England head into Friday’s (Nov. 21) Ashes opener in Perth with an unusual spring in their step — and a rare chance to land the first punch in a five-test series historically dominated by Australia on home soil.

For the first time in nearly 40 years, England sense a genuine opening to seize momentum early. Australia’s squad has been rocked by major injury blows, with frontline fast bowlers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood ruled out. Together, the duo hold 604 Test wickets, leaving stand-in captain Steve Smith to rely on a patched-up attack expected to include Scott Boland and uncapped bowler Brendan Doggett.

England arrive with their fastest pace battery in years, featuring Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue, and Brydon Carse, with skipper Ben Stokes also ready to bowl. Yet for most of the squad, this will be their first Test match in Australia — and their first attempt to rewrite decades of Ashes struggles in Perth, where England last won in 1978.

The iconic venue becomes both a challenge and an opportunity as the Ashes begin on Friday, with England looking to exploit Australian vulnerabilities and snap their long drought in Western Australia.


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