Last Updated on 5 months ago by Charbel Coorey
An action-packed Ashes series was expected, and that was well and truly the case on a wild first day at Perth Stadium. An extraordinary 19 wickets fell in 71.5 overs, with England finishing on top despite being bowled out soon after lunch.
Ben Stokes won the toss and chose to bat. Ducks for Zak Crawley and Joe Root formed part of a tricky start for the hosts, before Ollie Pope and Harry Brook looked promising. Pope’s wicket, LBW to Green and against the run of play, meant England went in four down at lunch.
Mitchell Starc was the star, taking career-best figures of 7/58 as England capitulated after the break. He was magnificent, bowling with accuracy and velocity to counter the lack of swing. He took his 100th Ashes wicket in the process, and put Australia on top at that stage.
Some of England’s batting left plenty to be desired, with the visitors gifting wickets courtesy of the short ball. Harry Brook and Jamie Smith threatened to put on a big stand, but once Brook was dismissed, England were all out in a hurry.
The visitors were all out for 172 in just 32.5 overs on a surface providing some assistance, but not to the extent of the Perth pitch in the Australia-India Test last year.
England bounce back in magnificent fashion after getting bowled out cheaply
However, England weren’t perturbed. They came out all guns blazing in the field. Debutant Jake Weatherald was out LBW second ball, falling over to rapid Jofra Archer inswinger. Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne held on to tea and looked to fight on after the break, but England were relentless and a procession soon began.
This bowling performance is what England have been working towards in the Key-McCullum-Stokes era. All their bowlers can hit high speeds, but their accuracy and ability to extract maximum assistance off the surface – which had less moisture in it last year – was mighty impressive.
However, Australia would be bitterly disappointed. After falling to 31/4 with Usman Khawaja unable to open, Australia gave away wicket after wicket in soft fashion. Travis Head bunted one to mid on at a crucial time to end a promising stand with Green. Then, Green, Mitchell Starc and Alex Carey obliged to gift Ben Stokes a five-wicket haul.
Reactions to 19 wickets falling on 1st day of the Ashes, England on top
England fans are rightly thrilled. Many were confident heading into the Ashes and the bowlers vindicated their belief. Australia, on the other hand, have questions to answer after another batting collapse; a near carbon copy to the India Test a year ago.
It is the first time 19 wickets have fallen on day one of a Test in Australia since 1951/52, per ABC Sport’s Ric Finlay.
Australia finished day one on 123/9 in front of over 50,000 fans. England will be looking to replicate what India did in the third innings at Perth last year and bat Australia out of the game.
