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

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 Tr

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