Former England spinner Phil Tufnell has expressed firm belief in England’s chances of reclaiming the Ashes in Australia, tipping them to emerge victorious. He also named fast bowler Josh Tongue as his pick to shine, predicting a standout series for the pacer.

Speaking on the Stick to Cricket podcast ahead of the fifth and final Ashes Test in Sydney, Phil Tufnell looked ahead to the 2028–29 series, drawing confidence from Josh Tongue’s impact in the Melbourne Test and a growing sense of belief around the England camp.

“Four years from now, Josh Tongue will be the man of the series, and England will win the Ashes. Mark my words,” Tufnell said, expressing confidence in England’s future, Tufnell predicted they would win the Ashes in the 2028-29 tour of Australia, with Tongue playing a key role.

Tufnell’s remarks come on the back of Josh Tongue’s stellar outing in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG. The pacer ripped through Australia’s batting with a five-for in the first innings and followed it up with two more scalps in the second, ending with seven wickets overall as England sealed a four-wicket win to avoid a series whitewash.

Tongue was named Player of the Match, becoming the first England bowler to earn the honour in an Ashes Test in Australia since Dean Headley in 1998. Although England finally tasted a Test win Down Under after nearly 15 years, they were unable to claim the series, extending their long-standing struggles on Australian soil.

On the back of his match-winning effort, Josh Tongue has been handed surprise inclusions in England’s squads for the 2026 T20 World Cup and the tour of Sri Lanka that precedes it, despite not having featured in white-ball internationals yet. Earlier this year, the pacer topped the wicket charts in The Hundred, collecting 14 wickets in six games for Manchester Originals at an impressive average of 11.07.Former England Spinner backs England to overcome Australia in next Ashes series