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
27th over - ENG 5-121
Boland continues as Brook gets a single into the leg side.
Huge LBW shout and Smith reviews at the final moment. Height the issue?
No sliding down leg height was ok but hit him on middle but swining down.
FOUR. Through the slips but guided down with soft hands. Intentional
26th over ENG 5-115
Jamie Smith in averages more than 40 in Test cricket.
He does well not to fall over and block out another inswinger
WICKET Stokes b Starc 6
Starc continues from the Langer Stand end.
Stokes has been relatively watchful so far to start.
BOWLED HIM. STARC IS ON FIRE.
Stokes goes for the loose drive and the scrambled seam decks in and splatters his stumps.
Starc had four and England are in trouble!
Barmy Army boycotts The West
Their leader has taken umbrudge to our coverage suggesting he can give it but not take it.
We’re back 24th over - ENG 4-113
Boland to continue after lunch. Beats Brook first up
SIX! First of the innings as he advances down and wallops him over mid-off.
He picks up two more to pick up where he left off before lunch.
Heating up
The kids are sprawled across Optus Stadium playing mini matches to keep fans entertained - and they’re definitely being sun smart.
The sun is blazing and the clouds are few and far between as we tick towards our forecast maximum of 30C.
It’s going to get tougher for the Aussies in the field, and they’ll have to up their work rate as well.
Just 23 overs were bowled in that first session, with virtually no chance of us witnessing 90 overs even with the extra half-hour of play this evening.
A wrap of the first session in Perth.
Australia's session?
The late wicket of Ollie Pope probably swings it thier way after he had looked so good all morning.
Starc was immense but Boland was poor. Doggett look good while Green got a wicket off his one over.
Harry Brook is doing Brook things while Stokes look solid in his short innigs.
After winning the toss 105 runs and 4.57 an over is good but the four wickets lost on what looks a good pitch for batting will be disappointing.
LUNCH ENG 4-105
100 up! Final over before lunch and Brook advances and gives himself room and smashes Starc over mid-off for four.
Goes again and gets a single off the inside edge.
Stokes tries to leave but toe ends one down.
He drives two down the ground.
Last ball before lunch and Stokes leaves outside off.
22nd over - ENG 4-98
Lyon replaces Green after the breakthrough.
Stokes gets off the mark with a single to long-off.
Easy singles to both him and Brook to finish.
