PERTH — England are set to raise the temperature in Perth this week by unleashing pure heat on Australia in the form of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood for the opening Ashes Test.

The two fastest bowlers in the touring party are likely to start the eagerly-anticipated series after Wood brushed off fears over a potential left-hamstring issue by bowling at full tilt in the Perth nets on Tuesday morning.

Pairing both 90mph bowlers up would be a bold statement of intent by England’s Bazballers at the start of a series they are desperate to make the early running in.

Yet it should be no surprise given how fond head coach Brendon McCullum is on gambling.

Fielding Wood, who has not played a Test since August 2024 and bowled just eight overs in his first competitive match in nine months at Lilac

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