England vs Australia First Test Preview.The wait is finally over! The Ashes 2025-26 begins on November 21, 2025, at the iconic Optus Stadium, Perth. The stage is set for cricket’s fiercest rivalry as Australia host England in the first Test of the series. With high-octane action expected and several big injury updates on both sides, fantasy cricket players have a great chance to strategize and win big.
This article covers pitch report, weather forecast, injury updates, predicted playing XIs, Dream11 picks, captaincy choices, and fantasy team suggestions.
Match Details: England vs Australia First Test Preview
Match: Australia vs England, 1st Test, The Ashes 2025-26
Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth
Date: November 21–25, 2025 (Friday–Tuesday)
Toss Time: 7:20 AM IST
Match Time: 7:50 AM IST
Live Streaming: JioHotstar (India)
Telecast: Star Sports Network
Pitch Report – Optus Stadium, Perth
The surface at Optus Stadium is famous for its pace, steep bounce, and carry, especially in the first two days. Fast bowlers get natural assistance with the new ball, while batters need to adjust to the extra bounce.
Pitch curator Isaac McDonald has confirmed that the wicket will offer the traditional “pace and bounce of Western Australia,” and cracks are likely to widen as the match progresses. This means spinners could come into play on Days 4 and 5.
Key Pitch Stats
- All 5 Test matches at Optus Stadium have been won by the team batting first.
- Batting becomes easier once the initial movement fades.
- Spinners find help later in the game due to widening cracks.
Toss Impact: Winning the toss is crucial — teams will prefer to bat first and post a big total.
Injury Updates
Australia
- Pat Cummins (captain) – Ruled Out (back injury); Steve Smith to lead
- Josh Hazlewood – Ruled Out (hamstring)
- Sean Abbott – Ruled Out (hamstring)With two frontline pacers missing,
Australia will rely heavily on Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, and debutant Brendan Doggett.
England
- Ben Stokes (captain) – Fully Fit after knee recovery
- Jofra Archer – Doubtful but expected to be part of the squad (monitor during toss)
No major injury concerns otherwise.
Predicted Playing XI
Australia Predicted XI
David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (C), Cameron Green, Travis Head, Alex Carey (WK), Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon, Brendan Doggett
England Predicted XI
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C), Jonny Bairstow (WK), Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Ollie Robinson / Jofra Archer (depending on fitness), Jack Leach
Top Fantasy Picks (Dream11)
Top Batters
- Joe Root – Proven performer in Ashes; excellent against pace & bounce
- Steve Smith – Big-match player, especially in home Ashes
- Marnus Labuschagne – Loves batting in Perth conditions
Top All-rounders
- Ben Stokes – Game-changer with both bat and ball
- Cameron Green – Expect heavy usage with the ball due to injuries
Top Bowlers
- Mitchell Starc – Deadly with the new ball at Perth
- Mark Wood – Extra pace makes him a big threat
- Nathan Lyon – Will dominate in the last two days
Fantasy Captaincy Options
Best Captain Picks
- Joe Root – Consistent run-getter
- Steve Smith – Excellent record in home Ashes
Best Vice-Captain Picks
- Mitchell Starc – Early breakthroughs guarantee points
- Ben Stokes – All-round contribution
Dream11 Team Prediction – 1 (Balanced Team)
WK: Jonny Bairstow
BAT: Steve Smith, Joe Root, Marnus Labuschagne, Harry Brook
ALL: Ben Stokes, Cameron Green
BOWL: Mitchell Starc, Mark Wood, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
Captain: Joe Root
Vice-Captain: Steve Smith
Dream11 Team Prediction – 2 (Bowling-Heavy Team)
WK: Alex Carey
BAT: Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Ollie Pope
ALL: Ben Stokes, Cameron Green
BOWL: Mitchell Starc, Mark Wood, Nathan Lyon, Brendan Doggett, Ollie Robinson
Captain: Mitchell Starc
Vice-Captain: Ben Stokes
The Ashes opener in Perth promises fast bowling fireworks, challenging batting conditions, and high-voltage rivalry. With multiple injuries in Australia’s camp and England arriving with a full-strength squad, this Test could set the tone for the entire series.
Fantasy players should focus on top-order batters, express pacers, and late-game spinners for maximum points.
