Overview
- Steve Smith will captain Australia in the Ashes opener and returned to batting after a brief left‑hand scare in the nets.
- Selectors are expected to pair Scott Boland with Mitchell Starc, with seamer Brendan Doggett tipped for a debut and Marnus Labuschagne recalled as Australia weigh top‑order options including Jake Weatherald.
- England confirmed their Perth squad with Mark Wood included after hamstring scans cleared him, joining a pace group that features Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson.
- Perth Stadium is set for a fast, bouncy pitch and a sell‑out crowd, and England see an opportunity given Australia’s depleted attack, though their away record in Australia remains poor.
- For India–South Africa, the BCCI said Gill is responding to treatment and will be monitored in Guwahati, with Nitish Kumar Reddy rejoining the squad and left‑handers Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal training as potential batting options on a truer red‑soil surface.