Perth, Nov. 17 -- Australia's Test players have inspected the Optus Stadium pitch for the first time ahead of the first Ashes Test against England, scheduled to begin on Friday in Perth.

Australia's stand-in captain Steve Smith and wicketkeeper Alex Carey were seen examining the Perth pitch on Monday morning, as per The Sydney Morning Herald. Smith will lead the Aussies with designated captain Pat Cummins ruled out of the fixture due to the lumbar stress injury he sustained in September.

With four days still to go for the first ball of the Ashes opener, the pitch has a noticeable green tinge and an even grass cover. Yet, with Perth's temperatures expected to exceed 30 degrees Celsius over the next couple of days, the surface will likely...