PERTH — On an electrifying, sun-baked day at the historic Perth Stadium, the 2023-24 Ashes series erupted into life not with a familiar Australian onslaught, but with a stunning, brutal display of fast bowling from an England side determined to rewrite the narrative of their previous tours Down Under.
After losing the toss and being sent into the field on a pitch offering genuine pace and bounce, England’s seamers, led by the fiery Mark Wood and the relentless Ollie Robinson, produced one of the most dramatic sessions in recent Ashes history, skittling Australia for a paltry 209 and then weathering a storm of their own to finish a chaotic day on 188 for 8.
The day belonged unequivocally to the bowlers, with a staggering 19 wickets tumbling, defying pre-series predictions of flat batting tracks. It was a statement of intent from an England team playing its aggressive ‘Bazball’ brand of cricket, but this time the fireworks were provided by the ball, not the bat.
Wood Ignites the Furnace
The tone was set in a ferocious first hour. With the new Kookaburra ball in hand, Mark Wood, whose express pace has been so sorely missed by England in previous Australian campaigns, immediately breached the 150 km/h mark. His sheer velocity rattled the Australian top order, creating chances and building pressure that his colleagues would capitalise on.
It was Ollie Robinson, however, who made the initial breakthroughs, finding a perfect line and length to exploit the extra bounce. He removed the dangerous David Warner, caught behind for 15, and then produced a near-unplayable delivery to dismiss the world-number-one-ranked Marnus Labuschagne for a duck, feathering an edge to the keeper.
Steve Smith, Australia’s perennial thorn in England’s side, looked composed in moving to 31, but he fell to a brilliant piece of planning from Wood. A searing short ball followed by a full, fast delivery cannoned into his pads, with the subsequent DRS review showing three reds. The roar from the travelling Barmy Army was deafening.
The Collapse: 109 for 3 to 149 for 8
From a relatively stable position, Australia’s innings imploded in a breathtaking passage of play either side of the lunch interval. The introduction of Chris Woakes and the part-time off-spin of Joe Root proved devastating. Woakes, often underrated in overseas conditions, found subtle movement to trap Travis Head lbw and then had Cameron Green caught at slip for 8.
The collapse was breathtaking in its speed and ferocity. The key moments of the Australian innings included:
- David Warner: c Bairstow b Robinson 15
- Marnus Labuschagne: c Bairstow b Robinson 0
- Steve Smith: lbw b Wood 31
- Alex Carey: c Root b Wood 22
Joe Root’s contribution with the ball was perhaps the most surprising twist. He removed the counter-attacking Alex Carey, well caught by himself, and then clean bowled Pat Cummins with a beauty that drifted and turned. At one stage, Root had remarkable figures of 2 for 4 from his three overs, sending the English fans into delirium.
Starc Strikes Back for Australia
Facing a modest target, England’s openers, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, began with characteristic intent, racing to 38 without loss. The momentum, however, swung violently back towards Australia as Mitchell Starc, left out of the final Test of the last Ashes in England, produced a devastating spell with the new ball. He uprooted Duckett’s off-stump and then, in his next over, bowled England’s rock, Joe Root, for a golden duck with a searing inswinging yorker.
England captain Ben Stokes played a typically pugnacious innings, smashing 35 from 37 balls, including two massive sixes off Nathan Lyon, to steady the ship. But his dismissal, caught at deep square leg attempting another aggressive shot, opened the door for Australia once more. Josh Hazlewood, metronomic as ever, then tore through the middle order.
A Nerve-Shredding Finale
As the sun set over Perth, the match was perfectly poised. England, having slumped to 155 for 8, were staring at a significant first-innings deficit. But a gritty, unbroken 33-run partnership between Chris Woakes (18*) and Mark Wood (15*) dragged them back into the contest, trimming the deficit to just 21 runs with two wickets still in hand.
The atmosphere was electric, a potent mix of Australian anxiety and English belief. Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, commentating for Channel 7, captured the mood perfectly: "This is what Ashes cricket is all about. We thought it would be a bat-dominated series, but this has been an absolute classic, brutal day of Test match bowling."
What They Said at Stumps
England’s hero with the ball, Ollie Robinson, spoke of the team’s collective effort and mindset. "We knew we had to be relentless. The pitch had a bit in it, and we just wanted to put the ball in the right areas. Woody [Mark Wood] was incredible, he changed the game with his pace. To have them 200-odd all out after losing the toss is a fantastic effort."
Australian opener Usman Khawaja, one of the few to offer resistance with a patient 41, acknowledged the quality of the bowling but remained confident. "It was a tough day for batting, no doubt. Credit to their bowlers, they bowled fantastic areas. But we’re only 21 runs ahead, and if we can get these last two wickets quickly tomorrow, we’re right in this game."
Conclusion: A Series Truly Alive
The opening day in Perth has set a breathtaking precedent for the series. It was a day that confounded expectations, where England’s much-questioned attack delivered one of their greatest collective performances abroad, and Australia’s famed batting lineup was exposed to a level of hostility they did not anticipate.
The match hangs by a thread. England will believe they can secure a vital first-innings lead, while Australia knows one quick burst from Starc or Cummins in the morning could swing the momentum decisively back in their favour. After just one day, the 2023-24 Ashes has already delivered a captivating, brutal, and utterly compelling chapter, promising a series-long battle of attrition between two proud cricketing nations.