England look to seam and speed to grab Ashes chance

Are you ready to be hurt again? Another four-year cycle, another chance for England fans everywhere to get their hopes up ahead of what will - likely - be another 4-0 away Ashes defeat.

- CAMERON PONSONBY

Why should this series be different? Why should England supporters, both avid and casual, bother tuning in when history is so certain that another failure beckons? As a reminder of the stats, England haven't won a match, let alone a series, in Australia since 2011. Played 15, won zero, drawn two and lost 13 is their record in the last 15 years.

Well, the stars are aligning in England's favour ahead of the first Test in Perth on Friday. Australia's talismanic captain Pat Cummins is out injured, possibly until even the third Test, while his teammate Josh Hazlewood is now also missing. Between them, 600 wickets have been lost from the Australian lineup.

“It’s a capital D disaster,” explained experienced Aussie journalist Pete Lalor. “Australia’s lost its greatest advantage this series: and that was the bowling attack.”

News that Hazlewood would miss the first Test broke during England's warm-up match at Lilac Hill. As it filtered through the press tent, England Lions player Matt Fisher happened to be walking past and his head snapped in the direction of the conversation. Everyone knows how big an opportunity this is for the tourists.