England faced a challenging start in the opening test of the 2025 Ashes series against Australia. Winning the toss, Ben Stokes’ team chose to bat on a pitch seemingly tailored for Bazball. However, the Australian side, led by Mitchell Starc, dominated England’s batting lineup. Zak Crawley was dismissed for zero runs after only six balls, while Joe Root’s quest for a century in Australia continued unsuccessfully as he was out for a duck.
With England bowled out for 172, they faced an uphill task, but Jofra Archer provided a promising start for the visitors by dismissing debutant Jake Weatherald with a successful lbw appeal.
Mirror Sport highlights key moments from the first day’s play in Perth, where Starc shone with exceptional bowling, reminiscent of Terry Alderman’s performance in 1981. Starc’s outstanding display continued as he took crucial wickets, including that of Ben Stokes, finishing with impressive figures of 7-58.
Despite some resistance from Ollie Pope and Harry Brook, England’s batting collapsed, leaving them in a precarious position. Archer’s early breakthrough and Starc’s devastating bowling display put Australia in a commanding position.
As the Ashes rivalry intensifies, Steve Smith faced taunts from the English fans referencing past controversies. The battle between the two cricketing giants will unfold live on TNT Sports, available via discovery+ or Prime Video’s TNT Sports channel.
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