Ashes 2025-26: Star-studded commentary team set to light up Channel 7’s summer of cricket
Australia and England’s best cricketing minds will take Channel 7’s viewers into the heat of the biggest sporting battle on the planet — The Ashes.
Led by former Australian captain and all-time great Ricky Ponting, the likes of Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Aaron Finch as well as renowned cricket broadcaster David “Bumble” Lloyd and Ashes villain Stuart Broad will be part of the star-studded commentary team.
Cricket officially returns for the summer on Sunday when the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) begins, before The Ashes starts at Perth’s Optus Stadium on November 21.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.It part of a blockbuster few months that will also feature the Big Bash League as well as the Women’s International Series all live and free.
Australian Test captain Pat Cummins was on hand as part of the launch at Summer Hill Junior Cricket Club in Sydney on Thursday morning where he said he was “pumped” for the upcoming series against arch-rivals England.
“It’s been in the diary for so long now and you know it’s a couple of weeks away, I won’t be playing the first test but I’ll be there and just like every other fan I can’t wait for it to begin,” he said.
Cummins is confirmed to miss the first Test with a back injury, but revealed he aimed to be back for the second match at The Gabba, which begins on December 4.
“We’re building out a plan to be right for the second Test, so if nothing goes wrong, that’s kind of the plan, obviously a few other variables if the boys are absolutely flying and I’m a little bit underdone then maybe you make a little bit of a call a bit closer, at the moment all options are kind of open, it’s all trending pretty well,” he said.
“I’m going pretty well, bowled four or five times now, building up to full run up, so all on track, so yeah, obviously nothing certain but all trending pretty well.”
Cummins revealed why he wouldn’t be on the field; he would be in Perth to support his team, which will be led by Steve Smith.
“I’ll be there to support Smithy if he needs me, try to stay out of his way a little bit, give him a little but their if he needs to bounce ideas off,” he said.
“Work with bowlers a little bit, but probably the main bit is getting myself right, so lots of training in the back of the nets.”
