England's cricket team has declared themselves primed and ready for the Ashes battle after completing their final warm-up match at Perth's picturesque Lilac Hill ground in the Swan Valley.
Confident Start for English Campaign
The England XI secured a five-wicket victory against the Lions on Saturday, marking their first win in red ball cricket on Australian soil since the triumphant 2010-11 series. While the idyllic surroundings provided a relaxed atmosphere, fast bowler Brydon Carse insisted the tourists gained exactly what they needed from the encounter.
"The last couple of days have been good to bowl some spells and get a couple miles under the legs, it's a good feeling," Carse told reporters after the match. "The batters have spent some time out in the crease, and the group of seamers all got a decent amount of overs in."
Australian Bowling Woes Boost England Hopes
The English preparations received an unexpected boost with news that Australian pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the first Test with a hamstring concern, joining captain Pat Cummins on the sidelines.
Carse admitted he only learned of Hazlewood's absence after the day's play, acknowledging the significance of the development. "He's obviously a massive bowler for Australia, and I'm sure we'll certainly see some part of him throughout the series," Carse said. "He's certainly a bowler I've admired throughout my career, and his performances and importance to Australian cricket, he's a phenomenal bowler."
England's Bowling Depth Provides Confidence
While carefully avoiding outright claims of favouritism, Carse didn't hide the growing confidence within the English camp ahead of Friday's first Test. "It's going to be amazing if the opportunity comes, the guys have all had a good three days out here," he said.
"Everyone is raring to go, I think we've got a good six bowlers to do the job, whatever the conditions."
The Lilac Hill encounter served as England's final competitive hit-out before the Test series begins, with players from both teams frequently swapping sides to maximize preparation time. The friendly nature of the contest was evident when Lions spinner Will Jacks appeared almost apologetic after clean-bowling star batsman Joe Root with a delivery that drew admiration from all present.
English seamer Mark Wood, who had been cleared of a hamstring injury, was spotted around the ground but remained a spectator on the final day as team management considers whether to risk him in Perth. "He's all up and about and full of energy; he's got a huge amount of resilience to keep coming out and get back on the field," Carse said of his teammate.
Fellow paceman Jofra Archer bowled just five wicketless overs on the final day, finishing with match figures of 1-66 from 17.3 overs. Despite Archer's limited Test cricket over the past four years, Carse expressed strong belief in his colleague's match-winning capabilities. "Jof's obviously been playing now for over two years, injury-free touch wood, he's in a happy place and feeling really, really confident heading into the series," Carse said. "He's got that X-Factor and he's shown that around the world, so it's very exciting."
The English players embraced the overwhelmingly supportive crowd throughout the day, with Root and opener Ben Duckett particularly popular among fans seeking selfies and autographs. The pro-English atmosphere only intensified as the day progressed, with spectators remaining long after stumps to interact with their cricketing heroes.
