(Reuters) -England head into Friday's Ashes opener in Perth with a spring in their step and a golden opportunity to strike the first blow in the five-test series against an Australian team rocked by key injuries.

England have not won a first Ashes test in Australia in nearly 40 years, nor beaten the hosts in Perth since 1978, but their opponents are vulnerable without front-line quicks Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.