The stage is set and battle lines are drawn as it’s time for the cricket’s oldest rivalry to return to action. It’s hosts Australia taking on England facing off in what promises to be an epic 5-Test match series spanning from November to January. The series opener takes place in Western Australia at the Optus Stadium in Perth. Two teams with contrasting build-ups come into this series and it is not a straightforward series to call as this is a good England side and the hosts Australia grappling with injuries.
Australia will be led by Steve Smith in the absence of Pat Cummins and the Aussies will also miss the services of Josh Hazlewood as well out with hamstring strain. There is expected to be a debutant at the top in Jake Weatherald and a debutant in the bowling line-up in Brendan Doggett. The bowling will be depleted but batting looks decent. England, on the other hand, have named their XII and will take a last minute call whether to include a spinner or go with an all pace attack. This is England’s best chance against Australia especially the first Test match. One can say this is a must-win game for both but for England more to set the tone.
The stage is set and we are set for an amazing series.
Overview
Cricket’s oldest rivalry is back in town as Australia and England face-off in a 5-match Test series with the first Test set to kick-off at the Optus Stadium in Perth on November 21st, 2025 at 7:50 AM IST. The pitch is expected to be green and aid the pacers more than spinners as is often the case in Perth. Both teams are evenly matched and it is tough to call at the outset as to which team starts this series as favourites. Many reckon this is Australia’s weakest side and England’s strongest side. Only time will tell whether that is indeed the case.
Hosts Australia are playing their second series under this new WTC Cycle 2025-27. They started their campaign in the Caribbean against the West Indies and easily disposed them off by winning the three Tests easily 3-0 including a Day-Night Test match. On spicy tracks, the batting struggled for both teams with only Travis Head, Beau Webster, and Alex Carey shining while the Aussies were spot on with the ball as West Indies struggled to compete with the bat.
Ever since that series, Australia have played white-ball cricket, but no Test matches under their belt whatsoever and so, this is their second series in this cycle and it is a marquee one at that. Australia will miss the services of regular captain Pat Cummins as he is still recovering from back issues, but he is with the team training. If that was not enough, they will miss the services of Josh Hazlewood as well, out with a hamstring strain. So, the bowling has been depleted and all eyes will be on Mitchell Starc to lead the attack in Perth in the absence of these two bowlers.
Mitchell Starc will be partnered by Scott Boland who returns to the side to get a long go one hopes. Brendan Doggett is set to make his Test debut and so will Jake Weatherald at the top of the order. Nathan Lyon will as usual be the lone spinner. In the batting department, Usman Khawaja will have his seventh opening partner since the retirement of David Warner in Jake Weatherald. Marnus Labuschagne is back and will bat at 3 ahead of Steve Smith the captain at 4. Travis Head will bat at 5 ahead of Cameron Green at 6, and Alex Carey the keeper at 7. Beau Webster despite performing so well in the Caribbean has been left out.
Australia’s playing XI has been confirmed by Steve Smith right now as we speak while England have confirmed their XII and will name their XI most likely at toss time tomorrow. The Aussie side may look a tad weaker than previous sides and are missing key players, but one cannot count out Australia in Australia due to their record. Australia hold the urn since 2017/18 series as subsequent series in England have ended in 2-2 stalemates including the 2023 one and in Australia England haven’t won a Test since 2011.
Coming to England now, who play a different brand of cricket call Bazball, they look a solid side as well and are being tipped as the best ever side to tour Australia ever. England much like Australia are playing their second series in this new WTC cycle 2025-27. They began their campaign in an epic series against India at home where the Anderson-Tendulkar series finished at 2-2 with one match drawn. It was a series of epic proportions which each match going to the final day. England would have liked to win the series and should have won 3-1 but it was not to be as India kept fighting then.
England have not won on Australian shores since 2011 and have not got the urn since 2018. They will be looking to change that. But they are going to do it without the services of legendary bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad who have retired from the game. But England have named a solid battery of pacers and even without those two and Chris Woakes who has also retired they look a solid team on paper. But can they put in down to performances remains to be seen.
England have picked a XII for the match from which the XI will be possibly chosen at the toss. The Playing XII includes two openers in Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley. Ollie Pope will bat at 3 and has edged out Jacob Bethell for now. The ever dependable Joe Root will bat at 4 followed by vice-captain Harry Brook at 5, captain Ben Stokes at 6 and keeper-batter Jamie Smith at 7. Then in the bowling, England has chosen Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, and spinner Shoaib Bashir. The call one feels will be whether to take Bashir and drop a pacer or go with an all-pace attack. It will depend on the pitch which looks green and will aid pacers more than spinners.
So, both teams have chosen their XI or XII and the stage is set for the battle ahead. At the moment it’s too close to call as to who holds the upper hand. Many feel it is England because Australia are depleted in bowling. But one cannot count out Australia in Australia. The stage is set for the battle royal in Perth.
Head-To-Head
Australia and England have a long history in Test Cricket. They have played a total of 361 Test matches against each other. Australia has the edge winning 152 of them while England has won 112. 97 Test matches between the two sides have ended in draws. But Australia has the upper hand in the last 10 Test matches leading 7-3 against England.
Pitch & Weather Report
The pitch at the Optus stadium has green grass left on it which will aid the pacers for sure. The pitch may get flatter as the game progresses but it is supposed to be a decent track which has something in it for everyone. Batting could be tricky at times and one would have to adjust himself out there and apply under pressure. Most captains favour batting first and we expect that trend to continue in this Test match as well.
The weather in Perth will most likely be fine for the majority of the Test match. There is a slight chance of showers on the first two days. But the weather will be comfortable. Temperatures will be in the mid 20s at around 27 degrees Celsius for the first day. There is a low pressure in the eastern part of Western Australia that could bring showers across southern parts of the state, but Perth will be fine. There could be passing showers over the weekend as well, but no major alarms are expected to affect the Test match. Expect a good Test match.
Predicted/Announced Playing XIS of both sides
Australia Announced XI: Usman Khawaja, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Brendan Doggett, Scott Boland.
England Announced XII: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Shoaib Bashir.
Key Players to watch out for in this clash
Steve Smith: Australia’s captain Steve Smith will also have to lead from the front to set the tone for the series. Smith the captain will be important and so will Smith the player at 4. With the top order a little shaky, the onus will be on Smith to shine through for the Aussies. He has a good record as captain and against England and this is a golden opportunity to shine once again.
Mitchell Starc: The spearhead of the Australian attack, Starc has more responsibility in this Test in the absence of the stalwarts Cummins and Hazlewood. Australia will look to Starc to shine in what will be helpful conditions so that he can run through sides. It’s not going to be easy, but he will want to do well at the Optus to set the tone for the match and series.
Joe Root: England’s Mr. Reliable Joe Root is an important cog in the wheel for England. He will want to get the monkey off his back by getting a ton in Australia. For England to do well and compete, Joe Root has to perform for his side and have a great series and what better way to start than the Perth Test match. He will also want to start the series on the right note will Root. He has to anchor the innings through.
Jofra Archer: Jofra Archer will be the enforcer and key bowler for England in this series and he will first hope to stay fit for the entire duration of the series. He is set to start the first Test match and could create flutters in the shaky Australian top order to put them in trouble. With the Aussie top order not at their best, Archer will be licking his lips to run through the side and give his team the upper hand in this particular series and match.
Key Stats/Records to keep an eye on ahead of this Test match
- Australia have a 4-1 winning record at The Perth Stadium with the solitary coming against India last year.
- All 5 teams that have won the toss and batted first have gone onto win the match here.
- Australia’s highest score at this venue is 598/4 declared against West Indies.
- Australia’s lowest score at this venue is 104 which they scored against India last year.
- Marnus Labuschagne has scored 524 runs in 4 matches here at an average of 74.85 with 3 centuries and a fifty.
- Nathan Lyon is the highest wicket-taker here with 29 wickets in 5 games.
Predicted/Possible Outcome of this clash
It is tough to call a side the favourite in this clash. Both teams have their strengths and weaknesses. Both have issues to address. Australia more so than England. Looking at the current scenario with Australia missing key players, we reckon England has a good chance and are slight favourites in this contest. But count out Australia in Australia at your own peril. They know how to fight with a depleted side at home. Expecting an epic series for sure.
Let’s see how the first Test pans out and which team comes out on top in Perth. Hopefully, no rain in Perth whatsoever and we get an uninterrupted days of cricket.
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