9m agoFri 21 Nov 2025 at 1:50amEngland wins the toss and will bat
England captain Ben Stokes opts to bat first, which is very unlike him. He and England usually love chasing.
“It’s been a long build-up and now we’re finally here,” he says.
England has left Shoaib Bashir out of its XI, so it’s an all-out pace attack.
Australia captain Steve Smith says he would have batted first too.
He says he’s expecting the cracks to open up, but hopefully the Aussies aren’t chasing too much by that point.
And the team is as expected:
Usman KhawajaJake WeatheraldMarnus LabuschagneSteve Smith (c)Travis HeadCameron GreenAlex CareyMitchell StarcNathan LyonScott BolandBrendan Doggett
Former Australia coach Darren Lehmann approves of Stokes’s decision, going against his usual approach.
“I reckon that’s a great move from England,” he says on ABC Sport.
“If you batted first, you needed to play the spinner. Big tick for Ben Stokes and the England cricket team. They always bowl.”
11m agoFri 21 Nov 2025 at 1:49am
Another new opener
If Jake weatherald fails to flourish who do they turn to next Jon ?
– Tom
Hi Tom. Great to see the confidence in Australia’s latest debutant.
But look, it’s probably justified considering the way the selectors have chopped and changed of late.
Honestly, I might have gone with Marnus Labuschagne as opener so we could keep Cameron Green and Beau Webster in the team, especially with the diminished bowling line-up.
Also, thanks for the comment!
Everyone chime in with you thoughts with that comment button above the blog.
13m agoFri 21 Nov 2025 at 1:46am
A perfect Perth day to ignite these Ashes
(Getty Images)
Not sure November days come much better than this in Perth. Not a single cloud has been sighted this morning, and it’s warm without being uncomfortable.
There was a gentle cooling breeze coming off the river – no, not the Fremantle Doctor – this morning as an absurd amount of people began lining up around the stadium. Hours before play began, well before gates even opened, the precint around this stadium was absolutely jammed. They’re flooding in now, and we’ll be nudging 60,000 once they all take their seats.
The English presence here is notable as well. Just above the advertising hoardings, for nearly half the circumference of the ground, English flags create a barrier between the players and the crowd. They have come in their droves, and they believe.
The toss is not far away, though it may not matter much. I imagine Australia will bat and England will bowl no matter which way it comes down. From there though, anything goes.
15m agoFri 21 Nov 2025 at 1:44am
What Gillespie said before handing Doggett Baggy Green
Jason Gillespie says Brendan Doggett had two goals when he was playing for South Australia — improving the culture of SA, and making the Australian team.
Gillespie tells ABC that he mentioned both goals when presenting Doggett with his Baggy Green.
The former Test paceman also speaks about Doggett and Scott Boland making history with today being the first time two Indigenous men have been in the same Test side for Australia.
“It’s a record we shouldn’t overly be proud of, to be perfectly honest,” he says.
“I know Cricket Australia is looking to get more First Nations kids to play the game.
“I think T20 has been quite a good vehicle. I think in time, there will be more [Indigenous cricketers].”
19m agoFri 21 Nov 2025 at 1:40am
England didn’t play any proper warm up matches — and it doesn’t matter
A lot has been made about how little time England have spent in the middle leading into this series.
But in truth, does it really matter?
England have played one warm up game in their last five overseas tours. They have won the first Test in each one of those series.
Australia only played one warm up game before the last Ashes series in England. They won the first two Tests.
And, even when England did play plenty of warm up matches, as ABC commentator Phil Tufnell so eloquently said, England still won “sod all”.
Here’s what the numbers say about England’s preparation.
23m agoFri 21 Nov 2025 at 1:37amBaggy green caps 472 and 473 are being handed out
(AAP)
Jason Gillespie and Scott Boland (the only other Aboriginal men’s Test players) are both presenting seamer Brendan Doggett with his baggy green cap.
And David Warner is down there to hand over the cap to fellow opener Jake Weatherald.
Weatherald is the sixth new opener the Australian Test team has tried since Warner’s retirement in January 2024.
Steve Smith (4 Tests), Nathan McSweeney (3 Tests), Sam Konstas (5 Tests), Travis Head (2 Tests), Marnus Labuschagne (1 Test) and now the 31-year-old veteran after a number of elite Sheffield Shield seasons.
His inclusion comes at the expense of Tasmanian teammate Beau Webster, who can consider himself a little stiff to miss out.
31m agoFri 21 Nov 2025 at 1:28amHistory being made today
Before a ball is even bowled today, we’ll see a 150-year first as Brendan Doggett and Scott Boland unite in a new-look Australian pace attack.
41m agoFri 21 Nov 2025 at 1:18amThe Ashes are finally here!
(Getty)
It’s finally time!
After months and months of build-up and speculation there’s nothing left to do but actually play cricket.
This perpetually hotly anticipated series kicks off in Perth to start a long summer of Test intrigue and action.
I’m Jon Healy and I’ll be joined by a bevy of colleagues on today’s blog and our live coverage throughout the rest of the series.
Let’s get into it!!