The Ashes Recap: Australia claim 1-0 lead after remarkable turnaround in Perth
Cricket: The first day of The Ashes at Optus Stadium somehow managed to live up to all the hype, with 19 wickets falling in a frantic opening to the series.
Australia looked well on top after bowling England out inside 33 overs for just 172 on the back of Mitchell Starc’s career-best seven-wicket haul.
But the visitors hit back in fine style, exploiting fast and bouncy conditions to reduce the home side to 9-123 in response as captain Ben Stokes led the way with five wickets of his own.
After a bundle of wickets fell on Day 1, what will the weekend bring?
Stay across the latest Ashes action as Australia and England resume their battle at Optus Stadium.
Key events
22 Nov 2025 - 06:13 PM
ANALYSIS
22 Nov 2025 - 05:42 PM
THAT’S IT!
22 Nov 2025 - 05:22 PM
JL’s high praise for Head
22 Nov 2025 - 05:06 PM
Head hits remarkable hundred
22 Nov 2025 - 04:42 PM
Travball takes down Stokes
22 Nov 2025 - 04:19 PM
Head’s half-century
22 Nov 2025 - 04:13 PM
England strike!
22 Nov 2025 - 03:15 PM
Trav up to the top!
22 Nov 2025 - 02:58 PM
England’s second innings over!
22 Nov 2025 - 02:52 PM
Jofra’s short and sweet stay
22 Nov 2025 - 02:47 PM
A breakthrough at last
22 Nov 2025 - 02:17 PM
Smith goes after lengthy review!
22 Nov 2025 - 01:54 PM
Starc gets Stokes again!
22 Nov 2025 - 01:27 PM
Root gone, Australia on fire!
22 Nov 2025 - 01:23 PM
Another one for Boland!
22 Nov 2025 - 01:20 PM
Scotty on a roll!
22 Nov 2025 - 01:08 PM
Boland breaks through!
22 Nov 2025 - 01:00 PM
We’re back
22 Nov 2025 - 12:21 PM
Duckett bruised but unbeaten as lunch called
22 Nov 2025 - 11:32 AM
Where’s the GOAT?
22 Nov 2025 - 11:05 AM
Perfect start for Australia!
22 Nov 2025 - 10:50 AM
Australia’s innings over!
22 Nov 2025 - 10:16 AM
Disaster averted for England
That’s a wrap!
Well, that’s it from us for the first Test in Perth!
It was much shorter than expected but we packed a lot in.
We will be back for the second Test from the Gabba on December 4.
See you then!
“Greatest ever” Ashes knock?
The cricket world has gone into meltdown after Travis Head’s remarkable century in a session to complete an Ashes victory inside two days.
HITS & MISSES
Have you had a chance to catch your breath yet?
Feel free to dive into our hits and misses for a quick look back at the day!
ANALYSIS
MATCH WRAP
Here’s how Jackson Barrett summed up an epic two-dayer in Perth. Who could have seen that coming?!
Player of the Match...
... is Mitchell Starc. Edges out Head after taking 10 wickets, including a first-innings 7-fa.
Says he’s stunned by Head’s onslaught and the team will take a ton of confidence.
Ben Stokes labels Head ‘phenomenal’, says it was ‘some knock’, and admits the team is a little bit shellshocked after the way the afternoon panned out.
Secondary Marn
Marnus Labuschagne got some much-needed runs and confidence as Head’s partner in crime. He finishes unbeaten on 51 off just 49 balls.
That’s the second-fewest balls bowled (847) to produce a result in a Test in Australia.
The only one shorter was a 656-ball match in 1932, when the Aussies rolled South Africa for 36 & 45 at the MCG.
Stunning turn of events
How to describe this Test match?!
England look shellshocked as they trudge off. They were seemingly in control of this match as little as four five hours ago, when they were just one down at lunch.
Starc and Boland helped turn things, and then Head just flipped everything on its head, pardon the pun.
THAT’S IT!
It’s all over! Australia win in sensational style!!
The home nation wins by 8 wickets after wrapping up the chase inside 29 overs. Head’s 123 from just 83 - succumbing to a catch in the deep just before the chase was completed - will stand as one of the all-time Ashes knocks.
Two-day Test incoming?
Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne have taken 20 runs from a Gus Atkinson over, drawing Australia within 23 runs of victory and leaving a win inside two days looking very likely.
Head is 113 not out from 78 balls, alongside Labuschagne, who is 36 from 43 deliveries.
AUS 1-182
