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There is a legion of fans in England, who hold the Ashes higher even than the World Cup. Amid all the white-ball and red-ball revolutions that have led the nation to multiple World Cups and a new-look approach in red-ball cricket, the urn has continued to elude them.
Ben Stokes and company managed to take the Australians to the brink during the last Ashes series at home by executing a stellar comeback. However, England's biggest Achilles heel has been Down Under. Ever since their iconic 2010 series win, England have been absolutely mauled in alien conditions.
Over the last three tours, England have failed to win even a single Test on Australian soil. A couple of draws is all they have been able to muster after being outplayed across all departments.
On that note, let us dissect England's recent decisions and performances to assess whether they are ready for the 2025 Ashes or not.
#1 Radical plans - Justified or way too early?
England were among the most stubborn teams in the early days of Bazball. They showed faith in players as they took their time to remodel their game to match the team's tempo. Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope have flourished in the top order, while Harry Brook's trajectory is also going along quite well. The likes of Jonny Bairstow and a few other players were given a decent long rope as well.
However, England have now kept the Ashes as their number-one priority and a flurry of important decisions have been taken all at once. James Anderson's retirement, Jamie Smith being the first-choice wicketkeeper, and Shoaib Bashir and Gus Atkinson's ascension into the bowling attack have all occurred in the blink of an eye.
For some, these changes seem warranted and perhaps even a long time coming. However, for others, it may just be viewed as something inconsequential from the Ashes' point of view since there is still a long way to go.
#2 Is the new-look England as commanding as it seems?
England made easy work of the West Indies to win the series by a 3-0 margin, but was as easy as it seems? Casting the first Test aside, England had moments where they were on the ropes and needed rescuing. In the second Test, England conceded a trial while in the final Test, they were reduced to 54/5 in the first innings.
West Indies, on account of their inexperience, allowed England to slip away. As a result, the hosts did not have to pay for their mistakes but had to admit that their 3-0 triumph was not as dominating as it appeared. Head coach Brendon McCullum himself admitted that the series could have gone anywhere at one stage.
Now similar mishaps on Australian soil will hardly go unpunished. The Down Under remains one of the most intimidating places in world cricket for visiting sides and teams need to be absolutely perfect to script history there. England, at the moment, are not that.
#3 Can England survive two months in Australia?
England can work on their skills, pick the right personnel, and be in the best touch possible. But all of it can fizzle out in a short time being in the hostile Australian atmosphere. The intimidating Australian crowd, the unforgiving Australian media (unfortunately for Ben Stokes and co, the English media too), and the in-your-face Australian mentality can make all of England's planning irrelevant, no matter how advanced it was planned.
England's Ashes plans in Australia have often derailed on the first day itself, with Steve Harmison's mammoth wide and Rory Burns' golden duck proving to be ominous signs.
It will take a great deal of mental strength to survive an entire tour in Australia. They had to endure a dialed-down version of a lengthy tour of India recently, and they did not come out of that looking good by any means.
As of now, England are far from ready to be in such an environment and emerging triumphant, but it will be one of their top priorities along with the skillset.
#4 Do England have a Plan B?
England, on the face of it, seem to have a quite settled unit considering the recent changes they have made. They have been quite clear with what they desire from the current lot and are in it for the long haul. However, the thing about being obsessed with one single plan is that the backup plan is often not given the required importance.
England cannot even consider leaving their shore without a robust backup plan because it is non-negotiable for a series spanning five Tests. England now have the task of honing their backup seamers given their frontline bowlers are injury-prone.
Even their batters, the majority of whom have toured Australia once, also do not boast a good record in Australia. Apart from Dan Lawrence, who has also only managed to warm the bench in recent times, England are well short of options. Promoting someone from the County Championship and getting them ready is also a tall ask considering there are not many Tests left for such a task.
#5 Is the 2025 Ashes England's best chance considering Australia's transition?
Despite being in the comfort of their own soil, Australia will also be wary of England, considering how close the previous Ashes series was. By 2025, Australia will also be quite raw out of their red-ball transition period. There is still a huge question mark on the opening position, with Steve Smith not likely to be a long-term option.
Furthermore, their pace group will be at the twilight of their careers. Although, Australia have a reasonably good back system in Neser, Richardson, Boland, and perhaps even Lance Morris. But, it will be a bit pale in comparison. Even Nathan Lyon will be 38 by then, and Australia have not honed a spinner to bowl in home conditions at the highest level.
As a result, from another perspective, England's work may be a bit easier when compared to the previous edition, but it is still a tall task nonetheless.
Conclusion - England are certainly on the right path after taking the controversial, yet necessary early decisions. Their intent this soon can only be viewed as a positive, unless they buckle under their own pressure. However, at the same time, terming the team 'ready' to tour Australia might just be a touch too far-fetched, but only for the time being.
