Overview
- First Test begins November 21 at Optus Stadium in Perth, with the five-match series then moving to Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.
- Sir Andrew Strauss praised Ben Stokes’ leadership yet warned Australia will try to unsettle him mentally, as Stokes brushed off criticism of England’s single three-day warm-up against the Lions.
- Mike Hussey outlined a plan built on patient lines, exploiting extra bounce and selective short balls, with specific traps for England’s top order and Nathan Lyon viewed as pivotal against Stokes.
- Australia will miss injured fast bowlers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood for at least the opener, elevating depth options such as Scott Boland and potentially Brendan Doggett for targeted roles.
- Nasser Hussain said Bazball has irked Australia, while key form and fitness questions linger over Joe Root’s search for a first Test hundred in Australia, England quicks Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, and Steve Smith’s resurgent run-scoring.