WATCH: Ben Stokes trumps Mitchell Starc on RECORD 19-wicket opening day on Ashes 2025
The Ashes 2025 edition got off to a cracking start at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Friday with a record 19 wickets falling on the opening day. It was the most wicket to fall in a day in a Ashes Test match since 20 wickets fell on Day 3 of 1950-51 series in Brisbane. The only two instances of as many wickets falling on the first day of an Ashes Test since the start of 20th century – 25 wickets at the MCG in 1901/02 and 20 wickets at Old Trafford in 1909.
Australian pacer Mitchell Starc claimed his career-best figures of 7 for 58 to bundle out England for 172 after Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bat first. English side struck back immediately through their skipper Stokes, who claimed his sixth five-wicket haul in Test cricket, picking up 5/23 as Australia were reduced to 123 for 9 at stumps on Day 1.
WATCH Ben Stokes claim his fifth wicket in Perth Ashes Test HERE…
Starc stuck in the opening over a Test match again as England opener Zak Crawley was caught at slips for a duck. Australian talisman then added the wickets of Ben Duckett (21) and Joe Root, who was dismissed for a duck in his opening spell.
The Australian left-arm pacer returned after lunch on Day 1 to dismiss England captain Stokes, bowled through the gate for 6. Harry Brook and England wicketkeeper Jamie Smith launched a counter-attack, putting on 45 runs in just 5 overs.
Brook was dismissed by debutant Brendan Doggett 52 off 61 balls with one six and five fours, caught behind off his gloves. Brook’s wicket sparked an England collapse as they lost their last 5 wickets for 12 runs with Starc wrecking the late order.
“Nice way to start a series. There’s been a lot made about (Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood) being not here and I guess me being an experienced one, so nice to lead that way,” Starc said.
Australia were in immediate trouble with debutant opener Jake Weatherald dismissed for a second-ball duck by a fearsome Jofra Archer. Usman Khawaja was unable to open the batting due to time spent off the field.
Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith endured a torrid spell before tea. Labuschagne departed for 9 off Archer, dragging on a short of a length ball back on to the stumps. Brydon Carse then struck a double blow by sending back Australian skipper Steve Smith for 17 and Usman Khawaja in a matter of couple of overs.
“I think everyone that’s come to watch today has got their time worth it. Obviously 19 wickets, fantastic last session there from everyone and it’s put us in a really strong position going into tomorrow,” Carse said after play on Day 1.
This is fourth time in history of Test when opposing bowlers have take five-wicket hauls on the opening day of a game. Starc (7/58) and Ben Stokes (5/23) are the first such pair since Steven Harmison and Glenn McGrath at Lord’s in 2005. The others to so in the time frame are Richard Collinge and Gary Gilmour in Auckland in 1974 and Frank Worrell and Bill Johnston in Adelaide in 1951.
Travis Head and Cameron Green stemmed the tide with their 45-run fourth-wicket stand to revive Australia’s innings before Stokes broke through. The England skipper dismissed Head (21), Green (24), Alex Carey (26) and Starc (12) to rip through the middle order before getting Scott Boland (0) in the next-to-last over to return 5 for 23 in six overs for the day.
“Yeah, he’s (Stokes) amazing. His character and his resilience is everything that this team strives to be. Obviously a game-changing spell there in that session from him. As we’ve seen all day, there’s enough assistance there with the pace and the bounce, just trying to hit the wicket as hard as I could throughout the day,” Carse said.
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