England cricket coach Brendon McCullum responded to criticism his side were under-prepared for the Ashes by claiming they "trained too much" prior to a dismal eight-wicket defeat on Sunday to fall 2-0 down to Australia.

Pumped-up Australia captain Steve Smith and England fast bowler Jofra Archer had a fiery verbal clash near the climax of the second Ashes Test on Sunday at the Gabba.

Joe Root said England were "well and truly" still in the day-night second Ashes Test despite Australia seizing a 44-run lead on day two Friday in Brisbane.

Joe Root has waited a long time to tick off one particular item on his bucket list -- a Test century in Australia. More than a decade, in fact. But on Thursday at the Gabba, under lights in the second Ashes Test – a pink-ball one, the world’s top-ranked Test batter finally ended a 15-Test drought that had stretched all the way back to 2013.

Australia pace bowler Mitchell Starc said Thursday he could not be compared with Wasim Akram after he surpassed the Pakistani great as the leading left-arm pace bowler in Test history.

England's Joe Root conquered his final frontier with a first Ashes century in Australia as the tourists pushed past 300 on day one of the second Test in Brisbane on Thursday despite a six-wicket haul from pace spearhead Mitchell Starc.

Australia's Mitchell Starc claimed his third first-over wicket of the Ashes on Thursday, by dismissing England opener Ben Duckett for a first-ball duck on day one of the second Test in Brisbane.

England fast bowler Brydon Carse said his team has firm plans to counter the threat posed by Travis Head after the Australian made a blistering century at the top of the order to set up an eight-wicket win in the Ashes series opener in Perth.

Travis Head may have batted himself into a permanent role as Australian opener after his swashbuckling 123 against England, casting doubt on the future of an ageing Usman Khawaja.

Makeshift opener Travis Head smacked an explosive 69-ball century to power Australia to victory in a high-octane first Ashes Test on Saturday as England meekly surrendered in the Perth Stadium cauldron.

"Wow, what a couple of days. It's been unbelievable," said Head

England dismissed Australia for 132 in their first innings on Saturday to take charge of the first Ashes Test in Perth, with the hosts trailing by 40 runs on an overcast day two.

England have included pace bowler Mark Wood in a 12-player squad announced on Wednesday for the first Ashes test against Australia.

Australia was dealt a huge blow Saturday with pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood ruled out of the first Ashes Test against England with a hamstring strain, joining Pat Cummins on the sidelines.

Australia captain Pat Cummins is back bowling multiple overs on a reduced run-up and has targeted returning to the team for the second Ashes Test against England, a day-nighter in Brisbane starting on December 4.

Coach Brendon McCullum believes England's batting struggles in the 3-0 one-day international series loss to New Zealand were format-specific and will have little bearing on the Ashes.

Ashleigh Gardner and Annabel Sutherland starred with the bat as unbeaten Australia completed a convincing six-wicket win over Ashes rivals England on Wednesday in the Women's World Cup.

England cricket supremo Rob Key says captain Ben Stokes will be ready for the heat of the Ashes battle in Australia despite a lack of action following a shoulder injury.

England captain Ben Stokes is "on track" for the Ashes despite a recent shoulder injury, selectors said Tuesday as they handed part-time spinner Will Jacks a surprise place in the squad for the Test series in Australia.

Pat Cummins says he will do whatever it takes to play the Ashes against England starting in November, with the Australian skipper prepared to "take a few risks" with a back injury that has sidelined him.