Australia Reeling After 19-Wicket Chaos on Dramatic Opening Day of Ashes Test in Perth

The Ashes burst into life with a frantic, high-octane opening day in Perth, where pace dominated, momentum swung wildly, and 19 wickets tumbled on a bouncy surface at Perth Stadium. England ended the day with a remarkable advantage, a scenario few predicted after Australia’s Mitchell Starc had earlier ripped through the visitors to claim career-best figures.

Before a roaring crowd of 51,531, Starc spearheaded Australia’s early dominance, taking 7 for 58 as England were skittled for 172 in just 32.5 overs — the shortest innings in an Ashes Test since Australia’s infamous 60 all out at Trent Bridge in 2015. Bowling around 145 kph and exploiting a green-tinged pitch, Starc dismantled England’s top order and claimed his 100th Ashes wicket in the process.

But England’s all-pace attack roared back in style, capitalising on a reshuffled Australian batting order after Usman Khawaja was deemed ineligible to open due to time spent off the field with back stiffness. That pushed Marnus Labuschagne to open alongside debutant Jake Weatherald, who suffered a brutal Ashes baptism when Jofra Archer trapped him lbw second ball.

Steven Smith, forced to bat at No. 3 for the first time since 2017, battled through body blows and hostile spells but eventually edged Brydon Carse for 17. Khawaja, batting at No. 4, lasted only briefly before gloving a rising ball from Carse for 2.

England’s quicks were relentless. Archer hit speeds of 150 kph and found steep bounce to remove Labuschagne. Ben Stokes then delivered a stunning six-over burst late in the day, snaring five wickets and triggering a collapse that wiped out the advantage Starc had provided. Travis Head and Cameron Green, who had looked promising in a 45-run stand, both fell as Stokes surged through Australia’s middle order.

Earlier, England’s innings struck the wrong kind of history. Despite maintaining a brisk scoring rate of 5.3 runs per over, they disintegrated from 160 for 5 to 172 all out, losing 5 for 12 in 18 deliveries. The top six was split evenly between edges behind the wicket — a familiar Perth dismissal — and batters beaten by pace.

Zak Crawley fell to Starc in the opening over, Ben Duckett was beaten for pace on 21, and Joe Root nicked off for a single-figure score as Starc tore through England’s top order. Harry Brook and Ollie Pope briefly revived the innings with a 55-run stand, but Cameron Green trapped Pope just short of a half-century before Starc and debutant Brendan Doggett combined to wrap up the tail. Doggett claimed two memorable wickets, including his maiden Test scalp after a half-hearted appeal turned jubilant celebration.

Starc walked off to a standing ovation after sealing the innings, but the tone of the match shifted dramatically as Australia’s top order wilted under England’s pace barrage.

At stumps, the Test was left hanging in the balance — but with England firmly in front — after one of the most chaotic and captivating opening days the Ashes has witnessed in years.