Perth Stadium witnessed a sensational opening day as Mitchell Starc’s historic seven-wicket haul dismantled England for 172, setting the stage for a thrilling Ashes contest.
Day One of the 1st Ashes Test at Perth Stadium delivered everything cricket fans crave—drama, controversy, and breathtaking performances. Mitchell Starc’s devastating 7/58 bowling display reduced England to 172 all out in just 32.5 overs, before the visitors struck back to leave Australia wobbling at 31/3 by stumps. Here at Cricketcosmos, we break down the crucial turning points that shaped this extraordinary opening day.
Starc Strikes Gold in the First Over
The match exploded into life within the first six balls as Mitchell Starc removed Zak Crawley for a golden duck. After England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bat first on the notoriously bouncy Perth surface, Starc delivered an absolute beauty that angled across Crawley, finding the outside edge with Usman Khawaja taking a clean catch at first slip. The Optus Stadium erupted, and Australia had drawn first blood without a run on the board—a moment that set the tone for England’s nightmare session ahead.
Joe Root’s Golden Duck Disaster
In one of the most significant moments of the day, Joe Root—England’s batting anchor and all-time leading run-scorer—was dismissed for a golden duck by Mitchell Starc. Root, who has struggled in Australia throughout his career, was caught by Marnus Labuschagne at second slip off a delivery that found the outside edge. He departed without troubling the scorers in what became his worst possible start to the series. This wicket left England reeling and handed Australia complete control of the contest in the opening hour itself.
Harry Brook’s Lone Warrior Act
Amidst the ruins of England’s batting collapse, Harry Brook emerged as the solitary resistance with a fighting half-century. Brook counter-attacked brilliantly, reaching his fifty and showcasing the aggressive Bazball approach even under extreme pressure. He top-scored with 52 runs, single-handedly dragging England from a precarious position toward a semi-respectable total. However, his dismissal triggered England’s final collapse as the tail folded rapidly against the relentless Australian pace attack.
Starc’s Historic Ashes Milestone
Mitchell Starc’s figures of 7/58 from 12.5 overs not only demolished England but also saw him reach a significant personal milestone of 100 wickets in Ashes cricket. This achievement made him the 21st bowler overall and the first left-arm seamer to reach this landmark in Ashes history. His strike rate of 44.8 is the best among all bowlers who have taken 100 Ashes wickets. This performance marked Starc’s 17th five-wicket haul in Test cricket and one of the finest Ashes bowling performances at Perth. His mastery of swing, seam movement, and relentless accuracy on the responsive pitch proved too much for England’s batsmen.
England’s Last Five Wickets Collapse
England’s innings completely unraveled as they lost their last five wickets for just 12 runs in an embarrassing collapse. After Harry Brook’s departure for 52, the lower order crumbled without offering any meaningful resistance. Ollie Pope had earlier contributed 46 runs, and Jamie Smith made 29, but once Brook fell, the remaining batsmen capitulated meekly. England lasted only 32.5 overs in their first innings—a shocking display that exposed the vulnerabilities in their aggressive batting approach against high-quality pace bowling.
Australia’s Shaky Reply Keeps Contest Alive
Despite their bowling heroics, Australia stumbled badly in their chase, collapsing to 31/3 and matching England’s early struggles. Usman Khawaja fell for just 2 runs to an unplayable delivery from Brydon Carse. This marked the first Ashes Test in history where both teams lost their first wicket for a duck in the first innings. England’s pace attack struck back with vengeance, keeping the match evenly poised heading into Day Two.
Tactical Gambles Under the Microscope
Ben Stokes’ decision to bat first on a lively Perth pitch has come under intense scrutiny, especially after England’s top-order collapse. England fielded an all-pace attack without a spinner, backing their seamers to exploit the bounce and seam movement. While this showed aggressive intent aligned with their Bazball philosophy, it backfired spectacularly as Starc’s opening spell exposed their vulnerability. Meanwhile, Australia played with captain Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood sidelined through injury, placing extra responsibility on Starc to lead the pace attack—a challenge he met emphatically.
What’s Next?
Day Two promises more edge-of-the-seat action as Australia look to build a substantial first-innings lead while England’s pacers hunt for quick wickets. Stay tuned to Cricketcosmos for comprehensive coverage, analysis, and live updates from Perth Stadium.
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