Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Nineteen wickets fell on a chaotic opening day of the first Ashes Test in Perth Stadium, where England and Australian fast bowlers wreaked havoc on a bouncy surface to leave the match dramatically in the balance. At 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. 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 51,531, while Harry Brook’s counterattacking half-century (52) lit up England’s innings as they rattled along at 5.24 runs per over. No visiting team has been bowled out quicker in a first innings of a Test in Australia since 1932. Starc removed Zak Crawley for a sixth-ball duck, then trapped Ben Duckett lbw for 21 before squaring up Joe Root for a seventh-ball duck, leaving England reeling at 39/3.
Brook, unbothered, launched a blistering assault — charging Australia’s quicks, cracking an 89m six, and adding 55 with Ollie Pope before Cameron Green nailed Pope lbw for 46. But Starc and debutant Brendan Doggett (2-27) then triggered a collapse of 5-12 in 19 balls, with Brook falling for a 61-ball 52. England wicketkeeper Jamie Smith clattered 33 off 22 before holing out, becoming Starc’s seventh victim. With Usman Khawaja unable to open because of back spasms, Marnus Labuschagne partnered with debutant Jake Weatherald — but the innings imploded immediately.
