Australia Crushes England to Take Command in Ashes Opener

"Starc’s early burst shocked England and shifted the momentum instantly."

Australia delivered a fierce pace-bowling performance to shake up England on the opening day of the Ashes Test in Perth. England won the toss and chose to bat, but the decision quickly backfired as Australia’s fast bowlers found swing, bounce, and early breakthroughs.

Mitchell Starc led the charge, removing Zak Crawley and Joe Root for ducks and trapping Ben Duckett for 21. His fiery spell pushed England into early trouble, and by lunch they were 105 for 4. The rest of the batting order couldn’t recover, and England were bowled out for just 172.

Australia’s reply wasn’t smooth either. England’s bowlers used the same lively conditions to hit back, reducing Australia to 123 for 9 by stumps. Despite dominating with the ball, Australia still trailed by 49 runs at the end of the day.

Both teams struggled to handle the pace-friendly pitch, setting up a tense, unpredictable match. Starc also reached a personal milestone, claiming his 100th Ashes wicket, adding to the drama of a high-energy opening day.