Australia Collapse in Shocking 19-Wicket Day Thriller

By Harshit - Nov 21, 2025 05:16 PM
Last updated on Nov 21, 2025 05:16 PM

Mitchell Starc produced a devastating masterclass to rip through England’s top order with a career-best seven-wicket haul, only for England’s pace battery — led by Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse and a fired-up Ben Stokes — to stage an extraordinary fightback. In a day of relentless fast bowling on a lively Perth Stadium wicket, 19 wickets fell and the Ashes narrative swung wildly between domination and recovery. By stumps, England held a slender advantage and fans were left buzzing after one of the most dramatic opening days in recent Test memory.

The contest served up everything cricket lovers crave: raw pace, pitched battles, brutal short-pitched bowling, gutsy lower-order runs and momentum shifts that would normally span an entire series. Starc’s early onslaught seemed to set the tone — he tore through the top order with venom — but England’s response, spearheaded by Archer’s hostile spell and Stokes’ surgical five-for, handed the contest balance. Both teams will head into Day 2 with questions about technique, temperament and how to make the most of a surface that rewarded speed and aggression.

With 51,531 fans witnessing the action, the opening day will be remembered for its relentless intensity rather than subtlety. The bounce and carry at Perth created a feast for quicks and nightmares for batters unused to such bite early in the series. Debutants, veterans and returning players all had roles to play, and the fluctuating scoreboard reflected a match where small margins — a missed leave, a confident swing, a sharp catch — had outsized consequences.

Starc’s Seven-Wicket Onslaught

Mitchell Starc produced one of the most devastating spells of seam bowling seen in an Ashes opener, finishing with figures that swung the early narrative in Australia’s favour. Operating at around 145kph and using the green elements of the pitch to full effect, Starc produced yorkers, swinging bouncers and toe-crushing lengths that forced a slew of edges and misjudgements from England’s batters. His 7 for 58 was the defining performance of England’s first innings and a timely reminder of his status among the world’s most dangerous quicks.

Starc’s venom was particularly evident in the movement he extracted off the surface. England’s top order, including the likes of Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Joe Root, found themselves constantly adjusting to deliveries that kept low or leapt unexpectedly. One of the more dramatic moments saw Root nicked to the slip cordon as Starc prized his 100th Ashes wicket, a milestone that set the crowd alight and confirmed how lethal his rhythm had been throughout the session.

Yet even as Starc celebrated, the match was far from over. His heroics had reduced England to 172 all out, but the contest’s volatility was underlined when Australia’s reply unravelled in the face of England’s searing pace attack later in the day. Starc’s spell will be replayed in highlights packages for weeks, but it was only the opening chapter in an extraordinary day of fast-bowling theatre.

England’s Furious Counterpunch

England responded in emphatic fashion with an all-pace attack that underlined their commitment to exploiting the pitch’s bounce. Jofra Archer, returning to high-speed red-ball bowling, was a physical menace — hitting and unsettling batters with short-pitched thunderbolts around 150kph. His early strike removed key players and handed England hope when it mattered most. Archer’s aggression set the tone for a series of incisive blows that kept Australia guessing.

Brydon Carse and Ben Stokes complemented Archer’s hostility with disciplined, probing spells. Carse delivered important breakthroughs — including one that accounted for Steve Smith — while Stokes produced a devastating five-for in his six-over burst, mopping up the lower order and swinging momentum back toward England. The manner in which the visitors clawed back into the contest showcased their depth in pace and the potency of a strategy built around speed rather than spin on a track that demanded courage and resilience.

That England could produce such a turnaround after being rolled for 172 was testament to their bowlers’ belief and their capacity to perform under pressure. Stokes’ cameo, in particular, combined tactical nous with raw speed and was the defining element of Australia’s batting collapse. The visitors’ bowlers displayed not only skill but the kind of ruthless intent that can demoralise even the most confident batting line-ups.

Australia’s Batting Test: From Confidence to Collapse

Australia’s reply began with uncertainty after Usman Khawaja’s fitness issues reshaped the top order, bringing Steven Smith to No. 3 — a position he had not occupied in a Test since 2017. Debutant Jake Weatherald, thrust into a hostile opening slot, faced a baptism by fire and fell cheaply, trapped lbw by Archer. The disruptions at the top complicated Australia’s chase and exposed a fluctuating middle order to immense pressure.

Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, and Khawaja each felt the sting of Allied pace. Smith, battling bravely after being struck, could only muster 17 before edging to a sharp delivery from Carse. The Australian innings briefly showed signs of recovery when Travis Head and Cameron Green stitched a 45-run partnership, hinting at a comeback; yet those hopes were short-lived as Ben Stokes returned to claim key scalps and topple the home side’s chances of seizing control.

By the close, Australia’s batting had been tested to its limits. The collapse revealed areas of concern — handling the short ball, negotiating very quick pace early on, and adapting to a pitch that kept changing character. While conditions were difficult, scrutiny will fall on technique and selection decisions that left the hosts vulnerable to England’s finely tuned pace assault.

Key Performances and Moments

Harry Brook and Ollie Pope offered resistance with crucial contributions for England, Brook’s 52 proving the backbone of the innings while Pope’s 46 helped steady a fragile top order. Their partnerships were briefly consolatory amid the carnage and demonstrated England’s batting depth. Brook’s half-century, achieved with characteristic aggression, kept England’s score respectable before Starc’s late flourish.

On the Australian side, Travis Head and Cameron Green flashed intent and promise in a brief middle-order stand, but the pair were ultimately undone by disciplined bowling and clinical fielding. Debutant Brendan Doggett’s introduction also gave the home crowd a moment to celebrate as he claimed his first Test wicket, dismissing the likes of Brook in a memorable early milestone that added local narrative to an already dramatic day.

Fielding and catches won matches on multiple occasions. Sharp slips, athletic ground fielding and precise catching — particularly off short-pitched deliveries — turned promising sessions into decisive turns. Those moments, often overlooked until they matter most, were pivotal in a day where tiny margins dictated big outcomes.

What the Day Means for the Series Ahead

The opening day’s chaos sets the tone for an Ashes series defined by pace and unpredictability. Both sides showed both strengths and vulnerabilities: Australia with a still-unchallenged quick in Starc and England with a dangerous, collective pace unit capable of toppling any batting lineup when conditions favour them. How each team adapts — in selection, approach and mental resilience — will shape the narrative over the coming weeks.

Preparation for Day 2 will focus on recovery, tactical reassessment and exploiting matchups. For Australia, shoring up technique against sustained short-pitched aggression will be crucial; for England, consolidating the advantage and building a lead that translates into scoreboard pressure must be paramount. Coaches and captains will pore over footage, discuss field placings and likely bowling plans, and hope that momentum — that fickle friend in Test cricket — stays on their side.

Ultimately, a single day of high-octane fast bowling has left the Ashes delicately poised. Cricket fans can expect a gripping series ahead: if Day 1 is any guide, the next instalments will continue to serve up breathtaking pace battles, tactical chess and the kind of drama that defines this storied rivalry.

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