Survival of the fittest: Ashes hangs on pace and endurance

MELBOURNE :While pace bowling quality has been a reliable predictor of Ashes success, resilience and depth may ultimately decide the battle for the urn in Australia.

The hosts face an immediate test in the series-opener in Perth starting on Friday, with captain Pat Cummins and fellow quick Josh Hazlewood sidelined by injury.

Scott Boland will step up and uncapped Brendan Doggett is tipped for a high-stakes debut to try to shore up the loss of a combined 604 test wickets of experience.

How long Cummins and Hazlewood will be out is unclear, but for an England team desperate for a good start, their absence is like Christmas coming early.

Going one-up in Perth could go a long way in England's quest to win back the urn for the first time since 2017/18.

After all, they have not won a first test in Australia since 1986 nor won an away Ashes after losing the opener since 1954/55.

STAY FIT

If buoyed by Australia's injury concerns, England may be nervous about their own attack's endurance.

Bowling long spells on Australia's hard wickets in often blistering heat is no easy matter for the fittest of fast men, never mind those with a history of breaking down.

Mark Wood and Jofra Archer can trouble Australia's batters with sheer pace but few would bet on either playing a full series.

Archer has managed only 11 tests since his first Ashes in 2019 when he took 22 wickets and floored Steve Smith with a bouncer at Lord's.

"It's one of those big ifs. If England's bowlers can stay fit - which doesn't happen very often - and the captain can play a full part, then I think England have got a real chance," said former England all-rounder Ian Botham.

Skipper Ben Stokes took 17 wickets against India in this year's home series, an outstanding all-round effort