Australia's Ashes hopes hang in the balance after a thrilling first day of the Test series, which saw an incredible 19 wickets fall and left the home side reeling.
England, despite losing the toss, seized the initiative with a remarkable display of pace bowling on a lively Perth Stadium pitch. The visitors finished the day with a 49-run lead, a remarkable turnaround after being bowled out for 172 in their first innings.
The Ashes are alive!
Mitchell Starc, stepping up in the absence of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, gave Australia a dream start with career-best figures of 7/58. However, England's pace attack hit back hard, exploiting the conditions and a reshuffled Australian batting order.
The opening partnership of Marnus Labuschagne and debutant Jake Weatherald faced a tough baptism, with Weatherald falling to Jofra Archer for a duck. Usman Khawaja, unable to bat due to back stiffness, missed out on an opening spot, and Steven Smith had a tough time, battling through pain after being hit on the elbow.
Ben Stokes, who finished with a five-wicket haul, led England's fightback, dismissing Travis Head and Cameron Green just as they were building a partnership. The day's play bore eerie similarities to the India Test a year ago, with a high wicket tally on the opening day.
England's aggressive batting approach backfired, as they were bowled out in just 32.5 overs, a stark contrast to their run rate of 5.3 per over. Three top-order batters were caught behind the wicket, a common mode of dismissal in Perth, while the others succumbed to pace.
But here's where it gets controversial...
England's decision to go all-out pace paid off, leaving off-spinner Shoaib Bashir out of the XI. Despite Stokes' preference to bowl first, Australia might have expected to bat, but he followed the ground's brief history, where batting first had proven advantageous.
Openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett faced a hostile reception from the Australian fans, but it was Crawley who got the better of Starc, famously swatting him for a boundary in the last Ashes series. However, Starc struck back, dismissing Crawley in his first over, leaving Duckett to face the music.
Ollie Pope, who had cemented his No. 3 spot with a strong performance in the warm-up, showed his confidence with crisp punches down the ground. Despite the sluggish outfield, Pope looked set for his first half-century in Australia, but he was trapped leg before by Cameron Green.
Harry Brook, playing his first Test innings in Australia, showed his cavalier style, but it was Starc who continued to dominate, claiming his 100th Ashes wicket as he dismissed Joe Root. Starc's figures of 3/10 from five overs highlighted his dominance, but Brook and Pope had steadied the ship briefly.
And this is the part most people miss...
After lunch, Brook took on the Australian bowlers, flaying Scott Boland for a massive six over extra cover. Starc's momentum continued, and he dismissed Stokes with a cracking delivery. Brook reached his half-century, but soon fell to debutant Brendan Doggett, who celebrated his first Test wicket with his teammates.
Doggett, who had received his cap from Boland and former coach Jason Gillespie, also dismissed Brydon Carse as England collapsed. Starc claimed the final two wickets in consecutive deliveries, but the match took a dramatic turn just three hours later as Australia fought back.
The Ashes series is off to a thrilling start, and with the momentum swinging wildly, it's anyone's game. Who will emerge victorious? The answer lies in the days ahead.
