Overview
- The five-Test series starts on 21 November at Optus Stadium, with the Perth opener effectively sold out and a crowd near 60,000 expected.
- With Cummins and Hazlewood unavailable, Smith captains Australia as selectors weigh a debut for Jake Weatherald and are tipped to pick Brendan Doggett alongside Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon.
- Smith briefly left nets with a left‑hand scare during practice but returned to bat after assessment, with no sign of serious damage reported.
- England lean into an express pace strategy; Mark Wood bowled at full throttle in the nets after a recent hamstring concern, with Jofra Archer expected to take the new ball and Gus Atkinson among the quicks in contention.
- Joe Root has yet to score a Test century in Australia, though teammates back him to break that drought as England seek a first Test win Down Under since 2011.