ENG vs AUS (1st Test) – Highlights
Australia’s fast bowlers produced a brutal display of pace and precision to hand them an emphatic eight-wicket victory over England in the first Ashes Test at Perth. Mitchell Starc was the architect of England’s collapse, producing a career-defining performance with figures of 7/58 in the first innings and following it up with 3/55 in the second. His devastating spell left England reeling in both innings, exposing frailties against genuine pace on a Perth track that clearly favoured the home side. The Australian seam attack, backed by the supporting efforts of Brendan Doggett and Cameron Green, consistently tested England’s technique, leaving the visitors unable to establish a meaningful foothold in the match.
ENG’s first innings began with high hopes but quickly spiralled into a nightmare. Zak Crawley and Joe Root fell for ducks as Starc tore through the top order, while Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope provided brief resistance. Harry Brook showed resilience with a half-century, but wickets fell at regular intervals, denying England any sustained partnerships. Jamie Smith’s 33 offered some late resistance, but the damage was already done. Starc’s ruthless spell, complemented by Doggett’s support, restricted England to 172, a total that never looked competitive against a confident Australian lineup.
AUS’s first innings response was far from assured, and they struggled against disciplined ENG bowling. Early wickets of Jake Weatherald and Marnus Labuschagne to Jofra Archer threatened to derail the innings. Travis Head and Cameron Green offered some resistance, while Alex Carey and Starc contributed useful lower-order runs. However, Carse’s three wickets kept Australia under pressure, limiting them to 132, giving England a slender first-innings lead of 40 runs. It set up a tantalising contest, but one that soon tilted back toward the hosts.
England’s second innings crumbled under the relentless Australian pace. Starc, once again, wreaked havoc, claiming three more wickets, while Scott Boland and Doggett made crucial contributions to keep the scoreboard ticking. Gus Atkinson’s 37 offered a glimmer of hope, but there was little to suggest England could post a challenging total. Starc’s continued dominance ensured England was bowled out for 164, setting Australia a modest target of 205 for victory. The match, though, would still see moments of individual brilliance.
Travis Head starred with a dazzling century, blasting 123 from 83 balls, combining aggression with calculated shot selection. Marnus Labuschagne followed with a composed 51 not out, and Jake Weatherald provided steady support to take Australia to the target with eight wickets in hand. The Australian batsmen’s clinical approach against an exhausted England attack exemplified their ability to chase down totals efficiently, demonstrating why they remain formidable in home conditions.
The first Ashes Test at Perth thus belonged to AUS, a team that blended raw pace, strategic bowling, and explosive batting to assert dominance. Starc’s all-round match-winning performance was the highlight, but Head’s destructive century provided the perfect finishing touch to a memorable victory. Australia set the tone for the series, while England will return home needing significant improvements in both batting technique and temperament against quality fast bowling.
England vs Australia Scoreboard
England – 172 & 164
Australia – 132 & 205/2
Result – Australia won by 8 wickets
Player of the Match – Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc
ENG vs AUS Playing Eleven
England | Ben Stokes (c), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Jamie Smith †, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood |
Australia | Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith (c), Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey †, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett, Jake Weatherald |
Disclaimer: The following match highlights are based on the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider these perspectives and form their own conclusions.
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