Warner tips England to win Perth Test if Cummins misses Ashes opener

Sydney, 13 October 2025:

Former Australia opener David Warner says England could take the upper hand in next month’s Ashes opener in Perth if captain Pat Cummins is ruled out through injury.

“If Cummo is not there, I think Australia win 3-1. If Cummo is there, it’s 4-0,” Warner said Monday at the Kayo Sports launch in Sydney. “I think England will win the first Test if Cummo is not playing.”

Sitting beside Cummins at the event, Warner’s prediction drew a lighthearted response from the skipper. “It’s the nicest thing Davey’s ever said about me,” Cummins quipped.

Warner also called for a livelier on-field atmosphere this summer but said England captain Ben Stokes should be off limits.

“I want to see some banter out on the field. I want to see them going at each other a little bit, obviously not at Stokes,” Warner said. “I think that’s where the war of words comes out. Generally, it’s someone like myself starting it, but I’d like to see someone else, maybe Heady, fire the first shot.”

Asked about the contrasting approaches of both teams, Warner couldn’t resist a jab. “The Australian way will prevail because we’re playing for the Ashes and they’re playing for a moral victory,” he said with a laugh.

Warner added that Stokes has matured into “a serious cricketer and a fantastic leader” and advised Australia not to provoke him. “If we can avoid poking that bear, that’ll help us enormously,” he said.