The Ashes: Joe Root is England player to keep quiet, says Scott Boland

Boland looked set to be the back-up for the first-choice Australian pace attack in this series, but will now feature in the Australia XI for the opening Test following injuries to captain Pat Cummins and fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood.

Boland and Mitchell Starc will probably be accompanied by 31-year-old unrestricted Brendan Doggett as expert sailors.

“Obviously you don’t want to miss two great players like Josh and Pat,” Boland said.

“Our bowling stocks have been pretty strong for a while now; no one has been able to get in.

“It’s going to be an exciting time. One or two new guys will be looking. They’re not inexperienced guys. Brendan is 31, he’s played a lot of first-class cricket and he knows his game. He knows what he needs to do to showcase his talents on the big stage.”

Cummins appeared to be bowling at full pace in the nets on Monday as he progressed towards a comeback for the second Test in Brisbane.

England’s attacking method of batting will be tested on what is expected to be a lively ground at Perth Stadium.

Tourist batsmen will also need to adapt to the vast playing fields on Australian soil, which are much larger than the Test venues in the UK.

“I’m sure he will help us,” Boland said at Perth Stadium. “Balls over the fence in England have a long way to go here at the MCG and the Gabba in Brisbane.

“It’s the same for them. When the bowlers bowl their short balls, you have to hit them from 85 meters instead of 65 metres, that’s a big difference.”