Overview
- Play starts 21–25 November at Perth Stadium, where England chase a first Test win in Australia since 2011’s tour success drought began.
- Pat Cummins (back) and Josh Hazlewood (hamstring) are out of the first Test, with Steve Smith to captain and Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland leading the seam attack.
- Selectors are poised to recall Marnus Labuschagne, with opener Jake Weatherald and seamer Brendan Doggett viewed as likely debutants.
- England named their first-Test squad with Mark Wood passed fit after scans, as selectors weigh a pace-dominant attack versus using Will Jacks for batting depth and off-spin.
- A fast, bouncy Perth surface and the newer Kookaburra ball favor pace, sharpening focus on whether England can capitalize on Australia’s depleted seam resources.