Chaotic Start as England Collapse to 172
The first day of the Ashes series delivered pure drama as England suffered a dramatic batting collapse before fighting back spectacularly with the ball. Ben Stokes' side were bowled out for just 172 runs in their first innings, leaving them facing an uphill battle from the very start.
Australian speedster Mitchell Starc proved virtually unplayable, tearing through England's batting lineup in a devastating spell. Starc finished with remarkable figures of 7-58, sending Zak Crawley, Joe Root and Mark Wood back to the pavilion without scoring a single run between them.
Stokes Leads Spectacular Bowling Response
Just when the match seemed to be slipping away, England's captain produced one of his trademark inspirational performances. Ben Stokes claimed a brilliant five-wicket haul to drag his team back into contention, dismissing key batsmen including Travis Head and Cameron Green.
The bowling attack showed tremendous character with Jofra Archer particularly impressive, taking two early wickets and bowling four maidens from his eight overs. Brydon Carse also made crucial contributions, removing the dangerous Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja late in the day.
Player Ratings Reflect Rollercoaster Day
Harry Brook emerged as England's batting hero, top-scoring with 52 runs and showing the fighting spirit needed in Ashes cricket. Ollie Pope contributed 49 runs while Jamie Smith added a quickfire 33 from just 22 deliveries.
The player ratings told the story of a day of extremes. While Stokes earned a perfect 10 for his leadership and bowling heroics, both Zak Crawley and Joe Root received low scores of 3 after failing to make an impact with the bat.
Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse both scored impressive 8s for their controlled bowling, while Jofra Archer's return to form earned him a 9. Mark Wood, despite not taking wickets, looked threatening with speeds touching 93mph.
As the day closed, England had transformed what looked like certain disaster into a competitive position, setting up what promises to be an enthralling continuation of cricket's oldest rivalry.
