Overview
- Steve Smith will captain Australia in the first Test at Optus Stadium from November 21-25 after Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood were ruled out through injury.
- Selectors are weighing Jake Weatherald versus Beau Webster for one batting spot, with seamer Brendan Doggett touted as a possible debutant alongside Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon.
- Mitchell Starc described “chaos” in last week’s Shield match as Hazlewood and Sean Abbott exited with issues, prompting workload management for Starc and Boland ahead of Perth.
- An early pitch inspection showed a light green tinge and even grass that is expected to dry through the week, raising the premium on batting first and pointing to pace and bounce.
- England arrive with a rare battery of express quicks in Jofra Archer and Mark Wood plus depth options such as Gus Atkinson, as Stuart Broad warns England must land early blows in the first two Tests.