With Usman Khawaja: Nineteen wickets fell on a chaotic opening day of the first Ashes Test at Perth Stadium, where fast bowlers from both sides wreaked havoc on a bouncy surface to leave the match dramatically in the balance.
By stumps, Australia were shellshocked at 123/9, still trailing England by 49 runs, after captain Ben Stokes tore through the middle and lower order with a sensational 5-23 from six overs, building on ferocious bursts from Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse. The collapse mirrored the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar opener at the same venue, where 17 wickets fell on Day 1.
Earlier on Friday, Australian spearhead Mitchell Starc produced a career-best Ashes spell, ripping out England for 172 in 32.5 overs with stunning figures of 7-58. His brutality came before a record crowd of 51,531, while Harry Brook’s counterattacking half-century (52) lit up England’s innings as they rattled along at 5.24 runs per over. No visiting team has been bowled out quicker in a first innings of a Test in Australia since 1932.
