England 172: Brook 52, Pope 46; star 7-58
Australia 123-9: Stokes 5-23, Archer 2-11, Carse 2-45
England leads by 49 runs
Scorekeeper
Captain Ben Stokes took five wickets as England’s fast bowlers sensationally stormed Australia on an electrifying opening day of the Ashes.
In a captivating tussle on a fast, vibrant pitch in Perth, England were bowled out for 172, only to reduce Australia to 123-9.
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The fierce action lived up to the expectations of the most anticipated Ashes series in recent times.
Surprisingly, batting first by winning the toss, England got into trouble with the ‘Bazballed’. Zak Crawley was out for a duck from the sixth ball of the series to Mitchell Starc, who was irrepressible in taking 7-58.
Harry Brook made 52 and Ollie Pope batted very well for 46, but England lost their last five wickets for 12 runs and were bowled out in 32.5 overs – the shortest first innings of an Ashes Test in this country for 123 years.
The tourists’ five-man pace attack responded with the fastest bowling display by an England team since data was first collected 18 years ago.
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Jofra Archer was magnificent and deserved more than two wickets. Every time there was a lull, England had a new pacer to fall back on. Brydon Carse eliminated Australia captain and Monty Panesar foe Steve Smith.
Stokes used himself as the fifth bowler, first eliminating any suggestion of an Australia counter-attack and then running down the long tail. Playing for the first time since suffering a shoulder injury in July, the captain claimed his second five-wicket haul in as many Tests.
At the end of an unforgettable and breathless day, 19 wickets have fallen, England lead by 49 and have a golden opportunity to go 1-0 up.
Pace in Perth delivers first ever Ashes match
After expectations, speculation and trash talk, cricket’s oldest rivalry once again delivered. This was Ashes opening day forever.
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England have not come close to winning an Ashes on the road for 14 years. By the end of Friday, Australia would have no doubt that they are in contention this time.
The spicy pitch contributed, as did the cacophonous atmosphere created by 51,531 people inside Perth’s colossal stadium. But what will live long in the memory is the speed, hostility and quality of bowling from both teams.
Stokes looked to history with his toss decision: the previous five Tests at this ground were won by the team that batted first. Because, as bad as England was with the bat, they were just as good with the ball.
This match has echoes of the previous Test at this ground, when 17 wickets fell on the first day. Twelve months ago, India were bowled out for 150, only to then bowl out Australia for 104. India won by 295 runs.
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England’s bowlers have dragged them into this match; Now the batsmen must do their part on the second day. Stokes’ team is one solid inning of batting away from a 1-0 lead.
England finally fights with fire
For a long time, England have lacked the pace to compete in this country. The culmination of a plan to bring down the heavy artillery resulted in this impressive and relentless assault on Australia’s batting.
Mark Wood returned after 15 months of inactivity to play a Test alongside Archer for the second time. Stokes is in top form. Gus Atkinson and Carse could be the workhorses of the tour.
Archer set the tone in a three-over opening burst that averaged over 90mph. The ball that pinned Weatherald lbw dropped the left-hander.
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Marnus Labuschagne and Smith had to change the order because regular opener Usman Khawaja spent time off the field during England’s innings. The second-wicket pair were tortured by England’s hostility, taking blows, playing and failing.
Archer had Labuschagne playing again. Carse assumed command. Smith, booed to the crease by the traveling fans, made second slip, then Khawaja gloved a spiteful lifter.
Travis Head and Cameron Green threatened a counter-attack and Atkinson should have stopped Green in his follow-up.
But Stokes was irresistible in his first Test in Perth since making his maiden century in Waca as a 22-year-old 12 years ago. Head and Mitchell Starc were caught on the leg side; Green and Scott Boland stayed back, Alex Carey leading the third man.
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Ashes tours have rarely seen the best of Stokes. This was a statement of intent in his attempt to join the few England captains who left this country with the urn.
Starc crosses Bazballers
Four years ago, Starc bowled Rory Burns with the first ball of the Ashes series. Two years ago, in England, Crawley scored the first four ball. This time, Starc waited until the end of the first over to give the Ashes their lift, dragging Crawley to an unnecessary boundary for first slip.
Starc had to step up in the absence of injured captain Pat Cummins and fellow bowler Josh Hazlewood, and responded with the best figures of his career.
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He was helped by England’s recklessness. Any suggestion of a refined version of Bazball was abandoned. Only Joe Root, who took the third slip for a duck, can feel like he was taken out.
Ben Duckett played through the line to be lbw, Stokes left a huge space between bat and pad to bowl. When Starc returned to clean up the lower order, Jamie Smith and Mark Wood were sent off either side of Gus Atkinson, tamely pushing a lead.
Only four English batsmen reached double figures. Pope looked confident of getting his highest score in the Ashes, then horribly misjudged Green was lbw trying to play the leg side.
Brook’s tackles were amazing, he spent more time running towards the players than standing.
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A slap over extra cover for six was part of a dismissive treatment of Scott Boland, who conceded 62 from his 10 overs. When Brook harmlessly gloved a short ball to give Brendan Doggett his first Test wicket, it began England’s final slide of five wickets in 19 balls.