What was billed as England’s largest probability to win an Ashes collection on Australian soil in 15 years went the way in which of the three that preceded it.
The Ashes haven’t been in English palms since 2017, consistent with among the darkest, most barren runs towards Australia within the historical past of the oldest rivalry, reminiscent of the Thirties and 40s, Sixties and Nineteen Nineties.
However forward of the ultimate Take a look at in Sydney and earlier than a evaluate of what went flawed takes form, Day by day Mail Sport identifies the gamers that may assist win again the urn in 18 months’ time, and eventually finish the curse Down Below in 2029-30.
1. Ben McKinney (Durham)
An enormous on the crease, whose fledgling profession already features a run-a-ball 110 for England Lions towards Australia 12 months in the past.
That was one in every of 4 first-class tons of for the 6ft 7in left-handed opener who started final season by hitting a career-best 153 within the opening residence match towards Warwickshire, incomes an early season title verify from males’s director of cricket Rob Key within the course of.
A dip in type adopted, however regardless of briefly dropping his county place, he maintained his standing throughout the England Lions setup and now aged 21 has two excursions of expertise down beneath to fall again on, having struck twin 50s within the inner pre-Ashes match at Lilac Hill.
Durham opener Ben McKinney is a big on the crease, whose fledgling profession already features a run-a-ball 110 for England Lions towards Australia 12 months in the past
2. James Rew (Somerset)
One other 21-year-old, it already feels just like the flame-haired, wicketkeeper-batsman has been round without end.
The ECB’s appreciation of the left-hander’s talent and temperament date again to 2021 when he was chosen for a County Choose XI versus India, and he has made good on his promise, celebrating his tenth first-class hundred through the 2025 county season. Not since Denis Compton in 1939 had an Englishman reached the landmark at such an age.
He struggled to persuade Lions coach Andrew Flintoff he was value a spot forward of his 18-year-old brother Thomas through the current tour of Australia, amid strategies that his health was shy of elite degree. However he has a flexible recreation, highlighted by averages of 40 in each four-day and 50-over cricket.
James Rew (proper) together with his youthful brother Thomas, each of whom are rising stars at Somerset
3. Tawanda Muyeye (Kent)
A chic opening batsman who turns 25 in March, his stroke play affords a throwback to earlier generations.
Muyeye’s personal previous is a mix of tape ball cricket in his native Zimbabwe and a stellar interval with Eastbourne School which noticed him named Wisden’s colleges cricketer of the yr in 2020. His future, he hopes, is with England, having arrived within the UK as a political refugee.
The four-year residency requirement for everlasting depart to stay expires in 2027, and so the following 18 months provide the chance to construct on a begin to a county profession that had a throng of different counties led by Hampshire circling final summer season, till he signed a brand new deal at Canterbury.
A chic opening batsman who turns 25 in March, Tawanda Muyeye’s stroke play affords a throwback to earlier generations
4. Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire)
On the periphery of choice for this tour, damage then dominated him out of the England Lions’ fixtures, denying the all-rounder an opportunity to develop his abilities in Australian situations.
England’s youngest participant throughout all three codecs needs to be coming into his personal by the point the 2027 Ashes will get beneath means and is probably the long-term successor to Ben Stokes because the Take a look at crew’s all-rounder.
At 21, he already has six first-class tons of to his title – 5 of them in Leicestershire’s 2025 Division Two title-winning marketing campaign – and seems to be higher positioned to take advantage of his wide-ranging attributes than fellow leg-spinner Adil Rashid.
On the similar age, Yorkshire’s Rashid had 4 of his 10 profession centuries, however positioned extra of a deal with bowling as he hit his mid-20s.
If Ahmed can advantage a top-six place, his wrist spin can be a welcome inclusion within the crew’s attacking armoury.
At 21, Rehan Ahmed already has six first-class tons of to his title – 5 of them in Leicestershire’s 2025 Division Two title-winning marketing campaign
As England’s youngest Take a look at debutant, at Karachi in 2022, he took 5 wickets and helped Ben Stokes’ facet to a well-known 3-0 collection whitewash
5. Harry Moore (Derbyshire)
A strapping quick bowler who doesn’t flip 19 till subsequent season is beneath means.
After changing into Derbyshire’s youngest debutant in 2023, the Midlands county’s head coach Mickey Arthur – who has coached 4 nations at worldwide degree – stated he was ‘hand on coronary heart,’ one of the best 17-year-old he’d ever labored with.
He missed your entire 2025 season with that pace-bowling ceremony of passage, the stress fracture of the again, and shall be handled fastidiously within the quick time period.
Over an extended timeframe the bodily attributes of peak, lengthy levers and velocity via the air recommend he can replicate the sort of success Josh Tongue has loved on the worldwide stage.
Derbyshire fast Harry Moore is a strapping quick bowler who doesn’t flip 19 till subsequent season is beneath means
The center son of a public college chaplain, Eddie Jack’s background will not be that of your archetypal quick bowler, however at 6ft 3in his construct definitely is
6. Eddie Jack (Hampshire)
A kind of to obtain a tempo growth contract within the autumn, 20-year-old Jack’s rise noticed him drafted into each a County Choose XI to face Zimbabwe and a Lions crew locking horns with India A final summer season.
Not lengthy after, he acquired a shock name to hitch England’s squad for the primary Take a look at of 5 versus India in Leeds, assembly Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum for the primary time, earlier than being launched three days out from the collection opener to characteristic in Twenty20 Blast motion for Hampshire.
The center son of a public college chaplain, his background will not be that of your archetypal quick bowler, however at 6ft 3in his construct definitely is.
In a position to rush opponents, he bases his total recreation on Australia captain Pat Cummins’ relentless pursuit of the highest of off-stump.
