Hey Aus, you broke tradition!
Updated On: 20 November, 2025 06:38 AM IST | Mumbai | Clayton Murzello
With Perth and not Brisbane hosting an Ashes opener after 43 years, it is hoped that Friday’s Test will not be controversy-laced like it was in two Australia vs England series openers in 1979-80 and 1982-83
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Dennis Lillee (right) with fellow Australia cricketer Andrew Hilditch with the aluminium bat that Lillee controversially used in the 1979-80 Perth Test against England. Pic/Getty Images
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Test cricket’s most enduring rivalry resumes at the Perth Stadium on Friday. The Ashes has recently been challenged by India vs Australia, though most Australians and Englishmen won’t buy such talk. For them, the real thing will always be the Ashes. But let’s state some facts. In a way, the contest has been one-sided in recent times from a home and away point of view. England have not got their hands on the urn in Australia since 2010-11, while the men from Down Under haven’t enjoyed scoreline domination in England since 2001 across six series. When it comes to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India have clinched it twice in the same span of six series, with India holding sway over Australia at home since 2008-09.
This season’s Ashes start in Perth and not at the Gabba in Brisbane as per tradition. The last time an Ashes series did not open in Brisbane was in 1982-83 (Perth hosted the opening Test). Prior to that, England and Australia played the first Test at Perth for the 1979-80 series when the Ashes were not at stake. That summer of cricket, following the end of Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket, opened at Brisbane, where Australia hosted the West Indies for the Sir Frank Worrell Trophy. Test matches involving Australia and the West Indies and England vs Australia were held concurrently.
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