Langer Questions England’s Ashes Chances, Cites Lack of ‘Killer Instinct’

Justin Langer, the former Australian opener and head coach, has expressed reservations regarding England’s prospects of securing an Ashes victory on Australian soil. He questioned whether Ben Stokes’ team demonstrates the necessary ‘killer instinct’ to effectively conclude major series.

Under the guidance of captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, England is gearing up for a critical Ashes campaign in Australia later this year.

The English team has not clinched an Ashes series Down Under since 2010-11 and has been unable to secure a single Test win in their last three tours, with Australia maintaining dominance on their home ground.

While Stokes and McCullum have brought a renewed vigor to England’s Test cricket approach, resulting in enhanced performance, Langer suggests that past results indicate the team’s difficulty in capitalizing on crucial moments.

Referring to the drawn 2-2 series England had against both Australia (2019) and India (2024), Langer noted England’s deficiency in the ruthlessness required to convert opportunities into tangible series triumphs.

“I anticipate a closely contested series,” Langer stated on the For the Love of Cricket podcast.

“My concern for England is whether they possess the killer instinct to seal a series when presented with the chance. This was evident in the 2-2 draw during the last Ashes series here, and the 2-2 draw against India. England had opportunities to win both of those series. The key question is: do they have the killer instinct to win the Ashes in Australia?” he added.

The 2023 Ashes series highlighted England’s aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach, which occasionally disrupted Australia’s rhythm.

However, Stokes’ team initially trailed 2-0, forcing them to rally and secure a draw in the final Test at The Oval.

While rain at Old Trafford prevented England from pushing for a win, Langer highlighted another critical juncture: Nathan Lyon’s calf injury during the second Test at Lord’s.

Despite Lyon’s absence, England failed to capitalize against Australia’s seam attack and suffered a 91-run first-innings deficit. This setback proved costly, as Australia established a 2-0 lead that England could not overcome.

The upcoming five-match Ashes series for 2025-26 is scheduled to commence on November 21 in Perth. Brisbane will host the second Test starting December 4, after which the teams will move to Adelaide for the third match on December 17.

The annual Boxing Day Test in Melbourne will begin on December 26, and the series will conclude in Sydney starting January 4, 2026.