Australia vs England, 1st Test, The Ashes, 2025-26

Australia's quest for an early lead in the series   

Betting Odds

Our Predictions 

• The odds of the first dismissal being caught out are 1.48 
• The odds of the first dismissal not being caught out are 2.34 
• The odds of the first boundary being a four are 1.02 
• The odds of the first boundary being a six are 18.50 

MATCH PREVIEW     

It is the 1st Test Match in The Ashes, 2025-26, and the Australians will aim to take an early lead in the series. The Australians have done well in this format for over two years and shall look to build on it. They haven't lost to England at home in the last 15 games and shall start the game with better odds. The English team will face a tough challenge in the game. They didn't do as well in their last Test series against India as they would have liked. They are up against a strong batting lineup, and it will be interesting to see if the team can turn around its poor record on Australian soil in the last decade.  

Australia Preview      

Steve Smith will lead the team with Pat Cummins still out with an injury, and he would like his team to take an early lead and set the tone for the rest of the series. They haven't lost a Test series in the last three years and shall start as favorites on cricket betting sites. Smith would look to lead from the front and get the best out of his bowling attack, which is missing some key bowlers.  

Jake Weatherald is likely to earn his baggy green cap in the game and must deliver a strong start with Usman Khawaja. Marnus Labuschagne will look to add a fresh chapter to his Test career at No. 3 and add runs in the middle order with Steven Smith and Travis Head. The team needs a good show from Cameron Green and Alex Carey in the lower middle order.  

The bowling attack will miss Hazlewood and Cummins. Mitchell Starc must inspire confidence and strike early, sharing the new ball with Scott Boland. Michael Neser must do well in the middle overs with the magician Nathan Lyon. The side will expect a strong showing from Travis Head and Labuschagne in the supporting role.   

Expected Starting XI for Australia     

Steve Smith (c), Jake Weatherald, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc 

England Preview     

Ben Stokes and his team will be under pressure heading into this contest. None of the players in this squad has experience of winning a Test Match in Australia, with the last win coming back in 2011. Their batters have struggled on the last two tours, and the team will start with lower odds on cricket betting apps. Stokes must inspire confidence in the team to take an early lead.  

Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett have settled into a strong opening pair. The side will expect them to play off the new ball. Ollie Pope must do well at No. 3, and the team expects runs from Joe Root and Harry Brook. Stokes adds solidity to the batting lineup in the lower middle order, and he will look to do well with Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson.  

England's bowlers will face a tough test in this game. Mark Wood and Jofra Archer will look to make the most of the conditions and trouble the Australian batters with the new ball. Stokes must use his experience and do well alongside Gus Atkinson. The side will expect a strong performance from Brydon Carse in the supporting role.  

Expected Starting XI for England     

Ben Stokes (c), Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Brydon Carse 

TOSS: To Bowl First      

The results have shown that batting first is a challenge at this venue. The wicket will have something for the bowlers at the start of the game, making it challenging for the batters. The team winning the toss would look to bowl first and make the best use of the early moisture on the track.  

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS      

We expect overcast skies in Perth on Day 1, with good weather for the remainder of the game. The wicket will have a lot for the fast bowlers, and batsmen must play to the merit of the ball to do well in this game. The team batting first will be happy to have 400 runs on the board in the 1st innings.   

OUR PREDICTION      

England hasn't won a Test match in Australia for 15 years, and this will be on the back of their minds. The team has a strong bowling attack but will need a strong show from their top and middle order to win. The Australians have dominated home Test matches in the last three years. They have a strong batting lineup, giving them an edge.  

Our prediction is for Australia to win