Australia skipper Steve Smith said Thursday it was "really exciting" to see Jake Weatherald and Brendan Doggett make their debuts in the opening Ashes Test against England, backing them to perform on the biggest stage.
Arch-rivals Australia and England resume Ashes hostilities on Friday in Perth with the hosts weakened by injuries but favourites to inflict more pain on a side with a dire record Down Under.
England named off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in a 12-man squad Wednesday alongside four frontline pace bowlers, keeping their options open for the first Ashes Test against Australia in Perth.
Two-time World Cup winning Australian captain Ricky Ponting led the global tributes today as Mushfiqur Rahim became the first Bangladeshi cricketer to reach the historic milestone of 100 Test matches.
England go into the first Test against Australia on Friday with arguably their most hostile attack in decades, putting their faith in fast bowling in a quest to regain the Ashes.
Veteran pace ace Mark Wood unleashed a fiery spell in the nets Tuesday in encouraging signs for England after an injury scare during a pre-Ashes warm-up match last week.
England and Australia begin the latest edition of the Ashes in Perth on Friday with the visitors looking to wrestle back the urn for the first time since 2015.
England and Australia renew their storied rivalry on Friday in the first Ashes Test at Perth.
Joe Root heads into the Ashes, beginning on Friday in Perth, ranked as the world's best batsman with a colossal 39 Test hundreds to his name... but still waiting for his first ton in Australia.
England's fast bowling cartel are relishing playing in Australian conditions with star quick Jofra Archer in a "happy place" and brimming with confidence while Mark Wood is "full of energy".
Australia was dealt a huge blow Saturday with Josh Hazlewood ruled out of the first Ashes Test against England, leaving their pace stocks precariously thin with Pat Cummins and Sean Abbott also sidelined.
Steve Smith believes England may have picked the wrong bowlers for the Ashes, suggesting Australian wickets will be better suited to seam and swing than an all-out pace attack.