England seek to secure Ashes with Perth victory

England will face hosts Australia in the third Test in Perth, beginning tomorrow night Jamaica time, knowing another victory would retain the Ashes.



Having won the second Test at Adelaide by an emphatic innings and 71 runs, England are highly fancied to win their first series in Australia since 1986-1987.



Stuart Broad has been ruled out for the rest of the tour, with paceman Chris Tremlett tipped to take his place.



Australia are without Simon Katich, so Phil Hughes opens the batting, while Steve Smith has also been recalled.



Should 29-year-old Tremlett take his place in the pace bowling unit alongside Steven Finn they would have only 13 Test appearances between them.



But James Anderson, who is ready to play after briefly returning home to England to witness the birth of his second child, has 54 caps.



In addition to Tremlett, who has taken 13 wickets in three Tests, the last of which was in 2007, England also have Yorkshire all-rounder Tim Bresnan and his county colleague seamer Ajmal Shahzad in contention for a place in the side



Meanwhile the groundsman at Perth's Waca believes the wicket is beginning to show signs of the pace and bounce that became its trademark in years gone by.



Curator Cam Sutherland says there had been steady improvement since the wicket block was re-laid three years ago and he expects the surface to regain its quick reputation in the next few years.