Ashes 1st Test 2025 Perth. A remarkable opening day saw Mitchell Starc take seven wickets and Ben Stokes claim five as both teams collapsed on a fast and unpredictable surface.
Perth Opens the Ashes With a Day of Extreme Conditions
The 2025 to 2026 Ashes series began in Perth with a day that produced conditions rarely seen in modern Test cricket. A total of nineteen wickets fell in little more than two sessions, creating one of the most volatile opening days recorded in contests between Australia and England. The surface at Optus Stadium offered pace, lift and erratic movement that challenged both batting units throughout the day.
Starc Leads a Hostile Australian Attack
England captain Ben Stokes chose to bat first after winning the toss, although the decision quickly came under pressure once Mitchell Starc found rhythm with the new ball. Starc removed Zak Crawley in the first over of the match and continued to make regular breakthroughs throughout the morning.
He accounted for Joe Root without scoring and trapped Ben Duckett in front shortly after. Stokes himself was dismissed by late swing. Only Harry Brook, who scored fifty, and Ollie Pope, who reached the mid forties, offered sustained resistance. England were dismissed for 172 inside thirty three overs, with Starc finishing with figures of seven for fifty eight.
England Responds Through Stokes
Australia began their reply with an opportunity to build a lead, but the match shifted again when Stokes introduced himself into the attack late in the afternoon. His spell reversed the momentum of the day. He removed Cameron Green and Alex Carey, then followed with two further strikes that dismantled the Australian middle order.
Stokes completed a five wicket return from only six overs. Brydon Carse and Jofra Archer supported him with controlled short spells, and Australia went from a stable position at forty seven for two to a precarious one at one hundred and twenty three for nine by the close.
Rare Statistical Milestones
The combination of Starc’s seven wickets and Stokes’s five marked the first time in more than a century that two bowlers from opposing teams collected five wicket hauls on the opening day of an Ashes Test. The total number of wickets that fell was also the highest recorded on the first day of an Ashes match since the early twentieth century.
The nature of the pitch and the frequency of dismissals drew immediate interest from analysts, with several noting that the surface had quickened and developed irregular bounce as the day progressed.
Key Phases of Play
• Starc’s early sequence placed England under immediate pressure and shaped the morning session.
• England lost five wickets for twelve runs following Harry Brook’s dismissal.
• Australia’s top order advanced steadily until Stokes intervened with a decisive spell after tea.
• The final pair of Nathan Lyon and Brendan Doggett will resume on the second morning as Australia seeks to reduce the first innings deficit.
Captain Reactions After Play
Stokes said England understood the need to adapt quickly to the conditions and added that his team showed resilience after a difficult first session. He noted the importance of discipline with the ball on a surface that punished loose deliveries.
Starc said conditions suited fast bowling but acknowledged that Australia would need to apply themselves more effectively with the bat when play resumes.
Day One Score Summary
England: 172 all out
Top scorers: Brook 52, Pope 46
Best bowling: Starc 7 for 58
Australia: 123 for 9 at stumps
Top scorers: Carey 26, Green 24
Best bowling: Stokes 5 for 23
Australia trails by 49 runs heading into Day Two.
Summary
The opening day of the Ashes 1st Test in Perth produced conditions that heavily favoured fast bowling. Starc and Stokes delivered standout spells that defined a day of rapid movement in the scorecard. With both teams dismissing each other cheaply, the match is set up for a closely fought contest heading into the second day.
