Ben Stokes won the toss and opted to bat first in the first Ashes Test against Australia at Perth's Optus Stadium

England skipper Ben Stokes won the toss and opted to bat first in the first Ashes Test against Australia at Perth’s Optus Stadium on Friday.

This match kickstarts the Ashes mission for a ‘Bazball ‘-charged English unit led by Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum. Having not won an Ashes series in Australia since 2010/11 and on a winless streak in their past three tours Down Under, this is the best chance for England to start with a win, as frontline Australian pacers, regular skipper Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood are missing the first Test due to injury.

England skipper Stokes said during the toss, “We are gonna have a bat. You try to take in as much information as you can. W

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