Alex Carey spent the India-England epic glued to his screen, yet the Australia wicketkeeper insists the tourists’ so-called 'Bazball' will bring no surprises when the Ashes open at Perth Stadium on 21 November. "We’ve seen it for a number of years now," Carey said, adding that Australia probably doesn’t have to go too far away from its style of cricket.

Carey relished the five-Test thriller – to see five Test matches go five days is pretty unique – but argued the proven Australian template of new-ball hostility and disciplined batting remains the surest path to retaining the urn. Fresh from clearing concussion protocols after a glancing blow in Jamaica, the 33-year-old targets match practice in South Africa’s ODIs, domestic Shield fixtures, and a one-day series against India to fine-tune ahead of England’s arrival. "I’m back to 100 percent," he confirmed.

While Carey backs Pat Cummins’s attack to get the job done, he acknowledges Joe Root’s ascent to second on the all-time run list, only a century in Australia remains absent from the Yorkshireman’s ledger. Legends want to do really well in every series, Carey smiled, hinting Root’s nine-year itch may linger.

The South Australian also tipped England’s new gloveman Jamie Smith for a bright future – looks like a fantastic player, pretty flawless behind the stumps – and offered a wry no comment on the inevitable Jonny Bairstow discourse.

With Australia banking on home-ground hostility and England trusting turbo-charged tempo, the Ashes narrative needs no extra drama. For Carey, the formula is simple: stick to the basics, seize the big moments, and let Perth’s early-summer bounce speak louder than any headline-grabbing moniker.