Historic Ashes opener: 19 wickets fall on one of the wildest opening days in history

In scenes rarely witnessed in the storied history of the Ashes, 19 wickets tumbled on a breathtaking opening day of the first Test in Perth on Friday, with both England and Australia enduring batting collapses under relentless pace and nerve-shredding pressure.

England, sent in to bat by skipper Ben Stokes after winning the toss, were blown away for 172 by a rampaging Mitchell Starc, whose devastating 7-58 tore the visitors apart and handed Australia early control.

Yet, by stumps, fortunes had flipped dramatically again, as England’s own fast-bowling unit—led masterfully by Stokes himself—reduced the hosts to 123-9, still trailing by 49 runs.

It was a day that swung wildly, felt utterly chaotic, and will likely be remembered among the most dramatic opening days in Ashes history.

Harry Brook (52) and Ollie Pope (46) were the only English batters to mount any meaningful resistance, but even they succumbed shortly after lunch as Starc kept breaking through at will.

The left-armer, who has a reputation for striking early, once again opened with fire, removing Zak Crawley for a duck in his sixth ball—marking the 24th time he has claimed a wicket in the first over of an innings.

Ben Duckett briefly steadied himself with a crisp cover drive before Starc trapped him lbw for 21, leaving England wobbling at 33-2. Joe Root’s search for a maiden Test century in Australia suffered another setback when he edged Starc to Marnus Labuschagne at third slip for nought.

Pope’s composure couldn’t carry him past Cameron Green, who trapped him lbw just before lunch.

After the break, Brook counterpunched with flair, launching Scott Boland for six, but Starc struck again by uprooting Stokes’s stumps with a late inswinger.

Brook reached a gutsy half-century, his 14th in Tests, but gloved a short ball to Alex Carey to hand debutant Brendan Doggett his maiden Test wicket. Starc completed his 17th five-wicket haul soon after as England’s tail folded quickly. But the day was far from done.

Australia’s reply unravelled almost immediately. In a surprise twist, Usman Khawaja did not open with Labuschagne as expected, instead sending out debutant Jake Weatherald.

His entry into Test cricket was brutal and short-lived: a second-ball lbw to Jofra Archer, who struck him with a scorching delivery that left him on the turf.

Labuschagne, battling Archer’s pace, lasted 41 balls for nine before being bowled by a fuller delivery. Steve Smith followed for 17 in the next over, edging Brydon Carse to slip, and when Khawaja—feeling stiff—walked in at four, he managed just six balls before another Carse bouncer caught his edge.

From 31-4, Australia’s middle order attempted recovery through Cameron Green (24), Travis Head (21), Carey (26) and Starc (12), but every time momentum flickered, Stokes extinguished it.

The England captain produced a brilliant spell of 5-23, dismantling the lower-middle order as Australia slipped to 123-9 by stumps.

Nathan Lyon (3*) and Doggett (0*) survived the final minutes, but after a day of carnage, neither side can claim firm control—only that the Ashes has erupted in unforgettable fashion.