PERTH, Australia (Kashmir English): Arch-rivals Australia and England would resume Ashes hostilities tomorrow (Friday) in Perth with the touring side facing daunting task to break Ashes drought in Australia.
The hosts have been weakened by injuries but still favourites to inflict more pain on a side with 15-year winless streak. Their pace spearheads Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are injured and out of at least the first Test.
Ben Stokes men, however, insist they are not scarred by past failures.
The highly anticipated five-Test series will be played on a fast, bouncy track at a sold-out Perth Stadium. The visitors hope to end 15-year winless streak.
England’s Ashes drought
It has been 15 years since England last won an away Ashes series and since then they have failed to win a Test on Australian soil. They lost 13 and did play two draws during the time.
This time they arrived in Australia on the back of a humiliating 3-0 one-day defeat in New Zealand and criticism over scheduling. England could have just a single three-day red-ball warm-up on a passive pitch.
England skipper has said they were starting with a clean slate, despite their poor record in Australia.
“They’re a phenomenal team, especially in their home, so we know the next two-and-a-half months is going to be tough for us,” he said.
“All the series that have gone past, whether that be in Australia or England, I don’t think count for much.”
Former Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson said their absence “starts to rewrite the whole script for the Ashes”.
“It narrows Australia’s margin for error and it forces selectors into decisions they’d hoped they wouldn’t have to make this early,” he added.
