🏏 Bowlers Shine as 19 Wickets Fall in Australia–England Ashes Opener: Full Day-1 Analysis (2025)
The opening day of the 2025 Ashes Test at Perth Stadium delivered one of the most dramatic starts in recent Ashes history. With 19 wickets falling in under 72 overs, Day 1 turned into a compelling exhibition of pace bowling mastery from both sides. It was a day when batters struggled for survival, bowlers hunted relentlessly, and momentum swung wildly between Australia and England.
What began as a morning of Australian dominance soon turned into an evening of English resurgence, creating the perfect stage for a fiercely balanced Test match. This full-length analysis breaks down every session, every turning point, and every factor that shaped an unforgettable day of Ashes cricket.
🌅 A Fiery Start to the Ashes: Perth Delivers a Pace-Bowler’s Dream
Perth has long been known as a paradise for fast bowlers, and Day 1 justified that reputation from the very first over. Under clear skies, a hard surface, visible cracks, and lively bounce created a pitch where seamers could extract both pace and movement.
England opted to bat first, hoping to put up a competitive total. But what unfolded was far from their plans. Australia’s star quick Mitchell Starc charged in with new-ball venom that immediately set the tone for the day.
Within six balls, England were already one wicket down — and the chaos had just begun.
⚡ Starc’s Early Storm: England Lose Crawley for a Duck
The opening over demonstrated Starc’s unmatched ability to strike early. With late swing and perfect length, he dismissed Zak Crawley for 0, giving Australia the ideal start. Crawley, who often thrives on bounce, had no answer to the sheer pace and movement.
In just 0.6 overs, Australia had their first breakthrough — and Starc was only getting started.
🔥 Mitchell Starc Claims 7/58: A Spell for the Ashes History Books
Few bowlers in world cricket can produce absolute carnage like Mitchell Starc on a fresh Perth pitch. His final figures of 7/58 from only 12.5 overs were nothing short of world-class.
He dismissed:
- Zak Crawley (0)
- Ben Duckett (21)
- Joe Root (0)
- Ben Stokes (6)
- Jamie Smith (33)
- Gus Atkinson (1)
- Mark Wood (0)
Starc’s dominance came from three factors:
- Relentless pace above 145 km/h
- Late in-swing to the right-handers
- Fuller attacking length that forced decisions
England simply could not settle. Within the first 10 overs, they were already three wickets down, and their senior-most batter, Joe Root, had fallen cheaply.
🧱 Pope & Brook Fight Back: A Crucial Partnership Amid Chaos
Despite early setbacks, England found some resistance through Ollie Pope and Harry Brook, who stitched together a crucial partnership to steady the innings.
🏏 Ollie Pope (46 off 58)
Pope played with exceptional balance and control. He showed positive intent, rotated the strike well, and capitalized on rare loose balls. His four boundaries highlighted England’s only period of stability in the morning session.
💥 Harry Brook (52 off 61)
Brook was England’s standout batter of the innings. His fluent strokeplay, aggressive approach, and quick scoring rate kept England from slipping into complete collapse. With five fours and a beautifully struck six, Brook showed why he is considered England’s most dangerous middle-order player.
Their 55-run partnership revived hope — but only briefly.
🎯 Doggett Breaks Through: Australia Regain Control
Debutant Brendan Doggett made an impressive impact by dismissing both:
- Harry Brook (52)
- Brydon Carse (6)
Doggett’s control and movement off the seam added further pressure, ensuring England never settled into a rhythm.
Once Brook departed at 160, England’s tail collapsed almost instantly.
💔 England Collapse to 172: A Tale of Wasted Starts & Lack of Stability
England were bowled out for 172 in just 32.5 overs, scoring at a brisk rate of 5.23 but losing wickets too frequently to build meaningful partnerships.
Key reasons for the collapse:
- Starc’s early breakthroughs
- No partnerships exceeding 60 runs
- Middle-order failing to convert starts
- Lack of application against the swinging ball
- Overly aggressive approach from some batters
Their innings lasted less than 2 hours of play — a worrying sign for the batting unit.
🦘 Australia’s Turn to Struggle: Archer Strikes Immediately
If England thought Australia would cruise in reply, they were mistaken.
England’s pace spearhead Jofra Archer delivered an outstanding opening spell that rattled Australia’s top order. His pace, precision, and steep bounce made him unplayable.
He dismissed:
- Jake Weatherald (0) in the second ball of the innings
- Marnus Labuschagne (9) in a cutters-and-bounce masterclass
In just 14 overs, Australia were reduced to 28/2, putting England right back in the contest.
🎳 Carse Gets Smith & Khawaja: Australia in Deep Trouble
England’s resurgence continued with Brydon Carse, who removed:
- Steven Smith (17)
- Usman Khawaja (2)
Carse bowled with aggression and precision, extracting movement off the seam that troubled Australia’s biggest names.
At 31/4, Australia were suddenly mirroring England’s collapse.
🔥 Ben Stokes’ Explosive Spell: Captain Leads the Comeback With 5/23
The moment England needed a match-changing performance, Ben Stokes delivered one of his best spells in the Ashes.
Stokes bowled with:
- relentless aggression
- attacking lengths
- exceptional control
- reverse swing
His final figures of 5/23 in 6 overs showcased leadership under pressure.
He dismissed:
- Travis Head (21)
- Cameron Green (24)
- Alex Carey (26)
- Mitchell Starc (12)
- Scott Boland (0)
Stokes single-handedly tore apart Australia’s middle order and tail. What looked like a comfortable reply suddenly became a desperate struggle.
🧨 Carey, Head & Green Fight Back — But Not Enough
Despite losing wickets early, Australia saw resistance from:
🟡 Alex Carey (26 off 26)
Counterattacked confidently, scoring at a run-a-ball.
🟢 Cameron Green (24 off 50)
Played maturely but eventually fell to Stokes.
🔴 Travis Head (21 off 35)
Tried to rebuild but mistimed a crucial shot.
Their short partnerships brought some stability, but the English bowlers never allowed momentum to shift completely.
📉 Australia Finish Day 1 on 123/9: England Back in the Match
At stumps, Australia were left at 123/9 in 39 overs, trailing by 49 runs.
Top scorers:
- Carey — 26
- Green — 24
- Head — 21
- Smith — 17
The rest of the lineup struggled against England's relentless pace.
🌡️ Day 1 Pitch Analysis: Bounce, Carry & Seam Movement Rule the Day
The pitch at Perth played a major role:
- consistent bounce
- sideways movement early
- sharp lift for short balls
- slight reverse swing late in the day
Batting on this surface required discipline, patience, and soft hands — qualities that both teams lacked at key moments.
🔍 Tactical Breakdown: Bowling Plans That Worked
For Australia:
- Starc attacked the stumps
- Doggett bowled tight off-stump lines
- Fielders stayed close, cutting off singles
For England:
- Archer used hard lengths
- Carse bowled at fourth-stump
- Stokes reversed the ball brilliantly
Both sides executed aggressive bowling strategies successfully.
🔄 Momentum Swings: A Wild Day of Test Cricket
Day 1 saw multiple momentum shifts:
- Australia dominate early (England 39/3)
- England rebuild (Pope & Brook)
- Starc destroys the middle-lower order
- England collapse (172 all out)
- Archer destroys Australia’s top order
- Carse takes down Smith & Khawaja
- Stokes runs through the middle order
By the end of play, England were suddenly in control after being demolished earlier.
🧮 Statistical Highlights of Day 1
- 19 wickets in a single day
- England: 172 in 32.5 overs
- Australia: 123/9 in 39 overs
- Starc: 7/58
- Stokes: 5/23
- Archer: 2/11
- Australia’s run rate: 3.15
- England’s run rate: 5.23
🧭 What England Need on Day 2
England must:
- Finish the Australian innings quickly
- Bat with more discipline
- Adjust to the bounce
- Avoid losing early wickets
- Build partnerships instead of isolated counterattacks
If they reach a second-innings total of around 250+, they’re favourites.
🛡️ What Australia Must Fix on Day 2
Australia will need:
- Lower order to add 20–30 more runs
- Starc to repeat his magic
- Boland to tighten his lines
- Lyon to play a bigger role as pitch wears
Even a small lead could shift pressure back onto England.
🧠 Cricketory Insights & Deep Analysis
🔍 Why 19 Wickets Fell — The Real Reason
The biggest factor wasn’t just “pace-friendly conditions” — it was the unusual combination of new-ball swing + mid-day seam + late reverse all in the same session. Perth rarely shows all three so aggressively on Day 1, but a mix of humidity, wind direction, and unusually hard surface created a perfect storm for bowlers.
🧱 Batting Technical Breakdown
Both teams failed due to identical mistakes:
- Playing too hard at the ball instead of soft hands
- Front-foot committed early, especially Root and Smith
- Misjudging late swing
- No horizontal-bat control against bounce
England were undone by full lengths.
Australia were undone by hard lengths hitting the top of off.
🎯 Tactical Masterclass From Both Captains
Smith’s Plan:
Attack the stumps early → bring slips in tight → force mistakes with full swing.
Stokes’ Plan:
Use Archer for bounce → Carse for seam → himself for reverse → rotate in short, brutal spells.
Both strategies worked perfectly, which is why wickets kept falling every few overs.
🧨 Session-by-Session Momentum Value
- Session 1: Australia +40
- Session 2: England +55
- Session 3: England +20
Overall: England ended Day 1 with a momentum lead of +35, meaning they control the match if they bat sensibly on Day 2.
🧮 Winning Probability (Match Prediction)
Using current totals, pitch behaviour, and tail strength:
- England win: 57%
- Australia win: 28%
- Draw: 15% (weather unlikely to interrupt)
If England get a 250+ target → Australia chances drop below 20%.
🔚 Conclusion: A Battle of Bowlers Sets Up a Classic Ashes Thriller
Day 1 of the Ashes opener at Perth was nothing short of breathtaking. Pace bowlers on both sides delivered world-class performances, making survival difficult for any batter. With Australia still trailing and England poised to bat again, the Test match is perfectly balanced heading into Day 2.
This Ashes opener has already exceeded expectations — and if Day 1 is any indication, fans are in for a gripping, unpredictable contest.
❓ FAQs
Q1: Why was batting so difficult on Day 1?
A: Because the pitch offered triple movement — swing, seam, and bounce — making judgment extremely tough for both teams.
Q2: Who was the most impactful bowler of the day?
A: Mitchell Starc. His 7/58 changed the entire match and may define the series.
Q3: Can Australia still win from here?
A: Yes, but only if their tail adds 20–30 more runs and Starc repeats a similar destructive spell.
Q4: Why did England collapse despite good positions?
A: Their middle and lower order couldn’t handle fuller swinging deliveries aimed at the stumps.
Q5: What total will be enough to win this match?
A: Anything around 250–270 in the fourth innings will be extremely difficult on this pitch.