Superb England tear into Australia in Ashes opener
Ashes fever has reached seemingly unprecedented levels here in Perth, with local newspapers and betting companies taking particular delight in trying to rile the England team and their fans.On one of the high streets, a monster box of tissues, designed for ‘thin-skinned’ Poms, has appeared.
First Ashes Test, Perth (day one of five)
England 172: Brook 52, Pope 46; Starc 7-58
Australia 123-9: Stokes 5-23, Archer 2-11, Carse 2-45
England lead by 49 runs
Scorecard
Captain Ben Stokes took five wickets as England’s fast bowlers sensationally tore into Australia on an electrifying opening day of the Ashes.
In a captivating slugfest on a fast and bouncy pitch in Perth, England were bundled out for 172, only to reduce Australia to 123-9.
The ferocious action lived up to the hype of the most anticipated Ashes series in recent memory.
Surprisingly batting first on winning the toss, England ‘Bazballed’ their way into trouble. Zak Crawley was out for a duck from the sixth ball of the series to Mitchell Starc, who was irrepressible in taking 7-58.
Harry Brook swiped 52 and Ollie Pope batted nicely for 46, but England lost their last five wickets for 12 runs to be bowled out in 32.5 overs – the shortest first innings of an Ashes Test in this country for 123 years.
The tourists’ five-man pace attack responded with the fastest display of bowling by an England team since such data was first collected 18 years ago.
Jofra Archer was magnificent and deserved more than two wickets. Any time there was a lull, England had a fresh paceman to turn to. Brydon Carse removed Australia captain and Monty Panesar’s nemesis Steve Smith.
Stokes used himself as the fifth bowler, firstly snuffing out any suggestion of an Australia fightback then running through the long tail. Playing for the first time since suffering a shoulder injury in July, the skipper claimed his second five-wicket haul in as many Tests.
At the end of a breathless and unforgettable day, 19 wickets have fallen, England lead by 49 and have a golden opportunity to go 1-0 up.England’s pace barrage against Australia on day one of the Ashes series led to former captain Michael Vaughan saying “I would not want to face this attack on this pitch”.
The tourists’ five fast bowlers reduced Australia to 123-9 at the close in Perth after England had been skittled for 172.
Ben Stokes produced a superb six-over spell, taking five wickets for 23 runs after Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse had taken two wickets apiece to blow away the hosts’ top order.
It meant England finished the day 49 runs ahead after a chaotic opening day that saw 19 wickets fall.
“I don’t remember England bowling overs of this quality [before],” said Vaughan, who led England to an Ashes victory in 2005.
“The pacers have been consistent, they’ve been skilful, they’ve been quick. I admire this set of England bowlers hugely.
“You’ve seen how this attack has had the top order jumping around. When you’re a tailender and you’re seeing someone who’s incredibly talented like Cameron Green hit on the side of the grille… I would not want to face this attack on this pitch.”England’s average bowling speed of 87.6mph was their fastest on record and they combined pace with skill.
In the first 25 overs of their innings Australia were drawn into false shots from more than 40% of the deliveries they faced.
Since such data was collected (2006), that is the fifth-highest percentage of false shots drawn by any bowling team in Test cricket in the first 25 overs of an innings.
Stokes then took over with a five-wicket haul in just 36 balls – the fifth-fastest England bowler to five wickets in an innings.
“There was some brilliant bowling – there’s a bit of movement and steep bounce on this Perth pitch,” added Vaughan.
“You need bowlers to get you out of trouble and all five quick bowlers bowled with skill, pace and were intimidating.
“You can scar a team very early in a series. There were some good tactics by England and tactical manovures they’ll take forward to the second innings and beyond.
“When England were 160-5, I thought go and get 250 because I have seen enough cricket here to know 250 is a good score in the first innings here.
“This pitch might flatten out a bit and the cracks might arrive but par isn’t 350.”WICKET! Smith c Brook b Carse 17 – Australia 30-3
Australia are wobbling!
Smith was seeing playing and missing at Carse just a couple of balls earlier, not for the first time today, before a similar delivery ends his uncomfortable innings.
Carse’s tight line leave Smith snicking behind, with Brook taking a smart low catch. That’s a HUGE moment in this contest. England rolled for 172 in 32.5 overs
A horror show for England on day one of The Ashes in Australia – we’ve said that before – with Wood (0) spooning the first ball he faces straight up into the air and caught behind by wicketkeeper Carey.
Starc ends with career-best figures of 7-58, with Doggett taking two scalps and Green one. Who needs Hazlewood and Cummins, eh?!
