England were dismissed for just 172 in their first innings after winning the toss and electing to bat first in Perth but fought back superbly with the ball to take the ascendancy after day one

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.

Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has pointed out the clear double standards in Test cricket after the first day of the Perth Test of the Ashes series saw 19 wickets fall with England being bundled out for 172 in just 33 overs. Australia were then left reeling at 123/9 in 39 overs.

You couldn’t ask for anything much bigger in Test cricket than the 2025–26 Ashes. Australia vs England is the most historic rivalry in sport, and we could be about to get a series of a lifetime akin to those of 2005 or 2023 as Ben Stokes’ side face Australia.

The Ashes is a storied rivalry between Australia and England that has captivated cricket fans since 1882. Born from a mock newspaper obituary, the series is symbolized by a tiny urn containing —

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?

An astonishing day in Perth saw 19 wickets fall as batters crumpled in the face of breathless pace on the quickest track in world cricket

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