last updated: 20 Nov 2025

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Ben Darvill 20 Nov 2025

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Australia have won their last three Test matches
Steve Smith is averaging 53.68 in Tests
Preview, stats & head to head

Steven Smith of Australia (Getty Images)

Australia vs England 1st Ashes Test Preview & Tips
Head To Head
Australia Form
England Form

Australia vs England 1st Ashes Test Preview & Tips

Australia arrive as the favourites to secure the bragging rights in the first Ashes Test despite coming into the match missing a number of big names.

England have as good a chance as many can remember to win the first Test against the Aussies down under, with the tourists looking to land a decisive blow in game one.

Australia have won eight of their last 10 Tests (L1, D1)
Steve Smith is averaging 51.50 in Tests in 2025

Head To Head

Australia have beaten England in six of their last 10 Test match meetings, with England winning twice and two games ending as draws.

Australia Form

Australia head into the 2025/26 Ashes series as the holders of the urn and the number one ranked men's Test team on the planet.

However, not all is well in the Australian camp. The lack of a long-term replacement for David Warner means Marnus Labuschagne, who was dropped due to poor form, may be deployed as an emergency opener, with this a position he has struggled in in the past.

Captain Pat Cummins is missing for the first Test, while Josh Hazlewood is also ruled out. Missing the fourth and fifth best men's Test bowlers for an opening Ashes Test is far from ideal, and it piles to pressure on other senior bowlers like Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc to perform where others might struggle.

Despite Australia arriving have to reshuffle their line-up, they will be confident. England have failed to win a single Test in Australia across their last three attempts. In this time, they have lost 5-0, 4-0 and 4-0. England have not travelled well in Ashes series, meaning they will be desperate to start well as they look to win a match in Australia for the first time since the 2010/11 Ashes series.

Despite this, I do not back England to win this one. Australia currently boast a 13-0 aggregate score over their last three Ashes series in Australia, and I believe they will extend their impressive run. Steve Smith will likely be the man the home side turn to with the bat, and I back him to improve on his already very impressive average of 56.03 as he goes well with the bat.

England Form

England arrive for the first Test against Australia with no Test match experience under their belts since India beat them by six runs back in August. While the Aussies are also without much Test experience over the last few months, this is more of a worry for England heading into this one.

English teams tend to struggle when touring Australia, with the pitches often proving their undoing. The hot and dry weather helps to ensure the tracks are usually hard and fast, which often plays into the hands of the Aussie bowlers. Meanwhile, having a player like Nathan Lyon to extract any amount of turn on the pitch has often proved the difference between the sides. With a lack of real playing time against quality opposition on these Aussies pitches, I worry for the touring side.

Of course, anything could happen. In Joe Root, England have a man in stunning form, while Ben Stokes will likely give his entire being to help England extract an extra run or wicket. The pace bowling options of Mark Wood, Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson all come together to give England some real bite with the ball. However, England have often let one bad session turn into two, which snowballs into a day, and before they know it, the Test is gone.

The pair are very evenly-matched, and this one could genuinely go either way. However, with home advantage and a big psychological advantage on their own patch against England, I am backing the Aussies to go 1-0 up in the five-game series.

Verdict

Australia v England 1st Ashes Test

I am backing Steve Smith to do what he does best as he goes beyond 50 runs scored in a big win for the home side.

Australia

Match Winner

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Steve Smith

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