9.55am Daniel R: “So hyped for this, watching all the way from Birmingham, AL. I reckon it’s going to be a close series and Root is going to get at least 2 hundreds! Keen to see Archer and Wood unleashed together.”
Just the second time Wood and Archer have played in the same Test side together. Southampton 2020 vs West Indies the other occasion. For now, at least, England’s planning has come together.
9.50am England win the toss and bat. “You try and take as much information as you,” says Ben Stokes. “Try and get some runs on the board. It’s been a long build-up, now we are finally here.” Confirmation that it’s an all-pace attack.
Steve Smith says he would have batted first, too. Expects the cracks to come into play later in the game. Hopes to get some movement first thing. “A couple of big losses,” he says of the injuries but backs Boland and Doggett.
Australia 1 Jake Weatherald, 2 Usman Khawaja, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith (capt), 5 Travis Head, 6 Cameron Green, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Nathan Lyon, 10 Scott Boland, 11 Brendan Doggett
England 1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope, 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Ben Stokes (capt), 7 Jamie Smith (wk), 8 Gus Atkinson, 9 Brydon Carse, 10 Mark Wood, 11 Jofra Archer
9.40am Suren: “Imagine being in Perth but working in an office but everywhere you see its the Ashes fever, public transport filled up, Bars at capacity, there’s excitement in the air. The West Test is here!” Not sure they’ll be too much work happening today!
Damo: “I’m in an office in Adelaide….4 of us are heading to the pub for the 1st session. My boss is one of them, so no issues at all!” Excellent leadership
9.35am Cap presentations taking place: David Warner to Jake Weatherald and, very significantly, Jason Gillespie and Scott Boland for Brendan Doggett
Randall: “Watching all the way from the Caribbean, I’m so hyped!!!”
9.30am So much around the Australia side was based on Cameron Green’s bowling. They came out well against Queensland, but it remains to be seen how much Smith uses him. His international career is at an interesting moment.
Aaron Gocs: “Hopefully Green wont be needed to bowl too much. If we can get some small spells out of him to give the main 3 pacers a break that will be ideal. Lyon can bowl a lot of overs”
Peter J Mueller: “Ive noticed Doggett often gets a big haul in the first innings, much like Scotty Boland, I reckon it will be a tussle between the two, and England will struggle to score 50 in the first innings.”
9.20am Arun: “Hoping to see some Boland magic, it’s a pity that such a fine bowler has to depend on others injury to showcase get into the team.” Might need him to play five this summer.
Talking of bowlers, here’s Matt Roller on the attack England have brought with them.
RizwanaZain: “I miss the traditional Gabba test match. ” – So does Mitchell Starc
Avinash: “Mark my words and take a screenshot if you can – Australia is winning the ashes 3-1 or 4-0. No way England is winning the Ashes.”
9.15am The age of the Australia side has been a talking point in the build-up. But will experience prove important? Regardless, one of the senior players whose performances will be closely watched is Usman Khawaja. Alex Malcolm looks at where he stands.
Grant: “I’m nervous and excited enough for the whole country. Can’t imagine how the players are felling. Bring it on!”
Marc: “Feeling the hype all the way here in California!”
9.10am Richard A: “Nathan Lyon’s gonna get a couple of important wickets today or tomorrow. Everyone talks up the pace and bounce in Aus, and the all-pace attacks – Perth, the Gabba. But then it’s a good finger spinner who finds an outside edge once or twice and puts one team’s nose in front.” – Will certainly be interesting to see the role he plays.
“Carse and Atkinson have also marked run-ups,” Matt adds, followed by: “Wood marking now. So all-seam.”
9.05am Nick: “”everything over the last three and a half years” – more like 40 years. If this England team can’t win this series they will never win in Australia again (2010-11 was an aberration)” Well, that’s one way to look at it! This opening Test certainly feels like a massive opportunity to them.
So on that note, what does it all mean for Ben Stokes’ legacy?
“Members stands already approaching capacity,” Matt says. “Must be at least 30 St George’s crosses on the Barmy Army’s side of the ground too.”
Luigi: “Personally feel like England will have a better chance next time out- they’ll still have a large portion of this squad and Australia will enjoy much less experience that is currently in their lineup.”
9.00am All the Tests at this venue have been won by the side batting first. Big toss ahead? Pitches in Australia have certainly changed.
Here’s Matt Roller: “Some grass for sure but it’s no green monster. Archer and Stokes marking run-ups, Bashir playing football. All indications still five seamers.”
8.50am We know the Australia XI, that was named yesterday, but we are awaiting on England’s final decision. Feels like they’ll go all pace. And just for confirmation, yes, it’s a 10.20am start.
For England, it feels like everything over the last three and a half years has led to this. Can Bazball win in Australia? Andrew Miller, who may have had something to do with naming the brand, sets the scene.
Martin: “Getting in early. So excited. Walking around the house already with my helmet on, gloves on and bat in hand. Too much? Nah.”
ElephantMan: “Why is England being so coy about announcing their eleven? Seems an odd play.” Initially because they were training second yesterday, then just to give themselves another night. Not sure it’s a massive deal.
8.45am It’s here folks. And thank goodness for that! Time for some cricket. After a massive build-up to this Ashes we are just over an hour away from the toss in Perth. The sense of anticipation is huge and it has the makings of a great series. Join us for the ride, it could be wild. I’m Andrew McGlashan and along with Andrew Miller will bring you the action, while we have Vithushan Ehantharajah, Alex Malcolm, Matt Roller and Tristan Lavalette at Perth Stadium.
