![\"England](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-1506760934.jpg\")
\n\t\tEngland cricket legend Kevin Pietersen won four Ashes series (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tEngland cricket legend Kevin Pietersen won four Ashes series (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
Kevin Pietersen<\/a>, Michael Vaughan<\/a> and David Warner have all made their Ashes<\/a> predictions as Australia bid to retain the urn against England.<\/p>\n The five-match Test series begins in the early hours of Friday morning at the Optus Stadium in Perth<\/a>.<\/p>\n England have lost the last three Ashes series in Australia by an aggregate scoreline of 13-0 and won just one series Down Under since 1987.<\/p>\n But it has been suggested that England have their best chance in 15 years to win back the urn on Australian soil.<\/p>\n England have largely impressed under head coach Brendon McCullum and superstar captain Ben Stokes, blowing away several teams with their attacking brand of cricket.<\/p>\n For all that has been made of Australia\u2019s ageing squad, the hosts are ranked No. 1 in the world in Test cricket and reached the World Test Championship final last summer.<\/p>\n Pietersen expects England to win a Test match in Australia for the first time since 2011 but fears a series win is beyond even Stokes and his team.<\/p>\n \t\t Speaking to former Australia rival Brad Haddin on the Willow Talk Cricket Podcast<\/a>, Pietersen said: \u2018I think it\u2019s hard for England to win in Australia, very hard.<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s hard for them to win a whole series out there. Can they win a Test match? I think they can with the way they play if everything falls into place, for sure.<\/p>\n \u2018But it will be hard to win the whole series so I have Australia up \u2013 but I think it might be tightly contested.\u2019<\/p>\n While Pietersen expects Australia to retain the Ashes, two of his former England teammates from the 2010-11 series win are more hopeful.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018I\u2019m going 3-1 England, I have to back England,\u2019 ex-England captain Alastair Cook told TNT Sports<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2018Is there a chance? There is an absolute chance that England will win this series, a big chance.<\/p>\n \u2018They\u2019re not favourites, Australia are favourites, we know that in their home conditions.<\/p>\n \u2018But what I do know is this England side has the fire and capability, that if things go well and they get on the right side of the luck and they play well, they can definitely, definitely cause some serious damage to this Australian side.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t Former England spinner Graeme Swann added: \u2018I think every game will be a result and I think England will pip it 3-2.\u2019<\/p>\n Glenn McGrath has already provided his customary 5-0 prediction, insisting it will be \u2018interesting\u2019 to see if the tourists can win a single Test.<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s very rare for me to make a prediction, isn\u2019t it? And I can\u2019t make a different one \u2013 5-0 to Australia,\u2019 he told BBC Sport<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m very confident with our team. When you\u2019ve got Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon firing in their home conditions, it\u2019s going to be pretty tough.<\/p>\n \u2018Plus, that track record England have had, it\u2019d be interesting to see if they can win a Test.\u2019<\/p>\n Former Australia opener David Warner is just as optimistic for a home win, adding: \u2018I think Australia 4-0.<\/p>\n \u2018There\u2019s going to be a washout somewhere, generally Sydney. If the captain [Cummins] doesn\u2019t play, they [England] might win one game.\u2019<\/p>\n England legend James Anderson, who retired from international cricket last year<\/a>, says there are \u2018cracks\u2019 in the Australian team but insists the hosts are still \u2018favourites\u2019 to win the series.<\/p>\n \u2018I don\u2019t think England are quite favourites, I\u2019d say Australia are still favourites, in Australia,\u2019 Anderson told TNT Sports.<\/p>\n \u2018There are question marks there, definitely, and there are cracks that England could potentially expose. There\u2019s a great chance for England to get on top early.<\/p>\n \u2018They probably just edge out England in terms of being favourites, but I don\u2019t think there\u2019s much in it. It\u2019s a tough one to call, so I\u2019d say Australia, just.\u2019<\/p>\n England\u2019s 2005 Ashes-winning captain Vaughan, meanwhile, cannot split the two teams.<\/p>\n \u2018As long as Ben Stokes stays fit, I think this series is going to be 2-2,\u2019 he said on X.<\/p>\n \u2018England to win the first Test in Perth with no Pat Cummins or Josh Hazlewood. As long as there\u2019s no more injuries before it starts, that\u2019s my final prediction.\u2019<\/p>\n After the first Ashes Test in Perth, the two teams travel to Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney to finish one of the most eagerly anticipated series in memory.<\/p>\n For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"England](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-2247255820.jpg\")
\n\t\tEngland\u2019s squad ahead of the Ashes opener (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n![\"Australia](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-2246714788.jpg\")
\n\t\tAustralia have possession of the Ashes (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n![\"England](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-2247250036.jpg\")
\n\t\tEngland captain Ben Stokes (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
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