The drama at Perth Stadium added another remarkable chapter to the storied history of Ashes opening days. With most wickets tumbling, it became the most action-packed first day of an Ashes Test in a century, surpassing the chaotic scenes at Trent Bridge in 2001 and Lord’s in 2005. The pitch, offering bounce and unpredictable seam movement, kept both batting line-ups under constant threat as bowlers dictated every session.
For England, the collapse to ten wickets in barely two sessions highlighted their struggle to adapt to conditions that rewarded discipline over aggression. Australia weren’t spared either, losing nine wickets of their own as the evening light brought even sharper movement off the surface. What unfolded was a rare sight: both teams effectively bowled out on the same day, setting up a wildly unpredictable Test.
The individual brilliance, however, stood above the collective chaos. Mitchell Starc and Ben Stokes became the first pair of bowlers to claim five-wicket hauls on the opening day of a Test since Steve Harmison and Glenn McGrath at Lord’s in 2005. Starc’s left-arm pace extracted wicked angles that tormented England’s top order, while Stokes’ fiery spells ripped through Australia’s middle order with trademark hostility. Their performances rekindled memories of classic Ashes duels defined by fast bowling supremacy. England were bowled out for 172 in just 32.5 overs. Australia, in reply, ended the day at 123-9, trailing by 49 runs.
Some experts praised the Perth surface for restoring the primacy of bowlers in an era dominated by batting, while others questioned whether the balance had tipped too far. Regardless, fans were treated to a spectacle that echoed the unpredictability and intensity that make the Ashes one of cricket’s greatest rivalries.
