Ben Stokes’ five-wicket haul led a stirring fightback from England’s all-pace bowling attack after the tourists were skittled for just 172 by a Mitchell Starc-inspired Australia on a breathless, 19-wicket opening day of The Ashes series in Perth.
Four years after England were rolled for 147 after choosing to bat in Brisbane on day one of the 2021/22 series, they folded again after making the same call at Optus Stadium, with their innings lasting just 32.5 overs and only Harry Brook (52 off 61 balls) passing fifty as left-arm quick Starc picked up Test-best figures of 7-58.
However, captain Stokes (5-23), Jofra Archer (2-11), Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse (2-45) all played their part in helping rip through Australia, with the hosts closing on 123-9 and trailing by 49.
Stokes, playing his first competitive game since a shoulder injury in July, watched on as Archer and Carse reduced Australia to 31-4 – Carse with the huge scalp of Steve Smith (17) – before he removed Travis Head (21), Cameron Green (24), Starc (12), Alex Carey (26) and Scott Boland (0) as the Baggy Greens were subjected to a pace barrage.
Zak Crawley (0) survived Starc’s first ball – unlike Rory Burns at The Gabba in the previous Ashes in Australia – but then edged the sixth behind, while Starc also nicked off Joe Root for a duck and pinned Ben Duckett lbw for 21 as England slipped to 39-3.
Root’s wicket took Starc – spearheading the home side’s attack in the absence of injured captain Pat Cummins (back) and Josh Hazlewood (hamstring) – to 100 Ashes scalps and he made that 104 as England wilted from 160-5, losing their last five wickets for 12 runs.
Stokes’ five wickets, though, have England in the ascendancy after a day played in fast-forward.
More to follow.
