England Skipper Ben Stokes won the toss and opted to bat first in the opening Ashes 2025-26 Test at Perth’s Optus Stadium. England’s bowling lineup for the match includes a formidable trio of fast bowlers: Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson and Mark Wood. However, Wood’s participation in the entire Ashes series has been a topic of discussion.
England’s Mark Wood reveals his availability for all five Ashes 2025-26 tests
England’s express pacer Wood confirmed that he would not be playing in all five Tests of the Ashes series. “Definitely not all five (Tests),” Wood said, acknowledging his limited involvement in the series. “I think it just depends; review it after every game,” he added. Wood, who has not played much cricket in recent months, is determined to stay fresh and competitive. “This one, I have not played a lot of cricket, but I have been there before. So, I hope to be fresh enough to keep the speed gun up and do a little bit of work to compete in a Test match,” Wood explained in a video posted by cricket.com.au.
Wood had been nursing hamstring concerns that arose during the warm-up match against England Lions before the Ashes, but he was eventually cleared to play. This marks Wood’s first Test since August’s Manchester Test against Sri Lanka, after which he was sidelined due to an elbow injury. His recovery included a return to international cricket in white-ball fixtures, but a knee issue in the ICC Champions Trophy ruled him out for the next four months, making his role in the Ashes uncertain.
Here’s the video:
England struggles as Australia’s bowlers led by Mitchell Starc dominate in first test at Perth
England’s decision to bat first in the opening Ashes Test at Perth’s Optus Stadium has been met with early setbacks, with Australia’s bowlers making light work of the English batting order. After winning the toss, England’s top order crumbled under pressure, falling to 172 all out in just 32.5 overs. Mitchell Starc played a starring role, taking 7 wickets in an inspired bowling display. England’s top-order woes were compounded by several key dismissals, including Joe Root’s failure to get going and Harry Brook’s dismissal as Australia tightened their grip.
Mitchell Starc was the standout performer for Australia, taking 7 wickets and leading the charge in dismissing England’s key players. England’s innings got off to a rocky start, with Zak Crawley dismissed for a duck and Ben Duckett following soon after. Despite a valiant 52 from Harry Brook, the batting side’s resistance was short-lived. Starc continued his dominance, claiming key wickets, including that of Ben Stokes for just 6 and Jamie Smith for 33.
Starc’s lethal spells, combined with strong contributions from Scott Boland and Brendan Doggett, dismantled England’s batting line-up. The English team never fully recovered from the early breakthroughs, and after Brook’s dismissal, the tail quickly crumbled, leaving England with a challenging total to defend. The innings break arrived with England at 172 all out, leaving Australia in a strong position as they prepare to begin their chase.
