England's hopes of a triumphant start to the 2025 Ashes series were left in tatters after a spectacular bowling display from Australia's Mitchell Starc on the opening day in Perth.
Starc's Opening Spell Decimates England's Top Order
Having won the toss and chosen to bat on a pitch that seemed ripe for their aggressive 'Bazball' approach, England's decision backfired almost immediately. With Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood sidelined through injury, the stage was set for Mitchell Starc to lead the attack, and he delivered a masterclass.
The left-arm fast bowler struck with just the sixth ball of the series, removing Zak Crawley for a duck. He then trapped Ben Duckett lbw before claiming the prize wicket of Joe Root, also for a duck, with a brilliant delivery that Root could only edge to the slips. Starc's opening spell was the most destructive start to an Ashes series since Terry Alderman in 1981.
Brief Resistance and a Tail-End Collapse
England showed fleeting signs of recovery through a partnership between Ollie Pope and Harry Brook. Pope made a spirited 46 before falling to Cameron Green, while Brook provided the main resistance, smashing the first six of the series on his way to a half-century of 52 runs.
However, any hopes of a substantial total evaporated after lunch. Starc returned to clean bowl captain Ben Stokes and then ripped through the lower order, taking the wickets of Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson, and Mark Wood to finish with remarkable figures of 7 for 58. England were dismissed for a meagre 172 in their first innings.
Archer Fires Early Response for England
Facing a huge deficit, England's bowlers needed a rapid response, and Jofra Archer provided a glimmer of hope. The paceman made an immediate impact in Australia's innings, trapping debutant Jake Weatherald lbw with just his second delivery, sending the opener back to the pavilion without scoring.
Despite this early breakthrough, Australia finished the day in a commanding position, leaving England with a monumental task to salvage the first Test. The performance of Starc, however, was the unequivocal story of the day, sending a powerful message to the visitors for the remainder of the series.
