Archive October 3, 2025

It’s not often England land in Australia for an Ashes series with a more settled top order than their hosts.

Yet such is England’s planning for this winter, they head down under with a top six that has, for the most part, stayed together ever since head coach Brendon McCullum took charge.

Australia do not have such luxuries: they have struggled to find somebody to replace opener David Warner, while number three has been a problem position for a while.

It’s been more than two years since an Australian scored a Test century at first drop: Marnus Labuschagne’s 111 against England at Old Trafford in the most recent Ashes series.

“It doesn’t strike me like the batting line-ups I came up against,” said former England spinner Phil Tufnell.

“All great sides have a solid opening partnership with a number three who is the best player in the side.

“If England can get the wood over that opening partnership, it doesn’t half make a difference. This is a slightly vulnerable batting line-up.”

It means places are up for grabs, certainly in the top three, when the Sheffield Shield, Australia’s four-day state competition, begins overnight.

Khawaja, who is set to play in his seventh Ashes series, will turn 39 during the third Test but is seen as the glue at the top of the Australian batting order.

While not as prolific in recent years, he started the year by scoring a double century against Sri Lanka in Galle to underline his status as Australia’s leading player against spin.

Travis Head, Steve Smith, Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney and Labuschagne have all been tried as openers but none have proven to be successful enough to stay there.

Head and Smith are now back in more familiar middle-order roles and will be expected to score big runs against England, while 20-year-old Konstas averaged just 8.33 in three Tests against West Indies after a promising start to his Test career against India last winter.

A century for Australia A earlier this month may boost Konstas’ claim.

But if not Konstas, then who?

This is where we start throwing out more familiar names from Ashes past: the likes of Cameron Bancroft and Matthew Renshaw. Another option would be uncapped 30-year-old Jake Weatherald, who crunched 183 in a high-scoring draw against Sri Lanka A in July.

Former Australia wicketkeeper Ryan Campbell, however, would go left-field and select Leeds-born Josh Inglis, who has batted in the middle order in his previous three Tests.

“Since Warner’s gone, we have lost mojo at the top of the order,” said Campbell.

“I would go with Josh Inglis, who bats down the order but has opened in T20 cricket and has opened as a youngster.

“I was lucky enough to see him as a 14-year-old at my club and I know he’s from England but he speaks good Aussie now.

“He attacks and when Australia play well, we attack and don’t just defend.

“If you’re going to take a gamble on someone, here’s a kid who has played lots of international cricket. Yes, he’s batted a bit down the order but he’s got a beautiful technique and can whack it.”

Interestingly, only two batters – current Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey and Jason Sangha – averaged more than Inglis’ 72.6 for Western Australia in the Shield last season.

In Perth, albeit at the Waca and not the Optus Stadium, where the first Test will be held, Inglis averaged 99 and scored heavily square of the wicket (22% either side).

With Steve Smith at number four and Travis Head at five, Australia look to have a solid and stable engine room.

However, they are yet to find an established number three who can soak up pressure or build on a dominant foundation.

After a run-laden start to his career, Labuschagne, 31, appears to have dropped out of favour, though a good start to the domestic season could change his fortunes.

McSweeney, who made his Test debut as an opener against India last winter before being replaced by Konstas, appears the man the selectors fancy given he batted there in the recent India A series.

The 26-year-old right-hander impressed in the second of the two-match series, which India won 1-0, with scores of 74 and 85 not out.

He could, of course, be considered as an opener too. That would open the door for the likes of Marcus Harris, who scored more than 1,000 runs for Lancashire in the second division of the County Championship this summer at an average of 60.

Perhaps the most likely candidate to step up is all-rounder Cameron Green, which would allow Australia to also play Beau Webster at six – boosting their seam-bowling options and taking some of the pressure off the likes of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, who may all be playing their final Ashes series.

Green, 26, averaged more than 50 in 2024 and is approaching his best years with 32 caps to his name.

“I think Cameron Green is an amazing cricketer,” said Campbell. “Once he starts bowling again, he adds another dimension for Australia.”

Green batted at first drop in the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s, and then in three Tests against West Indies this summer.

On difficult pitches, he impressed in the Caribbean, passing 40 in three of his five innings.

If we look at individual batting records in the Sheffield Shield last summer on Test grounds in Australia (Adelaide Oval, Gabba, MCG and SCG), 32-year-old Kurtis Patterson (383 runs at 63.8) stands out for runs scored, with the highest average belonging to Queensland’s uncapped left-hander Jack Clayton (285 runs at 71.3).

It’s not often England land in Australia for an Ashes series with a more settled top order than their hosts.

Yet such is England’s planning for this winter, they head down under with a top six that has, for the most part, stayed together ever since head coach Brendon McCullum took charge.

Australia do not have such luxuries: they have struggled to find somebody to replace opener David Warner, while number three has been a problem position for a while.

It’s been more than two years since an Australian scored a Test century at first drop: Marnus Labuschagne’s 111 against England at Old Trafford in the most recent Ashes series.

“It doesn’t strike me like the batting line-ups I came up against,” said former England spinner Phil Tufnell.

“All great sides have a solid opening partnership with a number three who is the best player in the side.

“If England can get the wood over that opening partnership, it doesn’t half make a difference. This is a slightly vulnerable batting line-up.”

It means places are up for grabs, certainly in the top three, when the Sheffield Shield, Australia’s four-day state competition, begins overnight.

Khawaja, who is set to play in his seventh Ashes series, will turn 39 during the third Test but is seen as the glue at the top of the Australian batting order.

While not as prolific in recent years, he started the year by scoring a double century against Sri Lanka in Galle to underline his status as Australia’s leading player against spin.

Travis Head, Steve Smith, Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney and Labuschagne have all been tried as openers but none have proven to be successful enough to stay there.

Head and Smith are now back in more familiar middle-order roles and will be expected to score big runs against England, while 20-year-old Konstas averaged just 8.33 in three Tests against West Indies after a promising start to his Test career against India last winter.

A century for Australia A earlier this month may boost Konstas’ claim.

But if not Konstas, then who?

This is where we start throwing out more familiar names from Ashes past: the likes of Cameron Bancroft and Matthew Renshaw. Another option would be uncapped 30-year-old Jake Weatherald, who crunched 183 in a high-scoring draw against Sri Lanka A in July.

Former Australia wicketkeeper Ryan Campbell, however, would go left-field and select Leeds-born Josh Inglis, who has batted in the middle order in his previous three Tests.

“Since Warner’s gone, we have lost mojo at the top of the order,” said Campbell.

“I would go with Josh Inglis, who bats down the order but has opened in T20 cricket and has opened as a youngster.

“I was lucky enough to see him as a 14-year-old at my club and I know he’s from England but he speaks good Aussie now.

“He attacks and when Australia play well, we attack and don’t just defend.

“If you’re going to take a gamble on someone, here’s a kid who has played lots of international cricket. Yes, he’s batted a bit down the order but he’s got a beautiful technique and can whack it.”

Interestingly, only two batters – current Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey and Jason Sangha – averaged more than Inglis’ 72.6 for Western Australia in the Shield last season.

In Perth, albeit at the Waca and not the Optus Stadium, where the first Test will be held, Inglis averaged 99 and scored heavily square of the wicket (22% either side).

With Steve Smith at number four and Travis Head at five, Australia look to have a solid and stable engine room.

However, they are yet to find an established number three who can soak up pressure or build on a dominant foundation.

After a run-laden start to his career, Labuschagne, 31, appears to have dropped out of favour, though a good start to the domestic season could change his fortunes.

McSweeney, who made his Test debut as an opener against India last winter before being replaced by Konstas, appears the man the selectors fancy given he batted there in the recent India A series.

The 26-year-old right-hander impressed in the second of the two-match series, which India won 1-0, with scores of 74 and 85 not out.

He could, of course, be considered as an opener too. That would open the door for the likes of Marcus Harris, who scored more than 1,000 runs for Lancashire in the second division of the County Championship this summer at an average of 60.

Perhaps the most likely candidate to step up is all-rounder Cameron Green, which would allow Australia to also play Beau Webster at six – boosting their seam-bowling options and taking some of the pressure off the likes of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, who may all be playing their final Ashes series.

Green, 26, averaged more than 50 in 2024 and is approaching his best years with 32 caps to his name.

“I think Cameron Green is an amazing cricketer,” said Campbell. “Once he starts bowling again, he adds another dimension for Australia.”

Green batted at first drop in the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s, and then in three Tests against West Indies this summer.

On difficult pitches, he impressed in the Caribbean, passing 40 in three of his five innings.

If we look at individual batting records in the Sheffield Shield last summer on Test grounds in Australia (Adelaide Oval, Gabba, MCG and SCG), 32-year-old Kurtis Patterson (383 runs at 63.8) stands out for runs scored, with the highest average belonging to Queensland’s uncapped left-hander Jack Clayton (285 runs at 71.3).

Sonay Kartal says she is “on the right path” to break into the world top 10 after her China Open run came to an end.

The British number four lost 6-3 6-4 to Linda Noskova as she exited at the quarter-final stage in Beijing.

The 23-year-old battled past world number five Mirra Andreeva in the previous round to claim the biggest scalp of her career.

And, despite coming unstuck against Noskova, the world number 81 says she can continue to climb the rankings.

“The scoreline was closer than it felt like playing,” said Kartal.

“I’m not not overly pleased with the performance today, but regardless I had an incredible week.

“I think I’m on the right path. I think it’s given me a lot of confidence.

Kartal lost her serve three times in the first set as she struggled to settle in against her Czech opponent.

She improved in the second set, breaking Noskova’s serve to go 2-0 up.

But Noskova hit back to set up a semi-final match against Jessica Pegula.

Sonay Kartal says she is “on the right path” to break into the world top 10 after her China Open run came to an end.

The British number four lost 6-3 6-4 to Linda Noskova as she exited at the quarter-final stage in Beijing.

The 23-year-old battled past world number five Mirra Andreeva in the previous round to claim the biggest scalp of her career.

And, despite coming unstuck against Noskova, the world number 81 says she can continue to climb the rankings.

“The scoreline was closer than it felt like playing,” said Kartal.

“I’m not not overly pleased with the performance today, but regardless I had an incredible week.

“I think I’m on the right path. I think it’s given me a lot of confidence.

Kartal lost her serve three times in the first set as she struggled to settle in against her Czech opponent.

She improved in the second set, breaking Noskova’s serve to go 2-0 up.

But Noskova hit back to set up a semi-final match against Jessica Pegula.

ICC Women’s World Cup, Guwahati

South Africa 69 (20.4 overs): Jafta 22 (36); Smith 3-7

England 73-0 (14.1 overs): Jones 40* (50), Beaumont 21* (35)

England won by 10 wickets

England bowled South Africa out for just 69 as they made a winning start to their Women’s World Cup campaign with a ruthless 10-wicket thrashing in Guwahati.

Left-arm spinner Linsey Smith was the pick of the bowlers with 3-7, claiming the prized wickets of Laura Wolvaardt, in-form opener Tazmin Brits and Marizanne Kapp.

Sinalo Jafta was the only batter to reach double figures in a dismal batting performance which saw the Proteas bundled out for their third-lowest ODI total in just 20.4 overs.

Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt took 2-5 in her first competitive bowling spell since the Ashes, while spinners Sophie Ecclestone and Charlie Dean also picked up two wickets apiece.

Amy Jones and Tammy Beaumont then cruised to their target in 14.1 overs, having started somewhat cautiously on a tricky surface, finishing with 40 and 21 respectively.

It was a bizarre performance from South Africa on a pitch that offered a little assistance to the spinners, but far from anything extravagant, as they simply had no answers to England’s consistency.

Captain Wolvaardt was caught and bowled for five in the second over, Brits and Kapp were bowled for five and four respectively, and Sune Luus was cleaned up by Lauren Bell.

Sciver-Brunt trapped Anneke Bosch lbw with her first ball as South Africa stuttered to 38-5 after the 10-over powerplay before Dean and Ecclestone comfortably cleaned up the middle and lower order.

After the Ashes demolition at the start of the year and series defeats against India in the summer, England needed a strong start to their first major challenge under the leadership of Sciver-Brunt and Charlotte Edwards.

They delivered with a statement win, crushing their below-par opponents which was magnificently set up by Smith.

Bell had the unenviable task of opening the bowling in high humidity and conceded a couple of boundaries in her first over, but Smith immediately dragged things back as Wolvaardt chipped the ball straight back to her as it seemed to stick in the pitch – an immediate indication that England had read the conditions right with a spin-heavy attack while South Africa prioritised pace.

Smith was relentless with her consistency and was rewarded by bowling the in-form Brits and star all-rounder Kapp with balls that drifted through their defences.

There was a question mark over Sciver-Brunt, who has been easing her way back to bowling fitness after an Achilles problem, but she immediately silenced those doubts with Bosch trapped by a ball that stayed a little low while Chloe Tryon fell to a soft dismissal, plinking one to Alice Capsey at mid-wicket.

South Africa’s performance was indicative of an inconsistent batting surface, but England’s openers showed patience and discipline to prove that runs were possible.

Chasing such a low total meant their net run-rate would be boosted regardless of how hard they attacked, and there were very few risks taken as they negotiated the experienced Kapp in the opening spell.

Part-time spinner Tryon opened from the other end, suggesting South Africa were acknowledging they had made a mistake with their selection.

Jones and Beaumont reunited at the top of the order at the beginning of the summer and started exceptionally with back-to-back stands of more than 200 against West Indies before some struggles against a superior India, so a 10-wicket win is a welcome boost of confidence for the duo.

Beaumont was far from her best on the uneven surface, but she was able to rein in her attacking instincts by rotating the strike effectively with the more fluent Jones, who played strongly down the ground and used her feet effectively to the spinners, a lesson to the Proteas batters who were repeatedly trapped on the crease.

England spinner and player of the match Linsey Smith: “I am really delighted with how we did. [Opening the bowling] was a tough challenge but the conditions suited me and I am proud I did well. I try to keep the stumps in play and it came off today.

“There is huge talent in the squad. We all offer different parts of the game so we can keep learning and growing as a unit.”

England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt: “Massively pleased. Everyone was really on it in the field. A few first-ball wickets as well. A captain’s dream.

“Linsey Smith stuck to her strengths. She can swing the ball and we knew she was a good match-up being a left-hander. It was really crucial to break that opening partnership and she was perfect for that.”

South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt: “It is not the way we wanted to start the tournament.