MELBOURNE \u2014 England\u2019s wait for an Ashes series win will stretch to 12 years by the time the next one starts on home soil in the summer of 2027.<\/p>\n
We already know where it\u2019ll be played, with Edgbaston, Lord\u2019s, Trent Bridge, The Utilita Bowl and The Oval the five venues.<\/p>\n
But what about England\u2019s team? It\u2019s easy to call for mass change after what has been an horrendous Ashes<\/a> tour so far. But I think there should be tweaks rather than a cull of players for the next series in 18 months\u2019 time.<\/p>\n There should be a new coach. Yet as I\u2019ve written previously, whoever takes over from Brendon McCullum<\/a> should build on what he\u2019s started.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s my rundown of the XI I feel will give England their best chance of winning their first Ashes series since 2015\u2026<\/p>\n Zak Crawley<\/p>\n He\u2019s averaging just 31.22 across 62 Tests. But Crawley stays for me. His opening partnership with Ben Duckett works, however fitful Crawley\u2019s contributions can be. And who would you replace him with? Durham\u2019s Ben McKinney was captain of England Under-19s and is liked by the selectors \u2013 but at 21 he is still young and has played just 24 first-class games. He only averages 32.97 in those too.<\/p>\n And do we really want to turn the clock back and go for Haseeb Hameed or Dom Sibley? They were the two leading runscorers in Division One of the County Championship last summer but were both found wanting when given their chance on the international stage.<\/p>\n Ben Duckett<\/p>\n Duckett\u2019s had a shocking Ashes series, averaging 16.16. But he\u2019s been a revelation since coming back into the team in late 2022 and deserves a chance to continue his partnership with Crawley.<\/p>\n Jacob Bethell<\/p>\n Looks set to be handed a recall for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne in place of Ollie Pope. Looked the part in this position in New Zealand last winter and although he\u2019s still without a first-class century, the 22-year-old is the future.<\/p>\n Joe Root<\/p>\n Will be 36 by the time the 2027 Ashes start but England\u2019s greatest batter<\/a> surely has one last Ashes in him?<\/p>\n Player of the series back in 2015, with two centuries and two fifties. He\u2019ll be just as important again.<\/p>\n Harry Brook<\/p>\n The vice-captain is another who has had an underwhelming tour<\/a> this time, although he\u2019s been better than many of his team-mates. His class, though, is clear.<\/p>\n Ben Stokes (captain)<\/p>\n Deserves the chance to turn things around despite being in charge for this Ashes surrender. Personally he couldn\u2019t have done much more but he\u2019s been let down by most of his team-mates.<\/p>\n If his body holds up \u2013 and there\u2019s no guarantee \u2013 this might well his farewell series. Winning the urn would be the perfect way to go out.<\/p>\n Jordan Cox (wicketkeeper)<\/p>\n Jamie Smith is so talented but has struggled under the pressure of this tour. Ben Foakes is still the best keeper in the country but it seems a stretch to go back to him.<\/p>\n So Cox, one of the most explosive batters in the country and a man not short on confidence should be the new wicketkeeper.<\/p>\n His glovework is as good as Smith\u2019s and had he not been injured at the start of last year\u2019s New Zealand tour, he would have already made his Test debut in this position.<\/p>\n Gus Atkinson<\/p>\n Is a quality operator who has 66 Test wickets at under 25 since making his debut last year. Leads my attack.<\/p>\n Jofra Archer<\/p>\n The fast bowler has had an excellent Ashes tour<\/a> and has probably been the team\u2019s most consistent performer. Absolute lock if he\u2019s fit.<\/p>\n I would rotate him with Josh Tongue, assuming Mark Wood has retired from Test cricket by 2027.<\/p>\n Jack Leach<\/p>\n![\"England's](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/SEI_278818927.jpg\")
Crawley has been much-maligned at the top of England\u2019s batting order (Photo: AFP)<\/p>\n![\"LONDON,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/SEI_278829752.jpg\")
Jordan Cox was the Hundred\u2019s top runscorer in the summer and the PCA men\u2019s player of the year (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n
![\"Article](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/SEI_278770212.jpg\")
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