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Former Australiaopener David Warner has taken aim at England prior to the Ashes 2025-26 series to start next month. Ahead of the marquee series, Australia are struggling with their captain Pat Cummins’
back injury issues. Cummins will be crucial for the Aussie side as the skipper has looked extraordinary this year, so far. If the pacer extraordinare fails to show up in the series due to the injury, Steven Smith might handle the captaincy mantle. Warner feels if Cummins doesn’t appear in the upcoming Ashes, Australia still have the potential to beat the English team by a convincing margin.
Speaking to Sydney Morning Herald, the Aussie made the bold prediction. David Warner said England will win the opening Test in Perth if Cummins doesn’t play. "If Cummo (Pat Cummins) is not there, I think Australia win 3-1. If Cummo is there, it's 4-0. I think England will win the first Test if Cummo is not playing. The Australian way (will prevail) because we're playing for the Ashes and they're playing for a moral victory," said Warner.
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David Warner hailed Ben Stokes ahead of Ashes 2025-26 series
The former Aussie opener also commended England captain Ben Stokes and also recalled his experience of sharing the dressing room with the all-rounder. "I had the fortunate privilege to share a change room with (Stokes) when he was younger and he has evolved into a serious cricketer and a fantastic leader. I think if we can not sort of poke that bear and get him up and about, I think that will help the Australians enormously," added Warner.
Under Stokes, England are expected to play an aggressive brand of cricket in the upcoming Ashes and win the urn on Aussie soil after 15 years. In 2011, England won their last Ashes series in Australia under Andrew Strauss captaincy. Since then, the English side haven’t won any Test matches down under.
