Australia vs England 1st Ashes Test: Day 1 in Perth sees early drama with wickets tumbling and standout performances, setting the stage for an intense contest ahead. (Image Credit: X/ @KoitohoonAlt)
Australia vs England 1st Ashes Test: After a rollercoaster of wickets and drama galore, the opening day of the 2025–26 Ashes was concluded at Perth Stadium, as England, being bundled out for 172 in 32.5 overs, saw Australia end the day at 123 9 in 39 overs, trailing by 49 runs. So, batting collapses for both sides is what made Day 1 entertaining for fans.
England won the toss, elected to bat, and the early wickets fell cheaply. Zak Crawley was dismissed for a duck, and Joe Root followed suit without troubling the scorer.
Mitchell Starc ran through the middle order, returning figures of 7/58 that included top-order scalps like Root, Stokes, and Jamie Smith. Only Harry Brook with 52 and Ollie Pope with 46 put up any semblance of resistance, which was not enough to set a competitive total.
Captain Ben Stokes also shone with the ball, grabbing a fabulous 5 wicket haul for England in Australia's first innings, which saw him account for key wickets like Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, and Scott Boland.
The over by Stokes restricted Australia, and it kept England in the contest despite their own batting collapse, showcasing his all-round mastery in Test cricket.
Australia's innings got off to a worst possible start as Jake Weatherald was dismissed for a duck. Travis Head chipped in with 21 as Cameron Green accounted for 24 while Alex Carey was valuable with his 26. Stokes' fifer triggered a late collapse and the hosts were reeling at 123 9 at stumps.
Nathan Lyon and Brendan Doggett were at the crease, needing a partnership to extend Australia’s innings and avoid conceding a first-innings deficit.
Mitchell Starc and Ben Stokes have emerged as the stand out performers with Starc's 7 wickets dismantling England. The 5 wickets for England from Stokes kept the match alive for them.
Australia will need a better start from the top order tomorrow, while England's bowlers, led by Stokes, have the momentum to push for a possible lead.
Australia are still behind but could take advantage if Lyon and Doggett build a resilient partnership. In contrast, England have the morale boost of Stokes' all-round brilliance, setting up a thrilling contest for Day 2.
