England to bat first in blockbuster first Ashes Test
Oliver Caffrey |
England have chosen to bat first in the first Ashes Test at Perth Stadium, opting to rattle Australia with an all-out pace attack.
Captain Ben Stokes, who normally bowls first, elected to bat after winning the toss for England on Friday.
After picking a 12-man squad on Wednesday, England left out spinner Shoaib Bashir in preference for express quicks Mark Wood and Jofra Archer.
Two of the quicker bowlers in the world, Wood and Archer have never played together against Australia in the same Test.
Quick Brendan Doggett and aggressive opener Jake Weatherald are on international debut, making it the first time Australia have blooded two debutants in the same Test since January 2019.
Adopted South Australian Doggett becomes Australia’s 472nd Test cricketer, replacing injured quick Josh Hazlewood.
Doggett was presented with his baggy green by fellow late bloomer Scott Boland.
The pair are creating history as the only two Indigenous players to be in the same Australian Test team.
Doggett is just the third First Nations man to play Tests for Australia, after Boland and Jason Gillespie.
“I hit a point in South Australia where I thought I was going to be done, just through my body, but fortunately enough through contacts in South Australia I met with footballer Jason Porplyzia who told me his story,” Doggett told the Seven Network.
“He had an injury similar to mine and he ended his career through injuries, he told me not to pull the pin and to get through it and just enjoy it for what it is.
“That was a game changer for me and allowed me to steady the ship and to enjoy the moment and thankfully the body cooperated.”
Weatherald, who grew up in Darwin before emerging as a domestic cricketer in South Australia, was handed his first cap by former Australia champion David Warner.
After moving to Tasmania, Weatherald shot into Test contention when young gun Sam Konstas endured a difficult tour of the Caribbean in July.
The 31-year-old is Usman Khawaja’s sixth opening partner since Warner retired from Test cricket in January 2024.
A record Test crowd at Perth of more than 50,000 is expected on Friday, with the first two days sold out.
AUSTRALIA: Jake Weatherald, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (capt), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett.
ENGLAND: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood.
AAP
