Hold onto your seats, cricket fans – the Ashes are ablaze, and England is already battling a tempest after Mitchell Starc's thunderous three-wicket barrage in the opening salvo of the 2025 series! As the dust settles in Perth, this first Test is heating up faster than a summer pitch, with the Aussies striking early and putting the English batsmen on the back foot. But here's where it gets controversial – is Starc's dominance a sign of unbeatable Aussie prowess, or are England's tactics simply not cutting it in these conditions? Dive in with us as we break down the live drama, and stick around because this is the part most people miss: the subtle mind games and stats that could swing the entire series.
Key Highlights
- Stats Spotlight: Joe Root's challenging history Down Under
- Dismissal Alert: Root departs without scoring
- Crowd Reaction: Boos echo for Joe Root
- Dismissal Alert: Starc traps Duckett LBW
- Expert Insight: Mike Hussey on tackling Duckett
- Stats Spotlight: Duckett leaves just 2% of balls
- Dismissal Alert: Starc claims a wicket in the very first over
- Kickoff Moment: The Ashes officially begin
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Poll: How do you think England's batsmen will perform in their first innings?
Harry Brook battles back fiercely
Just as predicted, Harry Brook is charging into action with his aggressive style. Mimicking Ben Duckett's approach, he's confronting Mitchell Starc head-on, striding forward to smash deliveries through the extra cover region. He then creates space to slash Brendan Doggett's ball elegantly past point.
On the Australian newcomer, his initial couple of overs have been a visual delight, probing Harry Brook and Ollie Pope with balls that rise sharply and stay accurate from the outset.
Check out Mike Hussey's analysis on breaching Brook's solid defense before he inflicts too much harm.
England: 3-56 (Pope 23, Brook 8) ahead by 56 runs
Stats Spotlight: Joe Root's challenging history Down Under
Mitchell Starc versus England – and it's been far from a fair fight so far. Joe Root might have briefly hoped his fortunes had shifted in Australia after narrowly dodging a run-out at the non-striker's end, but he couldn't handle Starc's precise line and the lively bounce offered by the Perth surface.
Typically in Australia, it's the ball targeting the fourth or fifth stump that has caused Root trouble, but today, he was undone by a straighter one that he met with a slightly closed bat face. A major letdown for Root, and a massive scalp for Starc.
Historically, it's been Pat Cummins or Josh Hazlewood who have posed the greatest threats to Joe Root. Cummins has dismissed him 11 times at an average of 26.45, while Hazlewood has done so 10 times at 31.9.
Against Starc, Root has held the upper hand, being out eight times at a higher average of 44. Yet today, he faced all seven of Starc's deliveries without scoring.
This seemed like his prime opportunity for that elusive century on Australian soil. He'll need to wait a bit longer.
England: 3-46 (Pope 18, Brook 3) ahead by 36 runs
Dismissal Alert: Root departs without scoring
Mitchell Starc – perhaps it's time to erect a monument in his honor, as he's claimed three, including one of the most prolific batsmen ever in Test cricket. Joe Root edges out for a duck, snapped up at third slip by Marnus Labuschagne.
Caught off-balance by the left-arm pacer, Root's subpar record in Australia persists. According to CricViz data, being drawn into off-side shots on full or draw deliveries that should be avoided is his Achilles' heel on these pitches.
Brendan Doggett enters the fray and nearly strikes with his debut ball in Test cricket. He beats Ollie Pope with one that swings back between bat and pad but luckily bounces over the stumps. His next delivery swings back again, and the fourth prompts an LBW shout, only for an edge to save Pope.
England: 3-39 (Pope 18*, Root 0) ahead by 39 runs
Crowd Reaction: Boos echo for Joe Root
Ben Duckett is likely regretting not flicking that one off his pads. Just as England starts to find rhythm, Mitchell Starc delivers another blow.
Boos reverberate through Optus Stadium as Joe Root walks to the crease. Has any visiting batsman ever drawn this much scrutiny? Did you realize Joe Root hasn't notched a century in Australia?
That hasn't garnered much attention. The first ball is left alone, the second is a miss. Starc clocking around 145 km/h.
A massive sigh of relief for Root at the start of Scott Boland's over. A drive from Pope grazes Boland's fingertips and ricochets back onto the stumps. That would have been a legitimate run-out if Root had been out of his crease at the non-striker's end, but he returns by the skin of his teeth. Everything's unfolding rapidly.
Root's meticulous approach saved him here. By holding his bat in his left hand, closest to the stumps, he could ground it more effectively. This prevented a two-ball duck.
England: 2-33 (Pope 12, Root 0) ahead by 33 runs
Dismissal Alert: Starc traps Duckett LBW
Mitchell Starc – he's at it again. He strikes Duckett plumb in front, and the left-hander is given out LBW on initial review. Duckett challenges it, but replays confirm it was clipping half the leg stump.
Duckett exits for 21. A masterful opening burst – 2-10 from his first four overs. Joe Root steps up next. Starc has him swinging at thin air on the second ball.
England: 2-33 (Pope 12, Root 0) ahead by 33 runs
Expert Insight: Mike Hussey on tackling Duckett
Ben Duckett is in full Ben Duckett mode, as anticipated. His 21 runs have come at over a run per ball, smashing boundaries by tucking Starc to fine leg when it drifted onto his hips and hammering Boland straight down the ground.
Australia has chances, but Duckett is cashing in. Legendary Aussie Mike Hussey dissected the home team's bowling strategies for each English batsman – here's his take on the standout opener.
England: 1-30 (Duckett 21, Pope 9) ahead by 30 runs
Stats Spotlight: Duckett leaves just 2% of balls
When Ben Duckett chose to leave a ball in Scott Boland's over, Travis Head threw his hands up. What's the story? There's an ongoing joke between them.
Whenever one leaves a delivery, the other shouts "meow." An intriguing rivalry is brewing. England is wasting no time after the early loss of Zak Crawley.
Out of the 2252 balls Ben Duckett has faced in his first 34 Tests under Brendon McCullum, he left just 54, or roughly 2.39%.
He waited four balls for his first leave today. Data from CricViz indicates he won't be leaving many more.
Scott Boland concedes two boundaries in his second over to Duckett, first punched through mid-on and then driven via mid-off.
England: 1-16 (Duckett 13, Pope 3) ahead by 16 runs
Expert Insight: How Starc outsmarted Crawley
Starc claimed a wicket with his first ball in the previous home Ashes, but this time it took until the sixth. A brilliant over from Starc to Zak Crawley, showcasing his mastery of the wobble seam.
Top-order batsmen often anticipate an inswinger early from Starc, but every ball in that opening over was on a testing length and seaming away.
After confidently driving the fifth to mid-off, Crawley was lured into attacking the sixth like a moth to a flame, offering an edge that Usman Khawaja managed to catch at slip.
Dismissal Alert: Starc claims a wicket in the very first over
And the sixth ball from Mitchell Starc – he's done it once more. England is 1-0, with Crawley caught at slip by Usman Khawaja.
Crawley overcome by the bounce, attempting a drive on the rise at a ball that reared up on him. A poor choice considering Perth's pitch characteristics.
"That wasn't meant to be driven. That's driveable in England, not Perth," comments Ricky Ponting on Channel Seven. This marks the 24th time Starc has taken a wicket in the first over of an innings. An astounding feat.
Scott Boland is also probing in his first over, with Pope getting off the mark via an edge for three.
England: 1-6 (Duckett 3, Pope 3) ahead by 6 runs
Kickoff Moment: The Ashes officially begin
And we're off, folks!
Sir Alastair Cook and Justin Langer have presented the iconic glass urn. We've enjoyed the Welcome to Country ceremony and both national anthems. The Australian anthem performer gave it everything at the end – fantastic energy. Travis Head is sporting a fresh mullet.
Now, Mitchell Starc delivers the inaugural ball to Zak Crawley, with Ben Duckett at the non-striker's end. Three slips and a gully in position.
First ball: Full, safely played to point. Nearly 143 km/h from Starc's opener.
Second ball: Right on the money. Slightly shorter and wider, on the sixth stump line, and left by Crawley.
Third ball: Fuller, and Crawley is tempted into a powerful drive. Loose stroke, swinging wildly and beaten by pace and bounce. Starc will be pleased.
Fourth ball: Back of a length, easily left alone.
Fifth ball: Fuller once more, resulting in a checked drive to mid-off from Crawley. So far, one back, one forward for Starc.
England: 0-0 (Duckett 0, Crawley 0) ahead by 0 runs
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And this is where opinions really diverge – is Mitchell Starc's early dominance just a fluke, or does it expose deeper flaws in England's preparation? Some argue the Perth pitch favors pace and bounce, making it unfair to blame the batsmen, while others say players like Root need to adapt better. What do you think: Should England change their tactics, or is Starc simply in a league of his own? Drop your thoughts in the comments below – agree, disagree, or share your own Ashes predictions. Let's debate!
