What a day. There is nothing like Ashes cricket. Test cricket is great, but no other series feels like this. It felt like a huge event, with so many travelling England fans and amazing home support too.

BRUISED, battered, covered in strapping and needing medical treatment, Australia’s batsmen must have felt they entered a war zone. Ben Stokes seized the most wickets as the Ashes began but it was

England seized a 49-run lead over Australia after a chaotic Ashes 2025-26 opener in Perth, with Ben Stokes' five-wicket burst capping a remarkable day where 19 wickets tumbled on a ferocious surface

England reduce Australia to 123-9 after being rolled for 172 on 19-wicket opening day of first Ashes Test; Mitchell Starc takes Test-best 7-58 for Australia, including Joe Root (0) and Ben Stokes (6),

Veteran quick Mitchell Starc was in devastating form, taking a career-best 7-58. But by the close, Ben Stokes was bouncing through Australian batters — and then the celebrations of his England team-mates — to bag 5-23 himself to ensure the visitors sleep well ahead of tomorrow’s second day, when Australia will resume on 123 for nine.