England’s Pace Attack Stuns Australia on Thrilling Ashes Opening Day
What a start to the Ashes 2025-26! The first day in Perth turned into a rollercoaster of excitement, tension, and sheer fast-bowling dominance, leaving cricket fans glued to every delivery. England’s pace attack, led by Ben Stokes and featuring Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Brydon Carse, and Gus Atkinson, made a statement that will be remembered for years. After a shaky start with the bat, England bounced back in extraordinary fashion, reducing Australia to 123 for 9 by the close, trailing by just 49 runs.
It all began with England’s decision to bat first, which didn’t go quite as planned. The tourists were bowled out for 172 in only 32.5 overs – the shortest first innings by an England team in Australia for over a century. Harry Brook was the only batter to reach a fifty, scoring 52 off 61 balls, while Ollie Pope and Jamie Smith made useful contributions of 46 and 33. Australia’s Mitchell Starc ran through the lineup with devastating pace, claiming a Test-best 7 for 58, including the scalps of Joe Root and Ben Stokes early in the innings.
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But the story of the day belonged to England’s fast bowlers. Stokes returned to Perth with a bang, taking 5 for 23, while Archer picked up 2 for 11 and Carse chipped in with 2 for 45. Mark Wood and Gus Atkinson added relentless pressure, making the Australians play from the back foot for most of the day. Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, two of Australia’s most in-form batters, found themselves under constant attack, with Smith forced into a career-high false-shot percentage of 49%. It was fast, aggressive, and tactically brilliant cricket – exactly the kind of “shock and awe” approach England had been plotting since the last home Ashes in 2023.
The intensity was matched by the atmosphere around Optus Stadium. Fans arrived early, enjoying a carnival-like environment with music, Ferris wheels, and a festival vibe, yet the cricket on the field delivered its own thrill. Archer’s second ball of the day had Jake Weatherald flat on the pitch, and Carse’s lifter to Usman Khawaja was described as venomous. Wood’s bouncers kept the Australians on edge, with one narrowly missing Cameron Green’s stumps. England’s approach was ruthless, relentless, and executed with precision.
Beyond the performances, the story of individual comebacks added an emotional layer. Archer is just three games into a return from years of injury struggles, Wood made his second appearance back after 15 months away, and Carse overcame a historic ban. And of course, Ben Stokes returned to the city where he first announced himself as an England legend, delivering a five-wicket haul that reminded everyone why he is one of the game’s greats.
So, after just one day, England has set the tone for a gripping series. With pace, precision, and a fearless mindset, they’ve shown they are ready to challenge Australia at home. The Ashes are long, the road ahead is tough, but one thing is clear: the English fast bowlers have made themselves impossible to ignore.
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