Perth: Fast bowlers seized control of the opening day of the first Ashes Test at Perth Stadium, where 19 wickets fell in a frenetic sequence that left the match finely poised.
Australia ended the day in deep trouble at 123/9, still 49 runs behind England, after an explosive spell from captain Ben Stokes, who claimed 5-23 in just six overs. His late burst followed penetrating spells from Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse, which ripped through Australia’s top order and mirrored the wicket-filled opening day of the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Test at the same venue.
Earlier, Mitchell Starc delivered one of the finest spells of his Ashes career, dismantling England for 172 in 32.5 overs with sensational figures of 7-58, the best Ashes figures of his career. His display unfolded before a record crowd of 51,531, with England batting at a brisk rate of 5.24 runs per over — the quickest first-innings dismissal of a visiting side in Australia since 1932.
Starc launched England’s collapse by removing Zak Crawley for a sixth-ball duck, trapping Ben Duckett lbw for 21, and then sending Joe Root back for a seventh-ball duck as England slipped to 39/3.
Unfazed by the early setbacks, Harry Brook counterattacked with a lively 52 off 61 balls, launching an 89-metre six and adding 55 with Ollie Pope. Pope’s 46 ended when Cameron Green pinned him lbw, and Starc along with debutant Brendan Doggett (2-27) sparked a rapid collapse of 5-12 in 19 balls, including Brook’s dismissal.
England wicketkeeper Jamie Smith smashed 33 off 22 before falling as Starc’s seventh victim.
Australia’s reply faltered immediately, with Usman Khawaja absent from the top due to back spasms and debutant Jake Weatherald partnering Marnus Labuschagne. Archer removed Weatherald for a second-ball duck via review, then bowled Labuschagne for 9 after the ball deflected off his elbow into the stumps.
Carse deepened Australia’s woes by dismissing Steve Smith (17) and the recovering Khawaja (2), before Stokes arrived to tear apart the middle and lower order. He removed Travis Head (21), Cameron Green (24), Starc (12), Alex Carey (26), and Scott Boland (0), leaving Nathan Lyon (3*) and Doggett (0*) to survive until stumps.
Weatherald and Doggett received their baggy greens as Australia’s 472nd and 473rd men’s Test cricketers. England opted for an all-pace attack, leaving out Shoaib Bashir.
The 19 dismissals marked the most wickets to fall on the opening day of an Ashes Test since 1909, setting up a tense Day 2 in Perth.
Brief scores:
England 172 in 32.5 overs (Harry Brook 52, Ollie Pope 46; Mitchell Starc 7-58, Brendan Doggett 2-27)
lead
Australia 123/9 in 39 overs (Alex Carey 26, Cameron Green 24; Ben Stokes 5-23, Jofra Archer 2-11)
by 49 runs.
