Mayhem in Perth: 19 Wickets Tumble on Wild Opening Day of the Ashes

Perth, Australia – Saturday, November 22, 2025

The 2025-26 Ashes series exploded into life at Perth Stadium on Friday, with an unprecedented 19 wickets falling on a frenetic and pace-dominated opening day. After the dust settled on one of the most chaotic starts to an Ashes series in history, England seized a slender but crucial advantage, finishing with a 49-run lead in the first innings.

England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bat, but the decision quickly soured as Australia’s bowlers, led by a devastating spell from veteran Mitchell Starc, tore through the tourists.

Starc’s Career-Best Haul Halts England’s ‘Bazball’

Australia’s left-arm quick, Mitchell Starc, set the tone immediately by taking the wicket of Zak Crawley with the fifth ball of the day. Starc, leading the attack in the absence of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, delivered a remarkable spell of aggressive, attacking bowling to claim a career-best 7 wickets for 58 runs (7/58).

England’s aggressive “Bazball” approach saw them score quickly, but also contributed to regular collapses. Despite two fighting contributions, England were skittled for a paltry 172 in just 32.5 overs.

Significant England Batting Scores:

• Harry Brook: 52 runs (off 61 balls)
• Ollie Pope: 46 runs (lbw Green)
• Jamie Smith: 33 runs (c Green b Starc)

A crucial 55-run stand for the fourth wicket between Pope and Brook was the only real resistance, but a lower-order collapse of five wickets for just 12 runs saw their innings end abruptly.

Stokes’ Inspired Fightback Puts England Ahead

In a stunning turn of events that encapsulated the spirit of the Ashes, England’s fast bowlers responded with venom, inflicting a collapse of equal measure on the Australian top and middle order. Captain Ben Stokes, struggling with fitness but bowling with ferocious intent, spearheaded the fightback.

Stokes, who had earlier contributed just 6 runs with the bat, bowled a match-shaping spell in the final session, ripping out the core of the Australian line-up. He finished the day with figures of 5 wickets for 23 runs (5/23) off just six overs, his second five-wicket haul in Australia.

Significant Australian Bowling and Fielding Highlights:

• Mitchell Starc: 7/58 (11.5 overs)
• Brendan Doggett: 2/32 (9 overs, claimed the key wicket of Harry Brook)
• Cameron Green: 1/14 (4 overs, claimed the wicket of Ollie Pope)

Australia’s response was disjointed and defensive, leading to regular wickets. After Jofra Archer removed opener Jake Weatherald for a duck and Marnus Labuschagne fell for 9, the hosts never recovered.

Significant Australian Batting Scores:

• Alex Carey: 26 runs (c Carse b Stokes)
• Cameron Green: 24 runs (c Smith b Stokes)
• Travis Head: 21 runs (c Carse b Stokes)
• Steve Smith: 17 runs (c Brook b Carse)

By the close of play, Australia were reeling at 123 for 9, still trailing England by 49 runs with just one wicket remaining. The dramatic final session, which saw England’s pace attack deliver a masterclass, ensured that the tourists ended Day One firmly in the ascendancy.

Team	Innings Score	Wickets Lost	Key Performer
England	172 (all out)	32.5 overs	Harry Brook (52 runs)
Australia	123 (9 wickets)	39.0 overs	Mitchell Starc (7/58)
At Stumps: England lead by 49 runs			Ben Stokes (5/23)