Can England rise from the ‘Ashes’ against depleted Australians?

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Perth: The build-up to the Ashes series starting Friday began at the end of July 2023 following one of the more acrimonious Test cricket series between England and Australia.

Ben Stokes and his England lineup won that test at The Oval in South London but it wasn’t enough to reclaim the Ashes from the Aussies, who won the first two Tests and drew the fourth in a five-match series to retain the old urn.

Cue to Perth Stadium, Day 1 of a possible 25 spanning seven weeks and five cities.

There are some big questions in play. Can an ageing, understrength Australia continue an unbeaten run in home Ashes Tests that dates to the 2010-11 series? Can Stokes inspire an end to that long drought for England? Can Joe Root, the world’s No. 1-ranked test batter, finally post an Ashes century in