Perth Stadium delivered a spectacle no one could have predicted. The first day of the Ashes witnessed 19Wickets in a Day, plunging both teams into a cycle of collapses that left a crowd of 51,531 in disbelief.
England’s innings of 172 came and went in barely over 32 overs, only for Australia to crumble to 123/9 under the night sky. The pace, the bounce, the movement—it all combined into a relentless storm that neither side could fully master.
This wasn’t the slow-burning start seen in traditional Ashes series. This was Test cricket played at extreme speed, where every mistake carried consequences.
Starc Ignites the Morning as 19Wickets in a Day Begins With England’s Collapse
Mitchell Starc set the tone, producing a breathtaking spell of 7/58, dismantling England’s top and middle order with steep bounce and late movement. With Australia missing two senior quicks—Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood—Starc embraced the responsibility and delivered one of his sharpest performances on home soil.
Day 1 Bowling Summary
| Bowler | Team | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Starc | Australia | 16.5 | 3 | 58 | 7 | 3.44 |
| Xavier Doggett | Australia | 8 | 0 | 32 | 1 | 4.00 |
| Scott Boland | Australia | 8 | 0 | 62 | 0 | 7.75 |
| Jofra Archer | England | 8 | 1 | 24 | 2 | 3.00 |
| Brydon Carse | England | 7 | 0 | 22 | 3 | 3.14 |
| Mark Wood | England | 7 | 0 | 29 | 2 | 4.14 |
| Gus Atkinson | England | 7 | 0 | 26 | 2 | 3.71 |
Starc’s spell was more than just a haul of wickets—it was a lesson in how to dominate a pitch offering unpredictable bounce. Every delivery felt loaded with threat.
Small moments illustrated the shift:
- A rising ball clipping Zak Crawley’s glove.
- Ben Duckett beaten for pace while trying to counterattack.
- Joe Root undone by a late-moving full ball he could not judge.
Harry Brook and Ollie Pope offered resistance, putting on a calming 55-run stand. But once Brook miscued a short ball from Xavier Doggett, the collapse resumed and England’s innings ended abruptly.
Australia’s Reply Crumbles as England’s Fast Bowlers Unleash Their Own Assault
The flood of wickets didn’t stop when England walked off. Australia, batting under lights, encountered even harsher conditions. The pinkish Kookaburra moved late, kicked unexpectedly, and punished indecision.
Jake Weatherald’s debut was over before it began. Archer struck him LBW with a 150 km/h thunderbolt, the batter stumbling as he made contact. It was a vivid visual of how tricky the pitch had become.
Marnus Labuschagne’s innings reflected discomfort. Struck on the elbow, then bowled from a ricochet after leaving the ball, he looked more unsettled than usual. Steve Smith, usually so composed, faced repeated body blows before edging Brydon Carse for 17.
Usman Khawaja, returning with back spasms, lasted only briefly before a lifter brushed his glove. Australia went from a position of strength to uncertainty within a single session.
England’s Four-Paced Attack and Stokes’ Timely Burst Take Full Control
England’s plan was clear: rotate four fast bowlers in short bursts to maintain intensity. It worked perfectly.
- Archer targeted the body and gloves.
- Wood contributed raw speed and unsettling length.
- Atkinson brought awkward bounce.
- Carse repeatedly hit the seam and probed the channel.
But the turning point came when Ben Stokes entered the attack. The England captain delivered a spell that flipped the match entirely—5 wickets in 6 overs, a remarkable intervention showcasing sharp game sense.
Each wicket exposed Australia’s anxieties:
- Travis Head’s loose pull.
- Cameron Green slicing wide outside off.
- Alex Carey attempting a risky uppercut.
- Scott Boland edging tamely.
The collapse from 5/76 to 9/123 summed up Australia’s frustrations and England’s relentless commitment to their plan.
Patterns, Context and What 19Wickets in a Day Reveals About This Match – 19Wickets in a Day
Comparisons quickly arose with the 2024 Perth Test where 17 wickets fell on Day 1. Perth is emerging as the most volatile pitch in Test cricket, especially when the Kookaburra is new.
Statistical markers shaped the day’s narrative:
- First Ashes Day 1 with this many wickets since 1909
- Starc reaching 100 Ashes wickets
- England scoring at above 5 RPO but collapsing rapidly
- Australia suffering their own evening collapse in mirrored fashion
Selection debates surfaced post-play. Australia missed the control that Cummins and Hazlewood traditionally provide. Boland’s struggles reopened questions about his effectiveness outside English-like conditions.
England’s all-seam attack, initially questioned, turned out to be perfectly matched to the surface. Stokes’ call to bat first, criticised early, became far more defensible once Australia’s top order found the same difficulties England faced.
Conclusion: An Ashes Opener Redefined by 19Wickets in a Day and Relentless Momentum Swings
The Ashes didn’t just begin—it erupted. The drama of 19Wickets in a Day set a fierce tone for the series, where fast bowling dominated and batting became a survival test.
England ended the day with a 49-run advantage and the mental edge, but nothing feels settled. If this pattern continues, the 2025–26 Ashes could become a series shaped by chaos, pace and the constant threat of collapse.
