Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has launched a stinging criticism of Cricket Australia for their controversial decision to host the first Ashes Test at Perth Stadium, breaking with the long-standing tradition of starting the series at Brisbane's The Gabba.
Player Power Ignored
The 35-year-old left-arm paceman, who famously took a wicket with the very first ball of the last Ashes series in Australia by bowling England's Rory Burns, made his surprising admission just moments after the Perth pitch curator warned against expecting another fiery surface.
'They don't listen to players, we would have liked to start in Brisbane,' Starc bluntly stated, highlighting the growing frustration among Australian players about being excluded from scheduling decisions.
The agreement to launch the next three Test summers in Perth has clearly angered the playing group, and it's not difficult to understand their perspective. Australia's dominant record at The Gabba, where they haven't lost an Ashes Test since 1986, made it their fortress and the ideal venue to begin a series.
England's Relief and Perth's Pitch Promise
England fast bowler Gus Atkinson acknowledged that moving the first Test away from Brisbane probably benefits the tourists. 'History would say it's probably a good thing we're not starting at the Gabba,' he conceded.
Memories of last year's notoriously lively Perth pitch, which produced an astonishing 17 wickets on the opening day alone, had led to speculation about a similar surface this time. However, curator Isaac McDonald has moved to calm those expectations.
McDonald revealed he began his pitch preparation a day earlier specifically to ensure the track won't be as fiery, aiming for grass length between eight and ten millimetres to create a more balanced contest between bat and ball.
Stakes Couldn't Be Higher
For England's veteran stars Ben Stokes and Joe Root, both 34, this series likely represents their final opportunity to win the Ashes urn on Australian soil. Neither has ever achieved this career milestone, adding extra significance to every match.
Australia will be desperate to improve on their performance from last year's Perth Test, where they suffered a heavy defeat to India. Meanwhile, England has never played at the new Perth precinct, making Friday's first Test completely new territory for all their players.
Australia has confirmed their starting XI, handing debuts to veteran quick Brendan Doggett and batsman Jake Weatherald. Cameron Green will bat at six as the all-rounder, with Beau Webster being the unfortunate omission from the side.
The first Test begins on Friday afternoon, setting the stage for what promises to be a fiercely contested series with the iconic Urn up for grabs.
