So it is vital to be fair. Sky Sports has set a very high bar for live cricket coverage, so its decision to withdraw from the race for overseas rights is a source of massive disappointment for those of us who paid our subscriptions mainly to watch England’s cricketers in action.

The pre-series assertion of former England captain Michael Atherton that England did not fear him proved prophetic as they clattered him for 62 from 10 overs on a surface where 19 wickets fell in a day and Mitchell Starc took a career-best seven-wicket haul.

Ben Stokes has given England a first-innings advantage in the opening Ashes test against Australia. Stokes won the toss Friday but England was skittled for 172 as Australian pace bowler Mitchell Starc took a career-best 7-58.

Two batting collapses and Travis Head’s brilliance guided Australia to a 1-0 series lead inside two days but England will simply take Head’s innings as vindication of their own strategy

Just listened to Stokes' interview, absolutely horrific' 😡 'That interview by Stokes was staggeringly arrogant'

Pat Cummins half a chance to be fit for day-night second Ashes Test in Brisbane from December 4 after sitting out two-day win over England in Perth with back issue; Australia have won 13 of 14 pink-ball Tests,

Ben Stokes says he feels “shellshocked” by England’s crushing Ashes defeat in Perth but has no plans to find more competitive practice for his squad ahead of the second Test in Brisbane.

Read about what Brendon McCullum had to say about England's blueprint of playing after losing the first Test of the ongoing Ashes, only on CricTracker.

Roll up, roll up, it's time for the most breathlessly hyped Ashes since the last one. Australia will take on England over the course of five Tests, the first of which starts on Friday in Perth, with the hosts looking to retain the urn they have held since 2017-18. Here is our guide to everything you need to know about the series.

How do the tourists keep their morale up, what changes could be made, and is pink-ball practice needed before the second Test?