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Why English great has Australia as favourites for the Ashes
Nicholas Quinlan • November 15th, 2025 4:58 pm
English bowling great Jimmy Anderson has tipped Australia as the slight favourites heading into the upcoming Ashes series, which begins next week.
Having played 39 matches in the famed rivalry, few people have as much experience in this environment as the 43-year-old.
In those matches, he took 117 wickets, which sees him rank seventh all-time for taking the most wickets against Australia.
But looking ahead to this series, which will be the first that he hasn’t played for England since 2006/07, the 188-capped player believes that the Aussies are slightly favourites in comparison to England.
"I don't think England are quite favourites, I'd say Australia are still favourites, in Australia,” Anderson told TNT Sports.
"There's still a lot of quality in their batting lineup, there's still a lot of quality with their bowlers as well, even if Cummins is missing.
"The likes of Steve Smith, (Usman) Khawaja, Travis Head, there's a lot of quality there.
"So I think they probably just edge out England in terms of being favourites, but I don't think there's much in it.
"It's a tough one to call, so I'd say Australia, just."
Anderson was also asked whether he agreed with SEN Cricket’s Stuart Broad on his comments that this current Australian team is the worst that he has seen since the 2010-11 Ashes.
And he would agree with his former teammate, noting that with captain Pat Cummins being out for at least the First Test, it provides an opportunity for England to do something that they haven't done since that series - win a Test match in Australia.
"He's probably right," he said.
"I just think that Australia have been so strong, and so consistent in their team selection over the last 10 years, that this probably is their weakest team (in the last 15 years).
"There are doubts around who's going to bat in the top three, Pat Cummins missing is huge, for at least the first Test.
"I just think that there are question marks there, definitely, and there are cracks that England could potentially expose.
"There's a great chance for England to get on top early.”
The Ashes will officially get underway on November 21 at Optus Stadium in Perth.
