India, Nov. 13 -- Australia's stand-in skipper Steve Smith has played down the hype around England's much-talked-about pace battery ahead of the opening Ashes Test in Perth. The visitors are banking on their fast bowlers to trouble the Australian batting unit on the bouncy tracks Down Under. England's attack - spearheaded by Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, and backed by Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts, and Josh Tongue - is expected to pose a stern challenge, but Smith seemed unfazed by the threat. Following the retirements of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, England are still searching for bowlers capable of replicating their mastery of swing rather than relying purely on pace.

Smith, set to lead Australia in the opening Test at Pe...