AUS vs ENG match preview – 1st Test, The Ashes 2025

AUS vs ENG match preview – 1st Test, The Ashes 2025:

Date and location:

The AUS vs ENG match will be played at Perth Stadium, Perth from November 21 to 25. The match will start at 7:50 AM IST.

Selections:

Australia

Usman Khawaja, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith(c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey(w), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Brendan Doggett, Scott Boland, Beau Webster, Josh Inglis, Michael Neser

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England

Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes(c), Jamie Smith(w), Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Brydon Carse, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Matthew Potts, Josh Tongue, Will Jacks

AUS vs ENG Key Fights:

Steve Smith vs. Jofra Archer

Australian captain Steve Smith will look to lead from the front and give the team a winning start in the upcoming Ashes series.

Smith will have to tackle the bowling of Jofra Archer, who will look to bounce him out, making it a fascinating battle to watch.

Travis Head vs. Mark Wood

Aggressive left-handed batsman Tavis Head, who is known to take the attack to the opposition, will look to do the same in the first match itself.

Head will face Mark Wood, who will be ready after picking up an injury earlier this year.

Joe Root vs. Mitchell Starc

One of England’s most experienced batsmen in the current squad when it comes to playing Test match cricket in Australia, Joe Root, would be aiming to make his maiden Test hundred on Australian soil in the opening match.

Root will face Mitchell Starc, who will see a similar start to the one he gave his team when The Ashes was last played in Australia.

Ben Stokes vs. Scott Boland

Along with Root, England captain Ben Stokes will play an important role in ensuring that the visitors put up a strong show with the bat while batting in the middle order.

Stokes will be looking to challenge Scott Boland, who had a stunning debut series in the 2021 Ashes when he took six wickets at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and will be looking to achieve a similar feat.

AUS vs ENG Key Players:

OUT FROM – Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland

NL– Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood

AUS vs ENG weather report:

There is a slight chance of rain during the third day of the first match in Parth with a high of 27°C and a low of 13°C.

Conclusion

Australia would be keen to maintain their good record against England that the team has in the last 15 Tests at home when they take the field to face each other in the Ashes opener, having lost one of them.

England, on the other hand, would be keen to get off to a good start as it will set a nice rhythm for the Ben Stokes-led side leading the series, something that has not been a common phenomenon in this part of the world in recent years.