Veteran quick Mitchell Starc was in devastating form, taking a career-best 7-58. But by the close, Ben Stokes was bouncing through Australian batters — and then the celebrations of his England team-mates — to bag 5-23 himself to ensure the visitors sleep well ahead of tomorrow’s second day, when Australia will resume on 123 for nine.

Australia closed on 123-9 in reply to England being dismissed for 172 in a dramatic start to the Ashes; Ben Stokes took a five-for to lead the tourists fightback; England have not won a Test in Austra

TNT Sports is a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery; the parent company had a net income of $11.3bn in 2024 and it has total assets of $100bn. Could they not have afforded a few more air fares? Or some bigger and better commentators and experts? Surely Lord Gower’s restaurant expenses could have been covered out of that 100 billion?

The first day of the opening Ashes Test saw 19 wickets falling down as pacers dominated the proceedings at the Perth Stadium. Former Indian players, including Ravi Ashwin and Aakash Chopra, took a dig at the Perth curators for the outcome of the opening day.

The ground is hosting its first Ashes Test but will replicate the pace and bounce that made the WACA, across the Swan River, so feared