The first day of the Ashes series in Perth was a breathless spectacle dominated by the ball, with a remarkable 19 wickets falling to give England a significant early advantage. By stumps, Australia trailed by 49 runs after a frenetic day of fast bowling that left the home side reeling.
England, sent in to bat, were bundled out for just 172 in under 33 overs. Mitchell Starc was the chief destroyer for Australia, claiming a career-best seven for 58. His opening spell set the tone, dismissing Zak Crawley with the sixth ball of the match and later orchestrating the removal of Joe Root for a duck. Despite a brisk 52 from Harry Brook and 46 from Ollie Pope, England’s innings collapsed in a heap, losing their last five wickets for just 12 runs.
However, any Australian optimism was swiftly extinguished by a ferocious English bowling reply. The tourists’ deep seam attack proved relentless. Jofra Archer set the standard with a hostile spell, striking Steve Smith multiple times and eventually having Marnus Labuschagne bowled in a dramatic fashion. Brydon Carse, equally aggressive, removed Smith and a returning Usman Khawaja with sharp, lifting deliveries.
The catalyst, however, was captain Ben Stokes. Introducing himself as the fifth seamer, he produced a devastating spell of six overs to claim five for 23, ripping through Australia’s middle order. Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Alex Carey all fell to the all-rounder as the hosts slumped to 123 for nine at the close.
The scorecard suggests a treacherous pitch, but the reality was a combination of disciplined, high-pace bowling and often questionable batting. England’s decision to maintain an attacking intent, even during their own collapse, contrasted with an Australian top order that appeared tentative. While Starc shone, Australia’s other bowlers struggled to contain the flow of runs, highlighting the absence of rested stalwarts Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
With only 71.5 overs possible in the day due to the rapid fall of wickets, the match has accelerated at a startling pace. England, leveraging a five-pronged seam attack, have seized the initiative in no uncertain terms, leaving Australia with a substantial deficit to erase and plenty of bruises—both physical and psychological—to nurse overnight.