The Australia vs England 1st Test 2025-26 preview is here, and cricket fans across the globe are buzzing with excitement! The greatest rivalry in Test cricket explodes back onto Australian soil as the Ashes 2025-26 kicks off at Perth Stadium from November 21-25, 2025. With Australia desperate to retain the urn on home turf and England riding the fearless wave of Bazball, this opening battle could set the tone for an unforgettable series. Injuries have rocked the hosts, express pace is loading up for the tourists, and a bouncy Perth pitch promises non-stop drama.
Will Steve Smith’s makeshift Australia hold firm, or will Ben Stokes’ men strike first blood after 14 long years without an Ashes win Down Under? Buckle up – this Australia vs England 1st Test 2025-26 preview breaks down everything you need to know!
Match Details & Full Ashes 2025-26 Schedule
The Australia vs England 1st Test 2025-26 is the blockbuster opener of the NRMA Insurance Men’s Ashes series, part of the 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | 1st Test – Australia vs England |
| Dates | November 21-25, 2025 |
| Venue | Perth Stadium (Optus Stadium), Perth |
| Toss Time | 10:00 AM Local (AWST) |
| First Ball | 10:20 AM Local / 1:20 PM AEDT / 2:20 AM GMT |
| Session Times (Local) | 10:20 AM-12:20 PM │ Lunch │ 1:00-3:00 PM │ Tea │ 3:20-5:20 PM |
| Umpires | Adrian Holdstock & Nitin Menon (on-field) |
| Match Referee | Ranjan Madugalle |
Full Ashes 2025-26 Schedule Table
| Test | Dates | Venue | Type | Start Time (AEDT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Nov 21-25 | Perth Stadium | Day | 1:20 PM |
| 2nd | Dec 4-8 | The Gabba, Brisbane | Day-Night | 3:00 PM |
| 3rd | Dec 17-21 | Adelaide Oval | Day | 10:30 AM |
| 4th | Dec 26-30 | MCG, Melbourne | Day | 10:30 AM |
| 5th | Jan 4-8, 2026 | SCG, Sydney | Day | 10:30 AM |
Cricket Australia for more details.
Perth Stadium Venue Guide: The Modern Fortress
Perth Stadium, also known as Optus Stadium, is a 60,000-capacity beast that opened in 2018 and replaced the legendary WACA as Western Australia’s premier cricket venue. Sitting on the banks of the Swan River, it offers electric atmosphere, short boundaries, and a drop-in pitch famous for raw pace and bounce – perfect for the Australia vs England 1st Test 2025-26 preview hype!
This will be the first-ever Ashes Test at Perth Stadium – England skipped it during the COVID-hit 2021-22 tour. Australia boast a 4-1 record here in Tests, with their only loss a 295-run thrashing by India last summer.
Key features:
- Hard, true bounce that favours 140kph+ bowlers early.
- Flattens slightly on days 2-3 before cracking.
- 100% of toss winners have batted first and won the match!
Perth Stadium Stats & Records in Tables
Overall Test Record at Perth Stadium (2018-present)
| Stat | Figure |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 5 |
| Australia Wins | 4 |
| Highest Team Total | 598/4d (AUS vs WI, 2022) |
| Average 1st Innings | 308 |
| Pace Wickets | 134 (Avg 27.82) |
| Spin Wickets | 40 (Avg 34.42) |
| Toss Wins (Bat First) | 5/5 (100% match wins) |
Most Runs & Wickets at Venue
| Most Runs | Player | Runs | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marnus Labuschagne | AUS | 524 | 74.85 |
| Travis Head | AUS | 312 | 52.00 |
| Most Wickets | Player | Wkts | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nathan Lyon | AUS | 29 | 20.86 |
| Mitchell Starc | AUS | 24 | 22.50 |
Pitch Report, Weather Forecast & Toss Prediction
Pitch Report for Australia vs England 1st Test 2025-26 Curator Isaac McDonald has prepared a classic Perth wicket with a light green tinge and even grass cover. Expect “pure energy” with steep bounce and carry early – something for quicks on days 1-2, then batters if they survive. It dried out quickly under 30°C+ heat in inspections, potentially suiting Bazball aggression later.
- Par 1st innings score: 320-380
- Seam movement + short ball threat dominant
- Spin comes in days 4-5 via cracks
- Dew factor: Negligible in dry Perth November
Perth Weather Forecast November 21-25, 2025
| Day | Date | High/Low (°C) | Conditions | Rain Chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Nov 21 | 26/14 | Sunny with light breeze | 5% |
| Day 2 | Nov 22 | 28/15 | Mostly clear | 10% |
| Day 3 | Nov 23 | 27/16 | Partly cloudy | 15% |
| Day 4 | Nov 24 | 25/14 | Sunny intervals | 20% |
| Day 5 | Nov 25 | 26/15 | Clear | 5% |
Full play expected – classic hot, fast Perth conditions!
Toss Prediction History screams bat first (5/5 winners). Australia 60% favourites to win toss and pile on runs. Losing toss could be fatal!
Latest Team News & Injury Updates
Australia hit hard:
- Pat Cummins (lumbar stress) – out of Perth, targets Brisbane return
- Josh Hazlewood (hamstring strain) – ruled out after second scan
- Sean Abbott (hamstring) – also sidelined
Steve Smith captains. Brendan Doggett (48 wickets in 2025 FC) eyes debut alongside Scott Boland.
England boost:
- Jofra Archer fully fit – first Test on Aussie soil since 2019
- Mark Wood cleared of hamstring scare – “full of energy” All pace battery raring to go!
Australia Squad Analysis & Probable XI
Australia 14-man Squad for 1st Test Steve Smith (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser (cover), Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.
Top-order puzzle: Weatherald debut or Labuschagne opens? All-round depth with Green/Webster likely both play due to bowling injuries.
Australia Probable XI
- Usman Khawaja
- Jake Weatherald (debut)
- Marnus Labuschagne
- Steve Smith (c)
- Travis Head
- Cameron Green
- Alex Carey (wk)
- Mitchell Starc
- Nathan Lyon
- Brendan Doggett (debut)
- Scott Boland
Balance: Experienced top, youthful bowling with extra all-round options.
England Squad Analysis & Probable XI
England 16-man Squad Ben Stokes (c), Harry Brook (vc), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue, Mark Wood.
Pace overload! Ollie Pope holds No.3 after Lions ton. Bashir likely benched for all-seam attack.
England Probable XI (All-Pace Variation)
- Ben Duckett
- Zak Crawley
- Ollie Pope
- Joe Root
- Harry Brook
- Ben Stokes (c)
- Jamie Smith (wk)
- Gus Atkinson
- Jofra Archer
- Mark Wood
- Brydon Carse/Josh Tongue
X-factor pace to exploit Perth bounce!
10 Explosive Player Battles to Watch
- Mitchell Starc vs Ben Duckett – Swing vs aggressive left-hander
- Jofra Archer vs Steve Smith – 150kph heat vs Mr. Clutch
- Nathan Lyon vs Joe Root – Root’s Australia century drought continues?
- Scott Boland vs Zak Crawley – Accuracy vs tall opener
- Ben Stokes vs Aus middle order – All-round fire
- Mark Wood bouncers vs Travis Head – Short-ball war
- Harry Brook vs Lyon – Young gun vs GOAT spinner
- Alex Carey vs England short ball – Keeping under siege
Players to Watch with 2025 Stats Tables
Australia Stars
| Player | Role | 2025 Stats (Tests/FC) |
|---|---|---|
| Steve Smith | Captain/Batter | 775 runs @51.67 |
| Travis Head | Middle Order | 690 runs @40.59 (SR 82+) |
| Mitchell Starc | Pace Leader | 41 wkts @3.32 econ |
| Nathan Lyon | Spinner (562 wkts) | 2 away from McGrath! |
England Stars
| Player | Role | 2025 Stats |
|---|---|---|
| Harry Brook | Vice-Captain | 920 runs @54.12 (SR 85+) |
| Ben Duckett | Opener | 846 runs @47 |
| Jofra Archer | Express Pace | Back & firing! |
| Mark Wood | Express Pace | Fit and fearsome |
Ashes Head-to-Head Stats & Records
| Category | Australia | England |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Ashes | 152 wins | 112 wins (97 draws) |
| In Australia | Dominant | Last win 2011 |
| Last 5 Tests | 2 wins | 2 wins, 1 draw |
| Active Most Runs | Smith 3417 | Root 2428 |
| Active Most Wickets | Lyon 110 | Wood/Stokes 41 each |
Recent Form Guide Tables
Australia Last 10 Tests: WWWLWWDWLW England Last 10 Tests: LDWLWWLWWL
WTC 2025-27 Standings (Nov 2025)
| Pos | Team | Pts % |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 100 |
| 6 | England | 43.33 |
Winning Prediction & Bold Calls
Despite injuries, Australia’s home dominance and Perth record make them 55-45 favourites. Expect Australia to win by 120 runs after batting first.
Bold calls:
- Debutant Doggett takes 5-fer
- Someone scores 150+
- Series ends 3-1 Australia
How to Watch Live & Broadcasting Guide
| Region | TV/Streaming | Radio |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Channel 7/7plus (free), Kayo/Foxtel | ABC, Triple M, SEN |
| UK | TNT Sports | BBC |
| India | Sony Sports/SonyLIV | – |
| Global | Match Centre on cricket.com.au | CA Live App (zero lag) |
Quick Hits: Australia vs England 1st Test 2025-26 Preview
- Who will win Australia vs England 1st Test 2025-26? Australia slight favourites despite injuries.
- What is the Perth Stadium pitch report for Ashes 2025? Green, bouncy – favours pace early.
- Is Pat Cummins playing the first Test? No – back injury.
- Will Jofra Archer and Mark Wood both play? Yes – both fully fit!
- What time does the match start in India/UK? 7:50 AM IST / 2:20 AM GMT.
Ashes Tickets Perth 2025: Buying Guide
Australia vs England 1st Test 2025-26 Preview Final release sold fast – limited Day 1-2 still available via Ticketmaster/cricket.com.au. Prices AUD 50-300+. Barmy Army packages from £500 include travel.
The Australia vs England 1st Test 2025-26 preview screams classic Ashes drama – who are you backing? Drop your predictions below and share this ultimate guide with fellow fans! Follow IPL Star for daily updates. 🏏🔥
Ashes 2025-26 Ultimate Preview Guide.
FAQs: Australia vs England 1st Test 2025-26 Preview: Epic Ashes Clash Ignites in Perth
1. What is the Australia vs England 1st Test 2025-26 start date and time?
The 1st Ashes Test 2025-26 begins on Friday, November 21, 2025, at 10:20 AM local time (AWST) in Perth. In India, play starts at 7:50 AM IST, in the UK at 2:20 AM GMT, and in Australian Eastern Time at 1:20 PM AEDT.
2. Where is the Australia vs England 1st Test 2025 being played?
Australia vs England 1st Test 2025-26 Preview The match will be played at Perth Stadium (Optus Stadium), Perth, Western Australia. This is the first-ever Ashes Test at this venue as England did not play here during the 2021-22 series due to COVID restrictions.
3. Who will win the toss in Australia vs England 1st Test 2025 at Perth?
Australia vs England 1st Test 2025-26 Preview History strongly favours the team that wins the toss to bat first — 100% of previous Test winners at Perth Stadium have done so. Australia are slight favourites (around 55–60%) to win the toss and elect to bat.
4. What is the Perth Stadium pitch report for Ashes 1st Test 2025-26?
The pitch is expected to have a green tinge with even grass cover, offering steep bounce and early seam movement. Curator Isaac McDonald has prepared a typical fast, bouncy Perth wicket — ideal for 140kph+ bowlers on Days 1–2, flattening slightly later. First-innings par score: 320–380.
5. Is Pat Cummins playing the Australia vs England 1st Test 2025?
No. Pat Cummins is ruled out of the Perth Test due to a lumbar back stress injury. Steve Smith will captain Australia in his absence, with Cummins targeting a return for the 2nd Test in Brisbane.
6. Will Jofra Archer and Mark Wood both play in the 1st Ashes Test 2025?
Yes — both are fully fit. This will be Jofra Archer’s first Test in Australia since 2019 and Mark Wood’s return after knee surgery. England are likely to field an all-pace attack including Archer, Wood, Gus Atkinson, and Brydon Carse/Josh Tongue.
7. What is the probable playing XI for Australia and England in Perth Test 2025?
Australia Probable XI: Khawaja, Weatherald, Labuschagne, Smith (c), Head, Green, Carey (wk), Starc, Lyon, Doggett (debut), Boland England Probable XI: Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Root, Brook, Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Atkinson, Archer, Wood, Carse/Tongue
8. How to watch Australia vs England 1st Test 2025 live in India, UK, and Australia?
- India: Sony Sports Network & SonyLIV (7:50 AM IST)
- UK: TNT Sports (2:20 AM GMT)
- Australia: Channel 7, 7plus (free), Kayo Sports, Foxtel (1:20 PM AEDT)
9. Are tickets still available for Australia vs England 1st Test 2025 at Perth?
Limited tickets for Days 1 and 2 were released in the final batch and are selling fast. Book via cricket.com.au/tickets or Ticketmaster. Prices start from AUD 50. Barmy Army packages are also available.
10. Who is favourite to win Australia vs England 1st Test 2025-26 in Perth?
Despite missing Cummins and Hazlewood, Australia are slight favourites (55–60%) due to their unbeaten home Ashes record since 2011 and dominant history at Perth. However, England’s fearsome pace attack makes this one of the most eagerly anticipated openers in years.