Overview
- Stand-in captain Steve Smith confirmed Jake Weatherald and Brendan Doggett will debut in Perth, with Scott Boland joining Mitchell Starc in the pace unit.
- Marnus Labuschagne returns to No. 3, Cameron Green is fit to bowl at No. 6, and Alex Carey keeps wicket in a side missing two frontline quicks.
- Nathan Lyon will play his 140th Test and needs two wickets to move past Glenn McGrath on the all-time list.
- Doggett’s selection would see Australia field two Indigenous players in a men’s Test XI for the first time, according to reports.
- England named a 12-man group and will finalize their XI at the toss, with a quick, bouncy Perth surface expected for Friday’s series opener.