Overview
- Steve Smith confirmed Australia's XI with Test debuts for opener Jake Weatherald and paceman Brendan Doggett in place of injured Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
- England named a 12-man group featuring Jofra Archer and Mark Wood but deferred the final XI until shortly before the toss.
- Perth Stadium's curator signaled a fast, lively surface that favors seam, shaping plans for pace-heavy attacks on both sides.
- Scott Boland and Brendan Doggett give Australia two Indigenous players in a men's Test XI for the first time.
- Pre-series mind games flared as Monty Panesar urged sledging over Sandpapergate and Smith dismissed the comments with a pointed Mastermind jibe.