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Starc runs riot before Ben Stokes leads English fightback on eventful day 1 of The Ashes

Aakash Saini

Stokes bagged 5 wickets to script English comeback [Source: AFP]Stokes bagged 5 wickets to script English comeback [Source: AFP]

As many as 19 wickets fell on Day 1 of the first Ashes 2025-26 Test in Perth, with Australia’s Mitchell Starc and England’s Ben Stokes leading the charge for their respective sides.

Here, we take a look at the entire highlights of Day 1 of the first Test of the 2025-26 Ashes series between Australia and England, as it panned out at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Friday, November 21.

Mitchell Starc canes England with record seven-fer

Mitchell Starc blazed through England’s top-order by getting rid of both openers, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, the former for a six-ball duck in the first over to kick off the Ashes. The legendary fast bowler also dismissed Joe Root for a seven-ball duck, before Cameron Green joined in the fun with the prized scalp of Ollie Pope (46 off 58).

Despite tumbling wickets, Harry Brook compiled a swift 52 from 61 balls with five boundaries and a six. Brook’s belligerent counterattack, however, was eventually foiled by Australian debutant Brendan Doggett, who also trapped Brydon Carse with a short ball to bag figures of 2-27.

Mitchell Starc steamrolled the rest of the Englishmen to claim sensational figures of 7-58, i.e., his career-best figures in Tests and going past 100 Ashes wickets in the process. Starc’s 13-over mayhem knocked over the entire England team for just 172 in 32.5 overs.

Ben Stokes fights back for England

England speed demon Jofra Archer trapped Australian opener Jake Weatherald and knocked over Marnus Labuschagne, both with the new ball as the hosts slipped to 28-2. Captain Steve Smith, visibly shaky in his approach, played nearly 50 percent worth of false shots in his struggling 49-ball 17 before getting toppled by Brydon Carse.

Carse also got Usman Khawaja nicking behind stumps as Australia’s troubles worsened at 31-4. Travis Head and Alex Carey counterattacked for a while through their brisk 20s but both left-handers were removed by Ben Stokes, who picked up a sensational five-wicket haul, his sixth in Tests as Australia reached 123-9 in 39 overs by stumps.