Watch: All 19 wickets fell on Day 1 of the first Test of The Ashes 2025-26

A good day for Mitchell Starc and Team Australia, and a magical day for captain Ben Stokes and the England cricket team on Friday (November 21) at the Optus Stadium in Perth. It was a wicket-taking feast on the 1st day of the first Test match of The Ashes 2025-26. England all out for 172, Australia down by 9 men for only 123 runs. 19 wickets went down on a single day. All 19 wickets were taken by the pacers. 

England's first innings: 

It was a bright day at Perth, near the Swan River. A good number of crowds were there in the stadium to watch one of the greatest rivalries in the entire sport live from the gallery. In the very first over of the match, England lost their first wicket. Mitchell Starc got his first in the morning, and Zak Crawley headed back to the pavilion. 

Australia is forced to play the opening match of the innings without Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, two ace pacers out of the match because of injury concerns. All eyes were then on Mitchell Starc, the most experienced pacer in the line-up, which proved enough to take down the English playing XI. 

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The partnership of Ollie Pope (46) and Harry Brook (52) was the only exceptional case when the England batting was looking more improved and promising. Together they added fifty-plus runs on the scoreboard. Jamie Smith (33) played an entertaining innings as well.

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson, and Mark Wood are a list of batters who lost their scalps against a steaming Mitchell Starc. Starc got these wickets by using the line and length properly, accompanied by swing. 12.5-4-58-7 was the bowling figure of Starc. Debutant pacer Brendan Doggett claimed 2 wickets, and Cameron Green claimed one wicket.

First innings of Australia:

England starts from where Australia left. Jofta Archer with his redeemed form was absolutely on point. Another debutant from the Aussie side, opener Jake Weatherald departed cheaply. The other opener, experienced Marnus Labuschagne, also was not able to maintain his defense long enough against Archer. Archer got both of the openers. But it was Ben Stokes who turned into the wrecker-in-chief by taking 5 wickets. He single-handedly destroyed the middle and lower-middle order of the Australian batting lineup.

Stokes claimed the wickets of Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, and Scott Boland. In 6 overs, the England skipper got those 5 wickets with one maiden over. Mark Wood bowled well too with a 150 km/h pace continuously but lacked wickets on Day 1. Australia lost 9 batters for 123 before stumps.