Another Ashes series has come and gone, and with it another huge opportunity for England to reclaim the urn — something they haven’t done since 2015. As a result, the ECB and current head coach Brendon McCullum will have their eyes firmly set on the next instalment in the soon-to-be 250-year-old competition. Since the turn of the decade, the Ashes series have been decidedly one-sided, with Australia triumphing in two out of the three series since 2020. England will be desperate to change that come 2027, when they will host the Australians for the 38th time since 1882. This series is a huge opportunity for England, as they face an ageing Australian side on home soil. So, looking ahead to 2027, what could England’s line-up look like?
Openers
Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett put England in charge after Ben Stokes’ five-for | The Independent
Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett
After an incredible start to life in the “Bazball” era, both Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett have found runs hard to come by recently. Duckett has had a miserable Ashes campaign, averaging his lowest ever in an England Test series at just 16. Going into the summer for England, there are real question marks over the future of both of England’s current openers. However, I don’t believe that either one will be displaced come the next Ashes series. There are two reasons for this:
First, whilst both Crawley and Duckett have been poor recently, no one can deny the immense talent that both of these players have. Crawley’s height and the power he gets on his shots make him one of the most destructive batsmen in world cricket. Whilst Duckett’s raw aggression and ability to pick out the line and length of the ball — be it spin or pace — provide England with two very dangerous opening batsmen.
Secondly, to put it bluntly, England don’t really have many alternative options to turn to instead. Haseeb Hameed has had a strong year with Nottinghamshire, and averages higher than Crawley in first-class cricket. However, Hameed’s slow, defensive, more traditional style of cricket contrasts hugely with the ultra-aggressive mentality of England’s head coach, Brendon McCullum, making it very unlikely, in my eyes, that Hameed will displace either of England’s opening batters. Sussex’s Tom Haines is a name that has also been mentioned, but he is yet to have debuted for England, and for such a huge Ashes series, a youngster like Haines is a big risk.
Three top order batsmen
England star Jacob Bethell thrilled to silence his critics with Ashes century | The Independent
Jacob Bethell, Joe Root and Harry Brook
Who else? England’s starboy Jacob Bethell is currently one of the most exciting names in world cricket. An all-format superstar, who marched out onto the Sydney pitch in the first over, with the score at 4–1. He only left the following day, having added 154 runs across more than 80 overs of batting. Bethell proved to everyone at Sydney that he is not just a name for the future, but also a current star. Though Bethell is currently the undisputed number three bat for England, that does not mean that the door is completely shut for Ollie Pope. The Surrey batsman had a torrid time at the Ashes and was dropped for Bethell as a result after the fourth Test. Pope is currently clearly not in the mindset to bat for England, especially not at number three. A high score of 46 and an average of 21 in the biggest series of his life. However, he now returns to County Cricket, where he averages 45 with Surrey. A year or two playing there could be the chance Pope needs to restore his confidence and get back in the conversation for an ECB contract. Pope is only 28 — there is a bright and promising career ahead of him — but for the upcoming Ashes, I highly doubt he’ll be in good enough form to displace Jacob Bethell, who currently looks untouchable.
Australia v England clips and report – Joe Root and Harry Brook build big partnership before storm halts Day 1 of 5th Ashes Test in Sydney – TNT Sports
The remaining two pick themselves — number four bat: Joe Root, and number five: Harry Brook.
Former skipper Root was one of the few shining lights in England’s dismal Ashes series, averaging 44 and finally breaking his curse of a lack of a century in Australia, not once but twice. Brook, meanwhile, drew criticism for his overly aggressive approach, that many labelled as naïve, and which cost England dearly. More troubling, however, were reports of Brook’s excessive drinking alongside other England players during the holiday break to Noosa. The infamous tale of Harry Brook — England’s white-ball captain — getting into a fight with a bouncer the night before England’s ODI clash with New Zealand also suggests that Brook’s attitude is not up to scratch.
That may be true, but remember that Brook is only 28. Being England’s white-ball captain comes with major responsibilities, as well as tours that last months on end. Take someone like Ollie Pope, for example, who, as outlined above, did not have the best of tours. He will be able to return to his home in England, rest and recuperate, and then ease himself into the County Championship season with Surrey. Brook, on the other hand, embarks on a fourteen-hour flight to Sri Lanka, where he will captain England in six white-ball matches, before then journeying to India to captain the T20 side — as well as being expected to score big runs in a World Cup. After that, Brook returns to play in the County Championship for Yorkshire and in the Hundred for Sunrisers Leeds, with little to no time for rest or family time.
Once put into perspective, Brook’s behaviour is a lot more understandable, but still needs drastic change if he is to remain an England cricketer, both as white-ball captain and in the Test team. Despite questions over Brook’s cavalier attitude, and Root’s age, there is still no way that these two are not in England’s Ashes team. Root is an all-time great, who recently demonstrated just how much England still need him in Test cricket. Whilst Brook has the potential to surpass Joe Root, averaging an incredible 55 in Test cricket.
Wicketkeeper batsman
James Rew interview: Somerset teenager on reaching 1,000 County Championship runs this summer | The Cricketer
James Rew
The first pick of mine in this team, that truly is a bold call. Rew in the side over Jaime Smith is as far from guaranteed as can be. On paper, they are both fairly similar. Both wicketkeeper-batsmen, both players who usually feature higher up the order, and both players who average over 40 for their respective county sides: Surrey and Somerset. The only differences — Rew is three years younger, has played 25 fewer matches in First-Class cricket, and has already racked up a mammoth 3,383 runs, scoring eleven centuries. Smith is an excellent player no doubt, but his form in the Test side has been terrible, both behind the stumps and with the bat in hand. Rew, on the other hand, has been breaking records with Somerset, and playing excellently for the England Lions as well. Smith may well be more suited to playing in limited overs for England, rather than in long-format, high-pressure Test matches. As for logistics, Rew usually bats higher up the order, but could absolutely slot in at number six behind Brook. This could also help, as it would allow England to drop Ben Stokes down the order to number seven, providing incredible depth, and also protecting England’s aging captain by having him come in to bat later. To conclude, Jamie Smith is certainly still in the discussion, but for me the best pick would be James Rew.
All rounder
Pakistan v England: Ben Stokes out of first Test in Multan – BBC Sport
Ben Stokes
Another easy pick here, England captain Ben Stokes is guaranteed to be a part of this team, especially if Brendon McCullum is still head coach (which I am assuming he will be). Stokes’s batting form may have weakened recently, but his bowling remains as strong as ever. Besides, Stokes is a leader, a fighter, and a true icon. His anguish at losing the Ashes in such dismal fashion was clear to see, and the passion and energy he brings to the side is unmatched.
The only thing potentially holding Stokes back is injury. The England captain has had persistent hamstring and back issues throughout his career, and to put it bluntly, Stokes does not have many series left in him. However, I think that this will be the exact reason why Stokes will make it to the 2027 Ashes, firing on all cylinders and ready to bring his best — with both ball and bat. Stokes playing in the 2029 Ashes is out of the question, and he knows this.
Stokes is a competitor and a fighter, and would love nothing more than to finish his Test career by regaining the Ashes for England, and the Three Lions have got their best chance in 2027. For this exact reason, I expect Stokes to do all in his power to get fit and ready for the series. He has already foregone an IPL contract, and I don’t expect Stokes to play any cricket outside of the summer Test series against New Zealand and Pakistan.
However, there is a world in which Stokes foregoes all cricket except those Tests and the tour of South Africa that follows, spends a year building up his body to prepare for the Ashes, and still ends up suffering a terrible injury like the one he did in Sydney a few weeks ago. If that does happen, England will have to turn to someone else, and the options are few.
In the unlikely event that Stokes fails to make it for the 2027 Ashes, the main two candidates as replacements would be Sam Curran and Rehan Ahmed. Curran is an excellent cricketer and a key part of England’s white-ball team. However, he is more of a limited-overs player, and his batting ability in Test match cricket would be a weakness. Ahmed, meanwhile, became England’s youngest-ever Test match cricketer at 18 years old. He is an immense talent and a top batsman too, averaging 37 in first-class cricket with Leicestershire. However, a spinner in England is a big call to make, especially in such a vital series.
Four man bowling attack
Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse are now the main men of England’s attack | England cricket team | The Guardian
Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue
A bowling attack that almost picks itself. England’s seamers may have drawn criticism for their repetitive loose bowling, but their intent and pace cannot be faulted. Time after time, Brydon Carse came pounding in to bowl savagely fast deliveries, with similar performances coming from Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson before injuries laid them out. Another huge benefit of the bowling attack I’ve selected is that the tail is extremely strong. Carse and Archer both have Test match fifties, and Atkinson has a hundred. True, Josh Tongue is not much of a batsman, but having Archer at ten is insanely good batting depth. The only thing that could potentially displace any one of these four is injury. Tongue has had horrific back and thumb trouble, and Archer only recently returned from injury. However, both will be desperate to feature in the 2027 Ashes, and I back the ECB to ensure both Tongue and Archer’s fitness for the series.
Final Ashes 2027 England lineup
1. Zak Crawley
2. Ben Duckett
3. Jacob Bethell
4. Joe Root
5. Harry Brook
6. James Rew (WK)
7. Ben Stokes (C)
8. Brydon Carse
9. Gus Atkinson
10. Jofra Archer
11. Josh Tongue
