But the seamer stranglehold of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood allowed only brief interludes for just three quicks to make their Test debuts in the intervening seven years. Meanwhile, Doggett turned from a hopeful 24-year-old Queenslander to a grizzled 31-year-old South Australian.

But during the second half of his illustrious career, Warne flew past the former greats, ticking off Dennis Lillee’s 355, Ian Botham’s 373, Richard Hadlee’s 431, Kapil Dev’s 434, and then Walsh’s 519. And after becoming the first cricketer to take 600 Test wickets during the 2005 Ashes, fans inevitably questioned how far he could go.

Despite the revitalization of England's Test cricket, the statistics tell a sobering story. Since McCullum's arrival, England has yet to win an Ashes series or defeat India in a Test match. Notably, their last Ashes victory was in 2015,

England’s batters will have their work cut out – during the past five years, Australia has been the most difficult country in the world to face fast bowling. Despite this, the hosts might face something they’ve rarely encountered during this series: an England side that genuinely believes it can win Down Under.

The Ashes series began with a significant moment in Australian cricket history, even before a ball was bowled. Although England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and decided to bat first in Perth, it was Australia that claimed the spotlight by fielding two Indigenous cricketers in a Test match for the very first time.

Mushfiqur Rahim stated it was a "huge achievement" and a "proud moment" to have scored a century in his 100th test match and vowed to pay back as long as he continues to play for Bangladesh.

The ground is hosting its first Ashes Test but will replicate the pace and bounce that made the WACA, across the Swan River, so feared

South Africa took three wickets in the first session on the second day of the first cricket test against India, leaving the hosts on 138-4 at Eden Gardens.