Mitchell Johnson Rules Out 5-0 Ashes Whitewash Despite Australia’s 2-0 Lead

Australia is set to face England in the third Test of the Ashes series at the Adelaide Oval on December 17th. Currently, England is dominating with both tests, so they are 2-0 in the series. Australia is winning both tests without their key players, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon. Now that they are back for the next test, there is a possibility of a 5-0 clean sweep as forecast by many cricketing experts. Former Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson does not believe that Australia can get a 5-0 clean sweep in the Ashes series of 2025-26. He states that they would need to get used to the conditions, starting with conditions that would be slightly more favorable in Adelaide that what they encountered so far. He is not certain that they would get the “right talk in the dressing room” about playing to their true potential.

In fact, England's losses in the first two Tests followed a similar pattern. They fought and looked competitive for the first two days, but lost control due to overly aggressive batting. Johnson said Ben Stokes and his team need to draw inspiration from Joe Root's century and Jofra Archer's 38 in the first innings, both scored in Adelaide.

Johnson wrote in his column for The Times that favorable conditions enabled Root and Archer to do so, and if they learn anything from the last Test, it should be this. "I'm not sure they'll really be able to change their plans now. You'll be surprised by some of England's batting. They have skill, no doubt." I don't know what they'll discuss behind closed doors, but they need to quickly change their strategy and mindset.

Johnson further wrote that conditions could be different in Adelaide next week, where there isn't the usual bounce and carry that can be beneficial to England. The Australian cricket team is clearly in a very strong position, but they won't be complacent. This series doesn't have the same atmosphere as 2013-14, when Australia last won 5-0, but the return of Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon will strengthen their momentum.

He said that if England does the right thing, it's not that they can't make a comeback. Perhaps too much psychological damage has already been done. "I don't think it will be 5-0, but the possibility can't be ruled out."