England won the toss and opted to bat at the Perth Stadium on the opening day of the Ashes series
England got off to a nightmare start in the first test of the 2025 Ashes series against Australia. Ben Stokes‘ side won the toss and opted to bat on a pitch that looked made for Bazball.
That was until the Aussies and Mitchell Starc ran riot making light work of England’s batting order. Zak Crawley was dismissed for a duck after just six balls while Joe Root’s search for a century down under continues after he was dismissed for nought.
England have it all to do after being bowled out for 172, but Jofra Archer got the visitors off to a brilliant start of their own. Debutant Jake Weatherald was trapped lbw and given out after review.
READ MORE: England hero Monty Panesar fires back at Steve Smith in bizarre Ashes clash
Here, Mirror Sport takes a look at some of the key moments from the opening day in Perth.
Mitchell Starc’s brilliant spell
It may not have been a repeat of the 2021 Ashes with a wicket in the first ball of the series, but Starc stole the show in the opening session in Perth. There was no Pat Cummins or Josh Hazelwood as two key members of Australia’s fearsome bowling attacked sat out of the first test through injury.
But Starc sent a clear message right from the off. He dismissed Zak Crawley with the sixth ball of the opening over. The England opener tried to play a forward defence but edged behind and was caught by Usman Khawaja in the slips after fumbling the first attempt.
It was first blood to the Australians and Starc was just getting started. Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope fought back to get 33 runs on the board before the former was trapped lbw after another brilliant delivery from Starc.
He’d grab another huge scalp before the hour mark, teasing Joe Root into a backfoot punch after a series of wider deliveries, but he edged behind straight to Marnus Labuschagne. England’s star man went for a duck.
Starc’s brilliant opening spell is the best start to an Ashes since Terry Alderman, who managed 4-68 in 24 overs back in 1981. It’s the 23rd time the Australian has taken a wicket in his first over.
His brilliance didn’t stop there, bowling Ben Stokes after lunch before cleaning up with Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson and Mark Wood all caught from Starc deliveries. He’d finish on 7-58 in a brilliant display.
Joe Root’s nightmare down under
So much has been made of Joe Root’s wait for a century in Australia ahead of the Ashes. Would this series finally be the year he ticked off an all important milestone?
We’ll have to wait and see. Root could only edge Starc’s brilliant delivery behind to Labuschagne in the slips after just seven deliveries.
England’s best ever batter trudged back to the pavilion visibly gutted. They’ll need a big second innings from their star man to save the first test.
Harry Brook half-century
There were some signs of life from England’s batting display, though they weren’t much to write home about. Ollie Pope managed to reach 46 before he was trapped lbw by Cameron Green.
Pope and Harry Brook had fired some life into England’s lacklustre display. The vice-captain would smash the first six of the series with a brilliant hit over the cover boundary.
Brook would go on to make 52 but that was the beginning of the end as England’s tail end collapsed under the pressure.
Jofra Archer response
England know they have it all to do after a brilliant bowling display from the Australian’s and they got off to a fantastic start.
All the talk in the build-up has been about their bowling attack of Archer and Mark Wood and it was the former who got the first breakthrough.
Archer steamed in and trapped Weatherald lbw who had to make the long walk back to the dressing room after just two deliveries.
Steve Smith jibes
Steve Smith has already been involved in a war of words with former England spin bowler Monty Panesar this week and the travelling Barmy Army were quick to have their say.
As the Australian captain made his way out to bat the travelling English faithful targetted the Aussie skipper with chants of ‘We saw you crying on the tele,’ referencing the infamous ball-tampering scandal that rocked cricket back in 2018.
Smith cried during a press conference and English supporters were quick to remind him.
To be the first to hear all the latest Ashes news, sign up to our newsletter The Cricket Drop here.
Watch the Ashes live on TNT Sports
The Ashes gets underway on November 21 and all the action in the battle between England and Australia will be broadcast live on TNT Sports. Fans can tune in via discovery+ or Prime Video’s TNT Sports channel.
