Well, if you were wondering if the Ashes would deliver the drama, Day 1 in Perth gave us an answer that was a resounding "YES!" It was one of those days you just couldn't take your eyes off, a chaotic, thrilling, and record-breaking start to the series. A total of 19 wickets fell, with both teams having moments of sheer brilliance and baffling collapse. It was the kind of day that reminds you why Test cricket is the pinnacle of the sport.
Key Highlights
- ✓ A staggering 19 wickets tumbled on Day 1, a new record at the Perth Stadium.
- ✓ Mitchell Starc delivered a career-best performance, taking sensational figures of 7 for 58.
- ✓ England captain Ben Stokes answered with a brilliant five-wicket haul (5 for 23) to put his side on top.
- ✓ England were bowled out for just 172 in a rapid-fire 32.5 overs, their second-shortest Ashes innings ever.
- ✓ Australia finished the day in deep trouble at 123 for 9, still trailing England by 49 runs.
Starc's First-Over Mayhem Sets the Tone
It all started when Ben Stokes won the toss and made the straightforward call to bat first. But on a lively Perth surface, that decision unraveled almost immediately. The crowd was buzzing, many remembering Mitchell Starc’s unforgettable first-ball wicket of Rory Burns in the 2021 series. While history didn't repeat exactly, the outcome was just as dramatic.
With Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood not selected, the pressure was on Starc to lead the attack, and he absolutely thrived. On the final ball of the very first over, he produced a beauty—a 143.6kph delivery that seamed away late. Zak Crawley, stuck on his crease, could only get a thick edge, and Usman Khawaja juggled but held on to the catch. The Ashes was officially underway, and Australia had their perfect start.
A Devastating Spell for the Ages
That first wicket was just the beginning of Starc’s rampage. He was simply unplayable, bowling at high pace and nipping the ball with his three-quarter seam grip. Ben Duckett was trapped lbw, and then came the big one. Starc bowled an absolute peach to England’s best player, Joe Root, who was turned around by a 142.8kph delivery that pitched on leg and seamed across him, resulting in an edge to third slip. It was Root’s first-ever duck in Australia and Starc’s 100th Ashes wicket. What a statement.
England crashed to 39 for 3, and the wheels were well and truly off. Ollie Pope (46) and Harry Brook (52) mounted a spirited counter-attack, putting on a lively 55-run stand. Brook, in particular, played with confident intent, racing to a brisk half-century. But just as they seemed to be settling, Pope fell to Cameron Green right before Lunch. The brief period of calm was over.
Captain Stokes Answers the Call
After England were bundled out for a mere 172—thanks to Starc’s incredible career-best 7 for 58—it felt like Australia had seized complete control. The drama, however, was far from over. In a bizarre turn of events, Usman Khawaja couldn't open the batting for Australia because he had spent too much time off the field during England’s innings due to "toilet breaks" and "stretching." This forced a reshuffle, with Marnus Labuschagne walking out with debutant Jake Weatherald.
The chaos continued immediately. Jofra Archer, steaming in with sharp pace, trapped Weatherald LBW for a second-ball duck. That brought stand-in captain Steve Smith to the crease in the first over. England's all-pace attack of Archer, Mark Wood, and Brydon Carse was relentless, peppering the Aussie batters with pace and steep bounce.
A Skipper's Knockout Punch with the Ball
After managing only six runs with the bat, Ben Stokes decided to take matters into his own hands with the ball. And what a decision that was. Just as Travis Head and Cameron Green were building a promising 45-run stand to steady the ship, Stokes produced an inspiring, match-turning spell. He lured Head into chipping a short ball straight to mid-on, a gift of a wicket that left the Aussie batter visibly frustrated.
He then tempted Green into a loose drive, finding the edge through to the keeper. Suddenly, England were into the tail. But Stokes wasn't done. He removed Alex Carey with a short ball that was ramped straight to deep third, a complete lapse in concentration. The final blow came when he had Scott Boland caught at second slip, with Harry Brook taking a brilliant diving catch to secure a magnificent five-wicket haul for his captain. It was Stokes' 6th fifer in Tests and his third against Australia.
A Day for the History Books
When the dust finally settled and stumps were drawn, the numbers told an incredible story. Nineteen wickets in a single day—a new record for a Test match in Perth. It equaled an Ashes record for the last 100 years. While the bowling from both sides was outstanding, some poor shot selection certainly contributed to the chaos. It was a day where sustained pressure at high pace led to a cascade of batting errors.
Beyond the main headlines, there were other significant moments. Brydon Carse, on his Ashes debut, made a huge impact, claiming the massive wickets of Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja with brutish, rising deliveries. For Khawaja, it continued a worrying trend of being dismissed by right-arm pace from around the wicket. It was also a historic day for Australian cricket, as debutant Brendan Doggett and Scott Boland became the first two Indigenous men to play in the same Test XI. Doggett even claimed his memorable maiden wicket, dismissing the dangerous Harry Brook.
Conclusion
What a wild, unpredictable, and utterly gripping way to kick off the 2025-26 Ashes series. Mitchell Starc’s career-best seven-wicket haul was a masterclass in fast bowling that should have put Australia in an unassailable position. But Ben Stokes, a man who lives for these big moments, produced a spell of his own that completely flipped the script. At 123 for 9, Australia are on the ropes, and England, despite their own batting collapse, have a firm grip on this opening Test. Day 2 can't come soon enough!
