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WATCH: Field of Dreams finalistsShock call: Monty Panesar's bold Ashes prediction
SEN • November 18th, 2025 8:50 am
Former England spinner Monty Panesar is backing his country to win back the Ashes down under for the first time in 15 years.
Panesar, who himself played in two away Ashes series in both 2006/07 and 2013/14, expects this side to do far better than those touring parties which were whitewashed 5-0 on Aussie shores.
While the Australians haven’t lost a home Test to England since 2011, Panesar is liking the English due to the home side’s injury woes as well as their uncertain top order, which could see Jake Weatherald debut alongside Usman Khawaja in Perth.
Panesar also foresees the series being alive in the fifth and final Test in Sydney, where spin bowling could come into play.
While the Aussies have Nathan Lyon on their side, who has taken 562 Test wickets, Panesar can see 22-year-old English spinner Shoaib Bashir getting the better of the veteran on his home ground despite having just 68 Test wickets to his name at an average of 39.
“You look at Australia and there’s no Pat Cummins and no Josh Hazlewood,” Panesar said on SENWA Breakfast.
“They’ve got an opener, which is a David Warner replacement, but we don't know how he's going to go about it.
“Usman Khawaja in the last couple of years, his record has not been great, let's be honest.
“So, I just think England are on edge here, if England win the first Test match (they can win the series).
“I think they (England) will win at Brisbane, Adelaide will probably be Australia, Melbourne, I think maybe Australia again. 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, so I believe it'll be 3-2 or 3-1, England.”
While Panesar is backing England, he’s doing so with one caveat, that their bowling attack, including Mark Wood and Jofra Archer, stays fit throughout the series.
“I can hear a pin drop when I'm saying this, I feel like you guys just do not want to hear any positive vibes about this English team,” Panesar said.
“Look, this Australian team is good, let's be honest, but with Pat Cummins not there, they might struggle.
“An injury-free bowling line-up is what England would need. If they can have an injury-free bowling line-up, they have got every chance of winning the Ashes.”
The first Test between Australia and England begins in Perth on Friday, listen to every ball LIVE on SEN – your home of cricket.
