Table of Contents
With the first Ashes 2025-26 Test in Perth just a day away, England‘s preparations are peaking, driven by the sensational form of Jofra Archer. The fast bowler clean bowled Joe Root with a perfect delivery in the nets, a moment captured on video that has gone viral. This positive boost for England are compounded by Australia’s injury woes, as they are confirmed to be without both captain Pat Cummins and star pacer Josh Hazlewood for the opener. England, with a fit-again Archer and Mark Wood, are aiming for their first Test victory in Australia since 2011.
Jofra Archer’s electrifying net session and perfect delivery
Archer has signaled his return to his menacing best, producing a moment of pure quality in the Perth nets that has resonated across the cricket world. The event, captured by journalist Bharat Sundaresan, showed Archer, steaming in full flow, clean bowling England’s most accomplished batters, Root. The delivery a back of a length delivery which pitched and jagged back a touch to go past Root’s defense, with the journalist noting the high-speed full-length ball seemed to cut into the batter upon pitching.
Root, who is the highest Test run-scorer for England, had little idea of the movement of the delivery, and the ball thudded into the stumps, a clear indicator that Archer is in red-hot form. The sight of Archer’s intense run-up and his ability to breach the defence of a world-class batsman is exactly the “X-factor” that England are relying on, as they look to capitalize on the spicy pitch awaiting the two teams at Optus Stadium.
Here’s the video:
Have to be the toughest nets pitches in the country these in Perth, especially when you’re facing a charged-up Jofra Archer, and even if you’re Joe Root
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07)
Ashes 2025-26: England’s squad for the Perth opener vs Australia
England have officially named its 12-man squad for the first Ashes Test at Optus Stadium, keeping their options open regarding the final XI for the Perth pitch. The squad, captained by Ben Stokes, balances a familiar batting core with an array of pace options. The final 12 players are:
- Ben Stokes (c)
- Jofra Archer
- Gus Atkinson
- Shoaib Bashir (Spinner)
- Harry Brook
- Brydon Carse
- Zak Crawley
- Ben Duckett
- Ollie Pope
- Joe Root
- Jamie Smith (wk)
- Mark Wood
The inclusion of four frontline pace bowlers, Archer, Wood (cleared after a hamstring scare), Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse suggests England are prioritizing raw speed, which is suited to the Perth surface. The selection of Shoaib Bashir as the lone specialist spinner confirms England’s consideration for spin if the pitch dries out, with the final decision on the XI being made on match day.
Also READ: Joe Root vs Scott Boland: Head to Head record in Test cricket ahead of the Ashes 2025-26 Test series
