AUS v ENG, 1st ODI: Australia opt to bowl in Perth

Australia opted to field against England in the first ODI in Perth on November 13, 2026, after winning the toss. Australian captain Mitchell Marsh said, "We're going to bowl first. Yeah, it looks good, read out the conditions. Historically I don't think this wicket will change at all. And we like to chase, hopefully we get off to a good start with the ball and apply some pressure early," while England captain Harry Brook said, "We're not disappointed. We'd have had a bowl if we'd have won the toss, but look, you've got to do both aspects of the game at some point, so we'll take it on."

Australia named Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (captain), Cooper Connolly, Matt Renshaw, Josh Inglis (wicketkeeper), Cameron Green, Jack Edwards, Xavier Bartlett, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson and Mahli Beardman; England picked Ben Duckett, Tom Banton, Joe Root, Harry Brook (captain), Jordan Cox (wicketkeeper), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson and Jofra Archer. Joe Root walked in at number three and "He is playing his 200th ODI today." Marsh expressed enthusiasm for Beardman's debut: "It's going to be exciting for him. It's probably no better place in the world as a young West Australian to debut. It's a fantastic stadium and I'm hopeful we'll get a really good crowd today." Brook outlined England's preparation: "Yeah, we've had a great week and a half. We had the luxury of training over the WACA and having that practice game over there. So we've had a really good week's training and it's something that we don't really get much in the white ball, so it's been nice to be together." Brook also confirmed his bowling composition: "No, we are going with with four quicks and Liam Dawson."

The early bowlers for Australia produced chances and scoring in equal measure. Spencer Johnson removed Ben Duckett with a fuller-than-a-good-length delivery just outside off that Duckett sliced to backward point and Jack Edwards took the catch; commentary read, "OUT! CAUGHT! Spencer Johnson draws first blood!" After that wicket, Tom Banton and Ben Duckett rotated the strike with singles and small pushes.

Tom Banton found boundaries against both Xavier Bartlett and Spencer Johnson, including a drive through covers off Bartlett and a mid-wicket flick off Johnson; the commentary noted several fours such as "FOUR! Hammered! Fuller than a length, wide outside off. Banton leans into it and drives it hard through covers for a cracking boundary" and "FOUR MORE! Put away! Fuller than a length at the stumps. Banton flicks it through the gap at mid-wicket and mid on for another lovely boundary." Bartlett also tested the batter with deliveries that nipped away late and one that struck Banton on the pad for a turned-down appeal.

Ben Duckett registered a boundary and a three, including a drive "uppishly through mid on for three runs" off Bartlett, but was eventually dismissed as described above. Fielding interventions featured Jack Edwards making a one-handed stop at backward point to prevent additional runs and Mahli Beardman executing a diving stop at fine leg to save a couple. Bartlett and Johnson repeatedly tested the England top order with varied lengths; several deliveries beat the bat or produced tight defensive plays.

Marsh framed the match as the start of the summer and stressed the importance of the opener: "Look, well it's the start of the summer for us, for all of our teams. It's an exciting time. Three-match series. That first game is always really important. We've learned a lot of lessons over the last few months in terms of how we want to play and we've got a reasonably young and inexperienced side, but lots of energy and looking forward to it."

This fixture serves as the opening match of the three-match series between Australia and England, with England continuing their innings in Perth after being sent in to bat.