A spectacular day of cricket unfolded at Perth Stadium, with 19 wickets falling on the opening day of the first Ashes Test, signaling a fiercely contested series. Fast bowlers on both sides exploited the bouncy pitch, leaving the match hanging in the balance.
Australia concluded the day in a difficult position, trailing England by 49 runs with only one wicket remaining at 123/9. The turning point came with a phenomenal bowling performance from England captain Ben Stokes, who claimed 5 wickets for 23 runs in a blistering six-over spell, dismantling Australia’s middle and lower order. This followed imposing spells from Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse. The day’s wicket tally mirrored the dramatic start to the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar series at the same venue, which saw 17 wickets fall on day one.
Earlier, Mitchell Starc, Australia’s premier fast bowler, delivered a career-defining Ashes performance, taking 7 wickets for 58 runs and bowling England out for 172 in just 32.5 overs. This bowling masterclass was cheered by a record attendance of 51,531. Amidst the collapse, Harry Brook offered some resistance with a quickfire 52, contributing to England’s impressive run rate of 5.24. The visitors’ innings was the quickest first-innings fold in Australia since 1932.
Starc’s initial breakthroughs included Zak Crawley for a duck and Ben Duckett lbw for 21, followed by the crucial wicket of Joe Root, also for a duck, reducing England to 39/3.
Brook then unleashed a powerful counter-attack, smashing boundaries and a remarkable 89-meter six. He put on 55 runs with Ollie Pope, who made 46 before being dismissed lbw by Cameron Green. Starc and debutant Brendan Doggett (2-27) then combined to take 5 wickets for a mere 12 runs in 19 balls, with Brook being caught for 52.
Wicketkeeper Jamie Smith added a quick 33 from 22 deliveries before falling, becoming Starc’s seventh victim.
Australia’s batting effort was hampered by Usman Khawaja’s absence from the opening slot due to back spasms, with Marnus Labuschagne partnering debutant Jake Weatherald. The innings collapsed swiftly. Archer dismissed Weatherald for a second-ball duck following a successful review. He then sent Labuschagne packing for 9, the ball ricocheting off his elbow onto the stumps. Carse contributed by removing Steve Smith for 17 and Khawaja for 2. The Australian resistance crumbled under the relentless attack of Ben Stokes, who took 5 wickets for 23 runs, accounting for Travis Head (21), Cameron Green (24), Mitchell Starc (12), Alex Carey (26), and Scott Boland (0). Nathan Lyon (3 not out) and Brendan Doggett (0 not out) survived until the close.
Brendan Doggett and Jake Weatherald were officially presented with their Australian Test caps. England chose an all-pace attack, leaving out spinner Shoaib Bashir. The 19 wickets on day one marked the highest tally since 1909 in an Ashes Test, promising an enthralling continuation on day two in Perth.
