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Australia and England will resume their rivalry in the famed Ashes series with the first game getting underway at the Optus Stadium in Perth from Friday (November 21). The visitors will believe they have the best chance of posting their first win Down Under in last 15 attempts as Australia are heading into this game with a depleted line-up due to injuries to key pacer Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. England are expected to head into this clash with an all-pace attack led by Jofra Archer and Mark Wood who has been passed fit after injury scare last week. “He’s flying. He’s had all his injury troubles and all that kind of stuff ... but he’s been bowling for a long long time” Stokes said about Mark Wood who claimed 17 wickets in the last Ashes series. “He has always been someone who can just hit the ground running in a game. And he’s bowling rapid which is good” Stokes added. With Archer and Wood both playing in the 11 England may leave out off-spinner Shoaib Bashir for the clash at Perth. “I’ve come here absolutely desperate to get home on that plane in January as one of the lucky few captains from England who have come here and been successful. A lot has been spoken of about the history and how it has gone for England — this is our chance to create our own” Stokes said in the pre-match press conference. Stokes along with all-rounder Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson will be the back up to Archer and Wood at Perth. Australia on the other hand have decided to hand debuts caps to pacer Brendan Doggett and opener Jake Weatherald. Doggett and Scott Boland will be coming into the side in place of injured Aussie skipper Pat Cummins and Hazlewood. Weatherald has replace Sam Konstas in the playing 11 to partner Usman Khawaja after the youngster failed to cement his place in Test series against India and West Indies.   Nothing screams ‘Ashes season’ more than banters like these dropping in! WATCH #AUSvENG THE ASHES | 1st Test | FRI NOV 21 7.50 AM on Star Sports Network & JioHotstar pic.twitter.com/nozcv4XZMC — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) November 20 2025 Australia vs England Ashes 2025 1st Test match Predicted 11 Australia: Jake Weatherald Usman Khawaja Marnus Labuschagne Steve Smith (c) Travis Head Cameron Green Alex Carey (wk) Mitchell Starc Nathan Lyon Scott Boland Brendan Doggett England: Zak Crawley Ben Duckett Ollie Pope Joe Root Harry Brook Ben Stokes (c) Jamie Smith (wk) Brydon Carse Gus Atkinson Mark Wood Jofra Archer