England’s pace assault stuns Australia as 19 wickets tumble on Ashes opener

England's pace assault stuns Australia as 19 wickets tumble on Ashes opener

England seized a dramatic 49-run lead after a chaotic first day of the 2025-26 Ashes in Perth, where 19 wickets fell-the most on an opening day since 1909-leaving Australia's tail exposed and the tourists poised to press their advantage.

Revenge served fast: England's long-planned pace gambit pays off

Four years after arriving in Australia with a misaligned strategy and suffering a 4-0 whitewash, England executed a meticulously crafted plan: unleash their fastest bowling attack in half a century. The result was a relentless display of speed and hostility, with Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood, and Brydon Carse averaging 87.6 mph-a record for an England Test side in Australia.

Former captain Michael Vaughan, who led England's 2005 Ashes triumph, called it "as good as I've seen" from an English attack. The quintet's collective firepower reduced Australia to 123 all out in reply to England's 172, despite the hosts' early dominance. Archer's searing in-swinger dismissed Jake Weatherald lbw, while Carse's venomous lifter accounted for Usman Khawaja. Wood's 90 mph bouncer struck Cameron Green's grille, nearly dislodging his helmet.

Smith's struggle: Australia's linchpin undone by pace and pressure

Stand-in captain Steve Smith, Australia's most prolific Ashes batter since Don Bradman, endured a rare failure. Facing 49 deliveries for just 17 runs, his false-shot rate hit a career-high 49%. Data showed two-thirds of Australia's deliveries were played defensively from the back foot-the highest proportion in two decades-while their 35% false-shot rate marked their most error-prone innings in the same period.

From carnival to chaos: A day of extremes

The morning began with a festive atmosphere along the Swan River: ferris wheels, inflatable games, and cricketers on stilts entertaining fans. England supporters, many on once-in-a-lifetime trips, snapped selfies against the backdrop of Perth Stadium. Yet the mood shifted abruptly as England's top order collapsed to 172 all out in 32.5 overs-their shortest first innings in Australia since 1899-under Mitchell Starc's pace barrage.

Rather than retreat, England embraced their "Bazball" aggression, ensuring the scoreboard never stagnated. Their bowlers then reciprocated with a display former captain Stuart Broad described as "shock and awe." The contrast with past tours was stark: in 2013, England's accuracy-based attack was outgunned by Mitchell Johnson's raw pace; this time, they matched fire with fire.

Comeback kings: The unlikely paths to Perth

The assembly of England's pace battery is as remarkable as their performance. Archer, written off after four injury-plagued years, has roared back to form in just three Tests. Wood, 35, returned after 15 months away, delivering thunderbolts as promised. Carse overcame a 2023 betting ban, while Atkinson played through the grief of losing his mother in a road accident. Stokes, meanwhile, revisited the ground where he announced himself in 2013 with a defiant century against Johnson-only to endure exile (2017) and injury (2021) on subsequent tours. His five-wicket haul on Friday marked his best away figures in 11 years.

Caution amid the euphoria

Despite the dominance, England's batters must now convert their lead into a match-winning total. Australia's resilience was evident last year when India, bowled out for 150 in Perth, still won the Test-only to lose the series 3-1. With Pat Cummins set to return for the second Test, England's top order cannot afford another collapse.

As Stokes noted, "This is just one day." But after 14 years of Ashes heartbreak in Australia, it was a day to savor.

"Supplies have stabilized, but conservation remains essential."

Michael Vaughan, commenting on England's bowling depth