The Ashes Recap: England rattle through Australia to claim ascendancy in Perth

It’s Archer to Smith as we resume... and the Aussie skipper is hit in successive deliveries.

Having been struck on the elbow and receiving treatment before the break, Smith cops another one on the elbow here and then one on the glove to force the medicos back onto the field. He’s right to resume after a short break, and it remains 1-15.

Watching this year’s First Test at Optus Stadium and noticing some similarities with last year’s First Test at Optus Stadium? You’re not alone...

- Tourists win toss & bat

- Starc removes opener for a duck

- Four wickets down at lunch, all out before tea

- Aus debutant opener out cheaply

For Australia’s sake, let’s hope that’s where the similarities end and the home nation aren’t 7-for at stumps like last year...

Australia still in pole position but that was a terrific spell from the English bowlers and they are a tad unlucky they only got the one.

The Aussies are crawling along but Smith and Labuschagne are their two rocks.

Can they guide Australia into superiority after the break?

Brydon Carse replaces Atkinson. Gets one to bounce as Smith defends uppishly into the offside.

Shot! Lovely drive through the covers from Smith though the slow outfield keeps it to three.

Carse on the money next ball as Marnus plays and misses. but the pair survive until tea.

151kph as Labuschagne works it to fine leg.

Smith turns one around the corner.

Labsuchagne is squared up again but gets enough of it to dab it down to the off-side.

Smith pushes a sinlge into the off-side.

Labsuchagne rides the bounce to dab another single. It’s been an excellent start for England

Mark Wood replaces Archer.

ALMOST A RUN OUT! Smith calls for a crazy single but Pope misses the stumps at the strikers end and Labuschagne survives.

Beaten. Good length and it moves away to go well past Marnus’ edge.

Labuschagne sways out the way of the last. Wood flirting with 150kph consitently throughout that over.

Atkinson to Smith.

OUCH! Smith gets surprised by some bounce and it hits him right on the bottom elbow and he’s hurt.

Getting his armed look at by the physios who give him some painkillers and magic spray but he will continue.

Short again and Smith goes after it but misses, he has not settled since coming to the crease.

LBW shout and Smith has to scramble through for a single. Good shout but height always an issue.

RUNSSSSS! Smith defends a single into the off-side and he and Australia are finally off the mark.

SHOT! Marnus off the mark with just a push down the ground that he middles past Archer.

Can that settle the nerves?

Umpire expert Simon Taufel explains the rules.

“Well, the playing conditions allow for eight minutes to be time off the field, which is roughly two overs to go off, change a boot, get some strapping or deal with illness, that sort of thing.”

“So, if you are off the field for longer than eight minutes, you have got to be back on the field for that length of playing time that you are absent. Or, if the side is batting, the innings has to be in progress for that length of time you are off.

“If Usman Khawaja was off for 23 minutes for an internal injury, he has to serve that time - the innings has to be in progress for that amount of time before he can bat, or if the side is five wickets down, which I don’t think will happen here, but that’s the regulation.”