Ashes begins with a bang after 19 wickets on dramatic day one give England early edge

The opening day of this Ashes series has set an absurdly high bar for what is to come. England played their supporters back at home, a collapse to 172 all out like waking up to a horse’s head in the bed, only for Ben Stokes and his stable of quicks to deliver a more telling statement of their own.

If they did not know it before, Australia are now well aware that this is a very different England side to those of the past. The fast forward but fragile batting was a known quantity, granted. But it now comes with a pool of high-octane seamers who will test techniques and tickers in equal measure. Australia close on 123-9 after England skittled for 172: Ashes first Test, day one – live Read more

That test was failed first up, Mitchell Starc’s career-best seven for 58 – including Zak Cra