RICHARD GIBSON IN PERTH: Ben Stokes has claimed the chance to join a select band of winning England captains in Australia represents the biggest motivation of his career.

'Hit the ground running,' says Andrew Strauss. Mike Gatting advises: 'If you get on top, stay on top.' For Mike Brearley, it was 'seize your moment'. It sounds simple. But it is not.

England have named a 12-man squad for the first Ashes Test, including both fast bowler Mark Wood and spinner Shoaib Bashir.

Cricket legend Mark Butcher has hit back at Australian media outlets by claiming their attempts to get under the skin of several England stars were lame.

RICHARD GIBSON: Wood further allayed fears that the hamstring niggle he picked up last week was anything serious by roaring in for half an hour at maximum pace.

The block is one of the 100,000-seater ground's most iconic areas and is typically packed with boisterous fans in fancy dress during the Aussie summer.

With combined XIs floating around and this being one of the closest-matched series - especially Down Under - in recent memory, who really has the better weapons heading into this all-out assault?

A total of 445 cricketers have played an Ashes Test for England against Australia, going all the way back to the first official series under that name in 1882.

The Aussies head into the first Test on Friday in Perth with a weakened and ageing team.

The veteran broadcaster had plenty to say when Carey's stumping of Jonny Bairstow became one of the most controversial moments in Ashes history.

The former cricketer, who starred in both Australia and England, has faced court in Adelaide.