An extraordinary opening day of the Ashes series concluded with Australia trailing England by 49 runs after a breathtaking display of fast bowling at Perth Stadium on Friday. A remarkable 19 wickets tumbled throughout the day, marking the most wickets to fall on a single day in an Ashes Test since 1909.
The day began with Australian paceman Mitchell Starc seizing the initiative, claiming a career-best 7-58 to dismiss England for 172 before tea. However, England captain Ben Stokes led a ferocious counter-attack in the final session, ripping through the Australian batting lineup with figures of 5-23 to leave the home side reeling at 123-9 at stumps.
Spearheading the Australian attack in the absence of injured regular captains Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, Starc produced a devastating spell of left-arm pace. He struck in the very first over, removing Zak Crawley for a duck, and continued his rampage by claiming the key wickets of Ben Duckett, Joe Root, and Ben Stokes.
Here's every single one of the NINETEEN wickets to fall on Day 1 at Optus Stadium … in just 71.5 overs 🤯#Ashes pic.twitter.com/d8QFJEmCxe
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) November 21, 2025Starc’s performance included his 100th Ashes wicket and culminated in his fifth five-wicket haul in Ashes cricket. England’s innings was built around Harry Brook’s aggressive 52, but their commitment to an attacking ‘Bazball’ approach saw the last four wickets add only 12 runs.
England’s pace battery responded with equal ferocity in the final session. Jofra Archer, returning to Test cricket, set the tone by removing debutant Jake Weatherald for a second-ball duck and Marnus Labuschagne for 9. Bowling at speeds approaching 150 kph, Archer and Mark Wood unsettled the Australian batsmen with several body blows.
A thrilling start to the series as 19 wickets fall on day one in Perth 🤯#AUSvENG #Ashes2025 pic.twitter.com/Ex8Hs7PT9q
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) November 21, 2025The pivotal moment came when stand-in skipper Steve Smith (17) and Usman Khawaja (2) fell in quick succession to Brydon Carse. Stokes then took centre stage, accounting for Cameron Green (24), Mitchell Starc (12), Alex Carey (26), and Scott Boland (0) to complete his sixth five-wicket haul in Test cricket.
At the close of play, Nathan Lyon (3 not out) and debutant Brendan Doggett (yet to score) will resume on day two with Australia hoping to reduce the deficit. As England seamer Brydon Carse noted in a pitch-side interview: “What a day. I think everyone who’s come today has got their time worth – 19 wickets. Fantastic last session from everyone to put us in a strong position heading into tomorrow.”
