Australia’s Ashes defence got off to a perfect start on Friday as Mitchell Starc tore through England’s batting lineup, claiming a career-best 7-58 to bowl them out for 172 before tea on day one of the Perth Test. The visitors’ first-innings collapse left Australia trailing by 157 runs, entering the break at 15-1 after debutant Jake Weatherald was dismissed for a second-ball duck.
Starc’s fiery opening spell saw him pick up three of the first four wickets, including dismissing Zak Crawley for a duck in the very first over. After lunch, he returned with a 141 kph inswinger to clean bowl England captain Ben Stokes, further dismantling the visitors’ resistance. Harry Brook offered some fight with a 61-ball 52 but fell to debutant Brendan Doggett, who finished with figures of 2-27.
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The final four wickets added just 12 runs as England’s aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach collapsed under relentless Australian pace. Starc reached his fifth Ashes five-wicket haul and 17th overall when he trapped Gus Atkinson in the slips, ending the innings with Mark Wood first-ball duck.
Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith, standing in for the injured Usman Khawaja and Pat Cummins, began Australia’s reply, navigating a hostile spell from Archer and Wood, who both touched speeds of 150 kph. With the team in capable hands, Australia looked to build momentum on a challenging pitch.
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