The Ashes 2025-26: "Don't think there will be draws.." Ricky Ponting predicts winners

Ricky Ponting believes all games in The Ashes 2025-26 will produce result.

The stage is set for the biggest cricket rivalry of this year with The Ashes 2025-26, which will commence on November 21 (Friday) with the first test between Australian Cricket Team and England Cricket Team at the Optus Stadium in Perth. Ahead of the thrilling series, former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has come up with his prediction.

The Aussie batting legend feels that none of the games will end in a draw. A total of five matches will be played during The Ashes 2025-26, which will conclude on January 8 with the fifth and final test at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney.

Notably, England last won The Ashes in Australia in 2010 under Andrew Strauss’ captaincy, where they clinched a 3-1 win in a five-match series. Moreover, Australia have retained the Ashes urn since the 2018. The previous test series between both sides in 2023 was tied 2-2, with one game ending in a draw.

Ricky Ponting predicts Australia to win The Ashes 2025-26

During a chat on The ICC Review show, cricketer-turned-commentator Ponting predicted that hosts Australia will win The Ashes 2025-26 with a 3-2 margin, with none of the matches ending in a draw.

“I don’t think there’ll be any draws, just the way that England play. If there’s reasonable weather through the Australian summer, we know that the biggest concern for the last 15 years has been Sydney with the amount of days we’ve lost there,” he said.

“Perth and Brisbane this time of year are normally great. So I don’t foresee any drawn games and I just think it’s going to be really, really close. So I’m going 3-2 Australia,” Ponting added.

Furthermore, Ponting backed his prediction with the fact that England have won only four test matches in Australia this century, hence, they might win two more out of five in the upcoming series.

“The fact that there’s no draws. I just think that’s how potentially close it could be. And obviously I’m taking everything into account there as well. The fact that England have only won four Test matches in Australia this century and I’m predicting that they’re going to win two in this series. So that’s how much closer I think it could be,” the 50-year-old noted.

Meanwhile, Australia have revealed their playing XI for the Perth test. Opening batter Jake Weatherald and pacer Brendan Doggett are set to make their international debut in the clash. In the absence of Pat Cummins, Steve Smith will captain the hosts in the opening game.

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