Josh Tongue Confident England Prepared for Ashes in Australia

Fast bowler Josh Tongue has expressed confidence that England is well-prepared for the upcoming Ashes series in Australia and believes their strong bowling attack gives them a chance to end the long drought Down Under. England last won the Ashes in 2015 and have not claimed a series victory in Australia since 2011. Their previous three tours ended in heavy defeats, but Tongue feels this squad has the potential to change that.

The first Test of the series is scheduled to begin on Friday in Perth. England’s preparation for the series included only a single warm-up match against the England Lions at Lilac Hill, a move that drew criticism from commentators and former players. Despite this limited match practice, Tongue remains positive about the team’s readiness.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Tongue said, “It feels very exciting. We’ve had a good build-up. A few of us were in New Zealand beforehand prepping for this. I feel like we’ve had good prep.” He highlighted the strength of the England bowling group, including Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, describing them as the “X Factor” in the squad.

Tongue also noted that the fast, bouncy wickets in Australia suit the team’s bowling style. “The pace, the bouncy wickets definitely help the faster bowlers and the skills that we’ve got as a group. I think we can give it a good shot,” he said. His remarks reflect England’s confidence in their ability to challenge Australia despite the historical difficulty of winning on Australian soil.

England has received a boost for the opening Test as Australian captain Pat Cummins and veteran fast bowler Josh Hazlewood are both sidelined by injuries. However, wicket-keeper-batter Jamie Smith emphasized that Australia remains a strong side. “I’d still feel they’ve got a dominant attack... Obviously the two guys missing, obviously world-class players,” said Smith, who is 25 years old.

Smith added that the replacements in the Australian squad are also high-quality players. “But any time you play Australia, you know that the guys coming in are also fantastic players as well. You show a lot of respect to the guys that are missing out and the guys coming in just trying to focus on, you know what we can do well, leading up to this first Test,” he said.

England’s optimism is built on the depth of their bowling lineup and the combination of experience and pace in the squad. Players like Tongue, Archer, and Wood are expected to exploit the Australian conditions and put pressure on the home team. The series will test both sides’ ability to adapt and perform under pressure, particularly in Perth, known for its fast and bouncy pitch.

As the Ashes series approaches, England’s focus remains on preparation, teamwork, and maximizing their strengths in bowling. With key Australian players unavailable and their own bowling attack in strong form, England aims to challenge the long-standing dominance of Australia in the series and begin their campaign with a competitive first Test.