Australia will field multiple debutants in an Ashes Test for the first time since the 2010-11 New Year's Test when Usman Khawaja and Michael Beer played their first games.

Two days after Australia’s third Test in the Caribbean in July – when the West Indies were skittled for 27 on another bowler-friendly pitch – coach Andrew McDonald sensed the storm clouds forming and moved early to douse speculation by backing Khawaja to play in the Ashes despite the veteran making just 117 runs at an average of 19.5 on that tour.

England lost the first Ashes Test because they do "respect conditions" and will "keep getting egg on their face" if they do not change, says former Australia opener Simon Katich. The tourists gave away a positive position with an batting collapse in the afternoon session of day two before Australia romped to an eight-wicket win inside two days.

"England's fastest ever attack has scrambled minds and even rattled Steve Smith", screamed The Telegraph, backed up by columnist and ex-England captain Michael Vaughan, who declared day one "the most exciting first day of an Ashes series I can remember". The paper's chief sportswriter Oliver Brown ventured further.