Ashes: Here are the top five battles to watch out for from the highly anticipated contest

Steve Smith leads Australia at Perth in the absence of skipper Pat Cummins. Though Jofra Archer has never dismissed Smith in a Test, their fierce rivalry from the 2019 series — the England pacer’s debut series — is memorable. Archer’s express pace and short-pitched bowling forced Smith to retire hurt with concussion after being hit on the helmet at Lord’s. Smith must maintain focus on a pace-friendly, bouncy Perth wicket, while Archer enters the contest confident after claiming nine wickets in two Tests against India.

Mitchell Starc vs Ben Stokes

Mitchell Starc

England skipper Ben Stokes has often struggled against Aussie pace spearhead Mitchell Starc. The left-arm pacer holds a tremendous record against Stokes, having dismissed him nine times in Tests, while the English all-rounder averages just over 20 runs against him. Starc’s ability to hit the deck hard and generate significant bounce, especially with the new ball, remains a constant threat for Stokes who will definitely look to embody the Bazball philosophy to demoralise the 35-year-old Aussie pacer early on. 

Nathan Lyon vs Joe Root 

Nathan Lyon and Joe Root

The duel between England batting star Joe Root and Aussie off-spinner Nathan Lyon is one of the high-stakes match-ups at the Ashes. While Lyon poses a consistent threat, dismissing Root eight times, the middle-order batter has scored 439 runs with an average of nearly 55 against the spinner. Root’s tendency to bat long will depend on how he negotiates Lyon. If Root dominates Lyon, it frees up the other batters to play Bazball, but if Lyon gets Root early, the visitors could crumble.

Marnus Labuschagne vs Mark Wood

Marnus Labuschagne and Mark Wood

Mark Wood’s raw pace makes him one of the most dangerous weapons for England, and Aussie top-order batter Marnus Labuschagne will face a stern test in Perth. Labuschagne, who was dropped from the Test series against West Indies in June-July, is desperate to prove himself. However, Wood’s ability to generate bounce and rapid speed will put No. 3 Labuschagne under pressure early in the innings. In their head-to-head record, Wood has dismissed Labuschagne five times in Tests, including in both innings of the last 2023 Ashes Test at The Oval.

Scott Boland vs Zak Crawley

Scott Boland and Zak Crawley

Australia pacer Scott Boland boasts a significant record against England at home, claiming 18 wickets in three Tests. With Boland likely to open the bowling in the absence of skipper Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, he poses a serious threat for England opener Zak Crawley. Boland, 36, has enjoyed notable success against Crawley, dismissing him thrice, with the opener scoring only 47 runs off 122 balls at an average of just 15.7. Boland holds a clear psychological edge on a pace-friendly pitch, but if Crawley can thrive on Bazball, the Aussies could be under early pressure.