Ashes 1st Test: Australia return to Gabba under new captain Cummins, seek early advantage vs England

Match Preview of Australia vs England 1st Test: All eyes will be on Pat Cummins as Australia's new Test skipper faces baptism by fire against a visiting England side who are hopeful of bringing down the hosts at the Gabba for the 2nd time in the year.

Off-field controversies have dominated the narrative in the lead up to the Ashes Test series, starting December 8 in Brisbane. England have reached Australia after Azeem Rafiq detailed allegations of institutional racism at Yorkshire where Joe Root, England's captain, plies his trade. Back home, Tim Paine resigned as Australia captain over a sexting scandal and pulled out of Ashes, citing mental health break.

But as Chris Woakes pointed out, both England and Australia are ready to leave the pre-series controversies out of the action when the two teams step out at the Gabba to resume one of cricket's greatest rivalries.