The Ashes Recap: England rattle through Australia to claim ascendancy in Perth
Cricket: For the first time in its storied history, the Ashes starts in the west as Australia host England, with Perth set to ignite the biggest rivalry in sport.
England arrive ready to try their Bazball style for the first time in Australia, full of confidence, they cannot only win a Test but win the series Down Under for the first time since 2010-11.
Australia are without their two biggest weapons in Josh Hazlewood and captain Pat Cummins, with Jake Weatherald to make a debut in a new-look top order.
They will come to cover on a green look Optus Stadium pitch that is hosting its first ever Ashes Test.
Can England end their Aussie drought, or can an understrength Australia make a statement and ruin another wave of English optimism at its first shore?
Follow along below!
Key events
21 Nov 2025 - 05:46 PM
FIVE-FER FOR STOKES!
21 Nov 2025 - 05:42 PM
FALLEN FOR THE TRAP
21 Nov 2025 - 05:27 PM
Hazlewood news
21 Nov 2025 - 05:10 PM
STINGING BLOW!
21 Nov 2025 - 04:59 PM
HEAD FALLS SOFTLY
21 Nov 2025 - 04:01 PM
ANOTHER ONE - KHAWAJA GOES!
21 Nov 2025 - 03:52 PM
GONE! SMITH DEPARTS
21 Nov 2025 - 03:45 PM
LABUSCHAGNE GONE
21 Nov 2025 - 03:24 PM
Smith struck AGAIN
21 Nov 2025 - 03:02 PM
TEA AUS 1-15
21 Nov 2025 - 02:16 PM
Weatherald goes for a duck
21 Nov 2025 - 02:03 PM
Khawaja can’t open
21 Nov 2025 - 02:02 PM
ENGLAND ALL OUT... STARC HAS SEVEN!!!!
21 Nov 2025 - 01:59 PM
WICKET Smith ct Green b Starc
21 Nov 2025 - 01:54 PM
WICKET Carse ct Labuschagne b Doggett 6
21 Nov 2025 - 01:44 PM
FIVE FOR STARC! Atkinson c Smith b Starc 1
21 Nov 2025 - 01:41 PM
Doggett has a maiden Test wicket!
21 Nov 2025 - 01:11 PM
WICKET Stokes b Starc 6
21 Nov 2025 - 12:22 PM
LUNCH ENG 4-105
21 Nov 2025 - 12:08 PM
WICKET Pope LBW Green 46
21 Nov 2025 - 11:11 AM
WICKET Root c Labuschagne b Starc 0
21 Nov 2025 - 10:59 AM
Wicket Duckett LBW Starc 21
21 Nov 2025 - 10:26 AM
WICKET Z Crawley 0 ct Khawaja b Starc
21 Nov 2025 - 09:52 AM
England win the toss and bat
21 Nov 2025 - 09:39 AM
Inside the Barmy Army
21 Nov 2025 - 09:18 AM
A look at the pitch
21 Nov 2025 - 08:26 AM
Ashes Depth chart
21 Nov 2025 - 07:52 AM
Welcome
4th over - AUS 1/0
Atkinson continues. Labuschagne is beaten again.
Solid defence right behind it this time.
Flash and beaten. Short wide and it goes over Labuschagne’s swipe. Four straight maidens
Where Starc's spell ranks
BEST BOWLING FIGURES IN AN INNINGS IN PERTH
8-24: Glenn McGrath, Aus v Pak, 2004
8-61: Mitchell Johnson, Aus v SA, 2008
8-87: Merv Hughes, Aus v WI, 1988
8-97: Craig McDermott, Aus v Eng, 1991
7-25: Curtly Ambrose, WI v Aus, 1993
7-27: Mike Whitney, Aus v Ind, 1992
7-54: Andy Roberts, WI v Aus, 1975
7-58: Mitchell Starc, Aus v Eng, 2025
3rd over - AUS 1-0
Archer continues with his tail up.
Play and miss! Wild drive away from the body from Smith and he’s lucky there was no edge.
He leaves and defends the rest. Another maiden
Perth to keep first Test of the summer for good
Cricket Australia chairman Mike Baird says there is “no doubt about it” — the First Test summer will stay in Perth for good.
Speaking at a function at Optus Stadium on Friday, Mr Baird poured cold water on claims Cricket Australia was in discussions with the Queensland Government to return the First Test to the Gabba when a three-year deal with WA ends next year.
“No doubt about it,” Mr Baird responded, when asked if the First Test would stay in Perth forever.
“Rita (Saffioti), no doubt about it. Just talk to Rita, whatever Rita says happens, so if Rita wants it, it’s going to happen.
“What what we think about in the game, it’s not just a cricket game — it’s the way it brings the community together.
“It’s great to have volunteers that are here, life members that are here. You are the what make the game so great, and for the city to come together the way it is, well, the West Test has built and built and built to the record we are seeing today.
“So we are incredibly excited by that.”
2nd over - AUS 1-0
Atkinson not Mark Wood from the other end to Labuschagne.
Beaten. Marnus sqaured up as the ball seams away.
Beaten again by a jaffa as it moves a mile after pitching.
Maiden over
1st over - AUS 1-0
Smith is beaten first ball by a beauty.
Finally there’s bat on ball as Smith defends back down the pitch.
Close! Goes for a drive but it beats the edge as Archer completes a maiden
Weatherald goes for a duck
Jake Weatherald to take strike with Jofra Archer steaming in from the Langer end.
He survives his first ball juust as he’s jab outside off is beaten.
GONE SECOND BALL. Archer swings one it and Weatherald just falls over as he’s hit on the pad.
What a start for England as Smith walks out with Khawaja still unable to bat.
Marnus to open with Weatherald
Australia where in a similar position in Perth last year before collapsing late to Jasprit Bumrah.
Can they stick the boot in this time round?
First Innings wrap
