Australia vs England first Test score, video, Day 1 report, Usman Khawaja injury fear, why he didn’t open, Perth Weather

Nineteen wickets fell on a chaotic opening day of the first Ashes Test at Perth Stadium as the fast bowlers once again wreaked havoc on a bouncy surface in the West Australian capital.

The shellshocked Australians were reeling 9-123 at stumps, still trailing by 49 runs, after England’s seamers ran amok during the evening session, with captain Ben Stokes snaring five wickets after Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse tormented the top order. The carnage was almost identical to how the first day of last summer’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign transpired, when 17 wickets fell at the same venue.

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Earlier on Friday, Australian speedster Mitchell Starc stepped up in the absence of wounded quicks Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, claiming seven scalps in a career-best performance as England were rolled for 172 in 32.5 overs. The left-armer took 7-58 in front of a record crowd at 51,531, while Harry Brook cracked a rapid half-century as England raced along at 5.24 runs per over in typical Bazball fashion.

MATCH CENTRE: First Ashes Test scorecard

No touring team has been bowled out quicker in the first innings of a Test match on Australian soil since 1932, while multiple English batters were guilty of reckless shot selection.

However, top-order frailties remain a glaring concern for the Australians despite another batting reshuffle, at one stage collapsing to 4-31 after a high-octane burst from England’s pace battery. It was the most wickets taken on the first day of an Ashes Test since 1909, with Australian tailenders Nathan Lyon (3*) and Brendan Doggett (0*) unbeaten at stumps.

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After skipper Stokes won the toss and chose to bat, Starc removed opener Zak Crawley for a sixth-ball duck during the first over of the series, with Usman Khawaja holding onto a juggling chance at slip. It was the New South Welshman’s 24th dismissal in the opening over of a Test innings.

Soon after, fellow opener Ben Duckett was trapped on the pads by a full delivery from Starc that evaded the inside edge, wasting a review before trudging off for a 20-ball 21.

Superstar Joe Root, renowned for his poor Test record on Australian soil, was squared up by Starc for a seventh-ball duck, with the outside edge sailing towards Marnus Labuschagne in the slips cordon.

With the tourists in early trouble at 3-39, Brook launched into a trademark counterpunch by repeatedly charging at Australia’s quicks, at one point slapping Starc through the covers for an audacious boundary. The ploy worked, however, with stand-in captain Steve Smith spreading the field in response.

Brook and Ollie Pope revived the innings with a 55-run partnership for the fourth wicket before all-rounder Cameron Green struck moments before the lunch break, with a yorker hitting Pope on the foot, plumb LBW for a composed 46.

Seamer Scott Boland, who finished with 0-62 from ten overs, opened the bowling in the absence of Cummins and Hazlewood but struggled to hit his lengths, often producing half-volleys and spraying down the leg side.

Early in the afternoon session, Starc produced a near-unplayable delivery that bowled Stokes through the gate for 6, the tenth time he’s dismissed the England skipper in Tests.

Brook, having clobbered an 89-metre six over cover, ensured the boundaries kept flowing, adding 45 runs in a rapid partnership alongside wicketkeeper Jamie Smith before England suffered a dreadful collapse of 5-12 from 19 deliveries.

Debutant Doggett (2-27 from seven overs) commenced a bouncer barrage after the ball softened, which paid dividends when Brook gloved a short ball through to wicketkeeper Alex Carey for a 61-ball 52. On-field umpire Nitin Menon initially shook his head, but Brook walked the moment Smith signalled for a review, with Doggett sealing his maiden Test wicket.

Starc secured a five-wicket haul, his 17th in Tests, when Gus Atkinson edged towards second slip before Australia’s seamers cleaned up the tail. Englishman Smith, running out of partners, swung for the fences in a frantic cameo before he caught at deep square leg for 33 from 22 balls

Khawaja wasn’t allowed to open in the first innings because he spent too much time off the field, with Cricket Australia later confirming he was suffering from back spasms. Labuschagne was forced to open the Queenslander’s absence.

Playing his first Ashes Test in over six years, Archer toppled Australian debutant Jake Weatherald for a second-ball duck after England successfully reviewed an LBW decision. The Tasmanian opener was left red-faced having lost his footing and slipping onto the turf, comprehensively beaten for pace.

Smith and Labuschagne struggled in the challenging conditions as England’s fast bowlers terrorised the duo on either side of the tea break — the stand-in captain required medical attention after being struck on the elbow by Atkinson, while Pope missed a run-out chance at the striker’s end to hand Labuschagne a massive reprieve on 4.

After a cluster of false strokes, Labuschagne fell victim to Archer for 9 having failed to get his arm out of the way while attempting a leave, with the ricocheting off his elbow into the stumps. Smith departed the following over, squared up by Carse and caught at third slip for a scratchy 17.

Soon after, Carse produced a rip-snorter that jumped off a length and kissed Khawaja’s glove, with the left-hander caught behind for 2 following his forced demotion.

Travis Head and Green steadied the ship with a 45-run partnership for the fifth wicket before Stokes brought himself into the attack and removed the duo in consecutive overs. The South Australian scooped a half-hearted pull shot towards mid-wicket before hometown hero Green, who earlier copped a nasty blow to the helmet, flashed at a wide delivery and feathered behind for 24.

A frustrated Starc slogged towards mid-on for 12 before Carey, Australia’s last recognised batter, needlessly guided a short ball towards the boundary rider at deep third with less than ten minutes remaining in the day, falling into an obvious trap. Stokes, who finished the day with 5-23 from six overs, secured his sixth five-wicket haul in Tests when Boland edged to the slips cordon for a second-ball duck.

Earlier, Doggett and Weatherald were presented their baggy greens, becoming Australia’s 472nd and 473rd men’s Test cricketers respectively. Elsewhere, England picked an all-pace attack for the Ashes opener, with spinner Shoaib Bashir carrying drinks in the West Australian capital.

The first Ashes Test between Australia and England will resume on Saturday at 1.20pm AEDT.

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