The opening day of the Ashes Test in Perth was marked by chaos, with 19 wickets falling as batters struggled against fierce bowling. Usman Khawaja's unexpected toilet break led to significant turmoil for Australia, while Mitchell Starc delivered a standout performance with the ball. Khawaja left the field after the 29th over due to what Cricket Australia described as back spasms. His absence lasted longer than eight minutes, which meant he could not bat until he had fielded for the same duration. At the time of his departure, England had five wickets in hand, and his absence raised concerns about his ability to return to the crease. Upon Khawaja's return in the 33rd over, Australia had already lost three wickets. Starc quickly took two more wickets in five balls, leaving Khawaja with only seven minutes of fielding time before he was eligible to bat. Consequently, Marnus Labuschagne joined debutant Jake Weatherald at the crease. Weatherald's first Test innings ended after just two balls, leaving Steve Smith to face the third delivery of the match. Starc's performance was pivotal for Australia. He struck early, dismissing England's Zak Crawley for a duck with a catch that Khawaja nearly fumbled. Starc continued to dominate, taking three wickets for just 17 runs in his first six overs, including Joe Root, marking his 100th Ashes wicket. He finished the day with a career-best 7-58. England's batting lineup faltered significantly, collapsing from a promising 5-160 to all out for 172. Former England player Phil Tufnell criticized the team's performance, stating, "It feels a bit soft from England, to be honest. I don't think they've bowled very well." Jason Gillespie echoed this sentiment, saying, "England have stuffed that up basically, can't use any other words." Ben Stokes emerged as a key player for England, taking two crucial wickets after Australia had lost four early ones. He dismissed Travis Head and Cameron Green, showcasing his ability to perform under pressure. Stokes' efforts contributed to a day that was largely dominated by bowlers, as both teams struggled to establish a solid batting foundation. As the first day concluded, the focus remained on the bowlers, with Starc and Stokes leading their respective teams in a match that promised to be a thrilling contest in the Ashes series.