The Ashes, 1st Test: 19 wickets fall on Day 1
What's the story
As many as 19 batters were dismissed on a blockbuster Day 1 of the opening Ashes Test at Perth's Optus Stadium. Mitchell Starc claimed a career-best seven-fer as England were folded for 172 while batting first. In response, Australia also lost wickets in a cluster to end the day at 123/9. Five of these wickets went to Ben Stokes's credit.
Summary
Pacers dominate on Day 1
Australia did not feel the absence of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood as Starc's seven-fer headlined the first innings. While Harry Brook made 52 runs, Ollie Pope (46) and Jamie Smith (33) were the other chief contributors. In response, Australia lost nine wickets in the day as Travis Head (21), Cameron Green (24), and Alex Carey (26) were the only ones to cross 20.
Starc
17th fifer in Tests for Starc
Starc finished his stellar spell with 7/58 from 12.5 overs - his career-best figures. He has now completed 409 Test wickets at 26.70 (5W: 17, 4W: 20). As per Cricbuzz, Starc became the first bowler to take seven wickets on the opening day of an Ashes Test in Australia since Craig McDermott's eight-fer at the WACA in 1990/91.
Ashes
100 wickets in Ashes
With his third scalp, Starc became the first left-arm pacer to achieve 100 Ashes wickets. His strike rate of 43.6 is the best among these 21 bowlers with this feat. He now has 104 wickets in this regard at 26.08 (5W: 5). On Australian soil, Starc has 47 wickets against England from 10 matches at 24-plus (5W: 2).
First-over heroics
24 wickets in first over
Starc made an immediate impact, dismissing England opener Zak Crawley for a duck in the first over. As per Cricbuzz, the pacer now has the most wickets (24) in the first over of an innings among all bowlers since his debut. He is followed by James Anderson (19) and Kemar Roach (10). The delivery that got Crawley was perfectly pitched, seaming away after pitching.
Root
Starc traps Root for ninth time in Ashes
Joe Root's long-standing struggle in Australia as he bagged a duck with Starc trapping him. Root has now fallen to Starc seven times in Test cricket. Cummins (11), Hazlewood (10), and Jasprit Bumrah (11) are the only bowlers to trap the Englishman more often in Tests. Meanwhile, four of Root's dismissals against Starc have been recorded Down Under.
Duck
Third Ashes duck in Australia
Though Root is the second-highest run-getter in Tests, his returns dip significantly in Australia. Playing his 15th Test Down Under, he has scored 892 runs at an average of 34.30 with nine fifties but no century. The one in Perth was his third Test duck in Australia, sixth in Ashes, and 14th overall in Tests.
Starc vs Stokes
Starc traps Stokes for 10th time
England captain Stokes was also among Starc's victims. The pacer has now trapped Stokes 10 times across 22 innings as the latter has just managed 190 runs in this battle at 11. Only India's Ravichandran Ashwin (13) has dismissed the England captain more often in Tests. Meanwhile, four of Stokes's dismissals against Starc have been recorded Down Under.
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Two wickets for Brendan Doggett on debut
Pacer Brendan Doggett, who became the third Indigenous player to play men's Tests for Australia, struck twice in his debut innings (2/27 in 7 overs). The other wicket went to Cameron Green as Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland failed to strike.
Pope
Pope completes 8,500 First-Class runs
Pope hammered four fours en route to his 58-ball 46. The 27-year-old batter has completed 8,500 First-Class runs (now 8,536) at an average of 45-plus. The tally includes 24 tons besides 33 fifties (HS: 274). In Test cricket, Pope has completed 3,653 runs from 62 games at an average of 35.46. This includes nine tons and 16 half-centuries.
Brook
Brook slams fifty in maiden Ashes innings Down Under
In his maiden Test innings Down Under, Brook scored 52 off just 61 balls with the help of five fours and a maximum. The batter has raced to 2,872 Test runs at an average of 57.44. Brook smashed his 14th fifty in Tests (100s: 10). This was his fifth fifty across 10 Ashes innings, as he has completed 415 runs against Australia at 41.50.
DYK
Stokes rips apart Australian batting line-up
Stokes was the most effective England bowler on the day - claiming 5/23 from just six overs. This was his third Ashes fifer and sixth overall in Tests, taking his tally to 235 wickets in England whites at 31.06. 46 of these wickets have come against Australia. Stokes now has two fifers Down Under. Meanwhile, Brydon Carse and Jofra Archer took two wickets each.
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Do you know?
As per Cricbuzz, Starc and Stokes became the first pair of bowlers to take five-wicket hauls on the first day of a Test since Steve Harmison and Glenn McGrath at Lord's in 2005.
History!
A record-breaking day
No other Ashes Test in the last 100 years has seen even 18 wickets fall on Day 1. 19 are also the most wickets to fall on the first day of a Test at the Perth Stadium. Earlier in the day, Jake Weatherald became the fifth Australian batter to be dismissed for a duck on debut Test innings while opening the batting.