Perth Stadium witnessed a dramatic turn of events on the opening day of the first Ashes Test, with a staggering 19 wickets tumbling. Fast bowlers dominated a challenging, bouncy pitch, leaving the match in a precarious state by stumps.
Australia found themselves in a dire situation, trailing England by 49 runs at 123/9. Captain Ben Stokes delivered a match-altering spell, tearing through Australia’s middle and lower order with an exceptional 5 wickets for 23 runs in just six overs. This followed explosive bowling displays from Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse, reminiscent of the Border-Gavaskar opener at the same venue where 17 wickets fell on Day 1 in 2024-25.
Earlier, Australia’s pace spearhead Mitchell Starc had been in destructive form. He recorded his career-best Ashes figures, ripping through England’s batting line-up for a mere 172 in 32.5 overs, claiming an outstanding 7 wickets for 58 runs. This remarkable performance occurred in front of a record crowd of 51,531. Harry Brook provided a moment of brilliance for England with a rapid half-century, scoring 52 runs as England maintained a swift scoring rate of 5.24 runs per over. This was the quickest first-innings bowling out of a visiting team in Australia since 1932.
Starc’s onslaught began early, dismissing Zak Crawley for a duck on the sixth ball and trapping Ben Duckett lbw for 21. He then accounted for Joe Root, also for a duck, leaving England in disarray at 39/3.
Brook, unfazed by the pressure, launched a fierce counterattack, hitting a massive 89-meter six and forming a 55-run partnership with Ollie Pope, who was later given out lbw to Cameron Green for 46. However, Starc and debutant Brendan Doggett (2-27) then orchestrated a rapid collapse, taking 5 wickets for just 12 runs in 19 balls, with Brook eventually falling for his 52.
Wicketkeeper Jamie Smith contributed a quickfire 33 off 22 balls before being caught, becoming Starc’s seventh victim.
Australia’s innings began with Usman Khawaja sidelined due to back spasms, forcing Marnus Labuschagne to partner with debutant Jake Weatherald. The partnership was short-lived, with Archer dismissing Weatherald for a second-ball duck after a review. He then removed Labuschagne for 9, with the ball deflecting off his elbow onto the stumps. Brydon Carse added to Australia’s woes, taking two quick wickets, including Steve Smith for 17 and Khawaja for 2. The situation worsened dramatically when Ben Stokes entered the attack, claiming the wickets of Travis Head (21), Cameron Green (24), Starc (12), Alex Carey (26), and Scott Boland (0) in a devastating spell. The day concluded with Nathan Lyon on 3 not out and Doggett on 0 not out.
Doggett and Weatherald earned their Test caps, becoming Australia’s 472nd and 473rd men’s Test cricketers respectively. England opted for an all-pace attack, leaving Shoaib Bashir out. The 19 wickets on the opening day marked the most since 1909 in an Ashes Test, promising an enthralling second day in Perth.
