Perth, Nov 21, 2025

Nineteen wickets fell on a chaotic opening day of the first Ashes Test at Perth Stadium, where fast bowlers from both sides wreaked havoc on a bouncy surface to leave the match dramatically in the balance.

By stumps, Australia were shellshocked at 123/9, still trailing England by 49 runs, after captain Ben Stokes tore through the middle and lower order with a sensational 5-23 from six overs, building on ferocious bursts from Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse. The collapse mirrored the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar opener at the same venue, where 17 wickets fell on Day 1.

Earlier on Friday, Australian spearhead Mitchell Starc produced a career-best Ashes spell, ripping out England for 172 in 32.5 overs with stunning figures of 7-58. His brutality came before a record crowd of 5

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