ECB county cricket ban Australian players: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is reportedly considering a drastic and controversial measure that has made headlines amid the ongoing Ashes 2025-26 in Australia.
England already lost the ongoing Ashes to Australia, and now they are facing the hosts in the fifth and final Test at the SCG.
ECB Considers County Cricket Ban for Australian Players to Halt Ashes Advantage
England last won the Ashes back in 2015, when they defeated Australia 3-2. Since then, they have not won the Urn. And now the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is planning to ban Australian Test players from competing in the County Championship immediately before a tour of England.
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As reported by The Sunday Times, the growing frustration over Australia’s dominance in the Ashes has pushed the ECB to explore the idea of blocking Australian Test players from using county cricket as a warm-up before the England tour.
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Australian stars like Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne have used lengthy County Championship stints to master English conditions long before the Test series begins. And the results are evident, so now the ECB is ready to stop the Australian players from gaining that unfair edge ahead of any Ashes.
The Rationale: Breaking Australia’s Preparation Advantage
Australian Test players often arrive early and play in the County Championship to get used to English pitches and weather. England players rarely get the same chance in Australia. Recently, Steve Smith admitted that this early exposure to English conditions has helped Australia perform better in England.
Smith said ahead of the New Year’s Test: “A lot of our players have had the opportunity to play some county cricket, playing on some of their wickets, getting used to them, and then over the last couple of years we’ve had players that have played other series in England, so we’ve been exposed to those conditions—and it’s entirely different. So that may have something to do with it [Australia’s competitiveness].”
In 2023, Smith played three four-day matches for Sussex just weeks before the series began. On the other hand, England players almost never play in Australia’s Sheffield Shield, which has only six state teams compared to England’s 18 counties, making opportunities very limited.
The issue became louder after England captain Ben Stokes questioned why Australian players are allowed to play county cricket just before such a big series. He said that it feels like giving the opposition a free advantage, and the numbers tell a clear story.
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Out of 19 Australian players involved in the last two Ashes series, 13 had already played county cricket. Among the six who did not, four were fast bowlers, whom Australia usually protects from extra workload.
Ben Stokes stated, “It is odd when you see touring players given opportunities to play county cricket before a big series. I’ve never understood it. You never see it anywhere else in the world. I don’t think Australia would sign a visa for one of our lads playing Sheffield Shield games before an Ashes.”
How Would the “Dirty Ban” Work?
ECB is worried about Australia planning far ahead. Cameron Green and Todd Murphy, both likely to be part of the 2027 Ashes in England, have already played county cricket. Green played five matches for Gloucestershire in 2025, while Murphy played four, gaining early experience on English pitches.
Adding to the controversy is the fact that England’s own management is already willing to stop England players from playing for counties or franchises when it suits workload or planning. That has made the idea of restricting Australians seem less extreme within English cricket circles.
However, any attempt to block Australians won’t be easy. Counties rely heavily on quality overseas players and are usually eager to sign Australian stars, especially big names like Smith, who bring both runs and crowds. A full ban may be difficult to enforce by the ECB.
A possible solution being discussed is to restrict Australian players only during the Ashes summer. This would protect county cricket in other years while removing what England sees as an unfair edge during the Ashes. All options are currently on the table, with the final call taking place soon.
